For many older adults who can no longer care for their daily needs, the prospect of having to leave their homes and familiar surroundings is depressing and frightening. An often-overlooked alternative for older persons who need assistance with personal and household tasks come from Affordable HomeCare. The firm specializes in 24-HOUR LIVE-IN CARE, which offers significant advantages over institutional alternatives according to the founder Greg Adair.

"When an older person becomes ill or needs help with bathing, dressing, cooking or cleaning the home, families traditionally have a very small number of options," notes Adair. A good option usually is to have family members provide care and support. A person may be able to remain in their own home or move in with a relative. While this is the least disruptive and least expensive option, it often adds considerable stress to the family caregiver causing conflicting emotions of resentment and guilt.

Affordable HomeCare was founded by Greg Adair in 1989, a health care administrator with over thirty years experience in the care of the elderly. Adair observes that most would rather keep their loved ones in their own homes but at the same time, many families are reluctantly forced to consider some form of institutional placement. This might be a senior apartment, an adult foster care or nursing home.

Each of these options represents a point on a continuum of care reflecting the level of independence that the person is able to maintain. Senior apartment living can relieve the responsibility of home maintenance, while providing an opportunity for companionship. This setting does require that the person be in reasonably good health and be able to function somewhat independently.

For those who are less independent, adult foster care homes provide a home-like setting for groups of six to twelve patients who are typically cared for by one attendant who stays in the home and provides for basic personal care, cooking and housekeeping. This is a more restricted environment requiring that individuals give up the right to choose what and when to eat, when to take a bath, when to go to bed or wake up, and the sharing of the bedroom and bathroom facilities.

Finally, the most intensive care is provided in a skilled nursing home facility. This is the option appropriate for those who can no longer function independently and who also require medical attention. Nurses are in attendance at all times with physicians on call. Speech and physical therapy are typically available along with the services of dieticians and social workers. Frequent staff turnover and low staffing levels often find a Nurse Aide caring for 15 to 20 patients. There is often little time to give personal attention to patients.

"Nursing homes are necessary for some patients, but there is limited privacy and personal freedom" notes Adair. "Because patients have so little control of their lives, they often lose their sense of self esteem which leads to chronic, severe depression." Studies by the National Institute of Health confirm that the rate for severely depressed elderly in nursing homes is up to 40% - more than 14 times the national average for this age group.

"Our goal is to provide a way to keep people in their own homes as long as possible," says Adair. "The program offers one primary Personal Assistant who is thoroughly screened, trained, insured and bonded to stay in a Client's home from 1 to 24 hours a day." The Personal Assistant is responsible for cooking, housekeeping, laundry and personal care.

Affordable HomeCare Personal Assistants are supported by a nurse and other professional staff. Live-In services are available from Mid Michigan into Northern Ohio and in the Central Florida and North Carolina areas.

For older adults, remaining in familiar and comfortable surroundings provides greater control over their daily lives, reinforces a sense of independence and self esteem that is important to their mental and physical health. For families, 24-hour care means that they can spend more time enjoying visits with their loved ones. Families gain peace of mind knowing a knowledgeable and responsible caregiver is present at all times in the event of an accident or illness. The Affordable HomeCare program also relieves family members of the difficult task of searching for and selecting reliable, competent caregivers.