Home Is Where They Wanted to Be

What is home care? How does it work? And what impact can it have on the lives of older adults and their families? These are all important questions, and sometimes the best answers come from simply looking at one family’s story.

Home care is, at its heart, about helping someone remain where they want to be when they can no longer manage everything on their own. Sometimes that home is the house where they have spent the past 60 years. Sometimes it is an apartment they moved into only recently. Regardless of how long they have lived there, it is home—and for many people, there is no place they would rather be.

Recently, we had the privilege of caring for a local couple who showed us exactly what aging in place can mean.

She was 94, and he was 95. Both were experiencing declining health and had been living in a personal care setting after a fall that occurred while they were out shopping at the mall. Their family eventually made the decision to bring them home.

It quickly became apparent that they would need some additional support, and that is when they called us.

From the very beginning, the husband repeated the same wish again and again: “I want to be here until I die. I want to pass with my wife by my side, here at home.”

Those words became more than a wish. They became the goal.

For more than two years, our caregivers were there to help make that goal possible. We assisted with the everyday things that had become difficult—cleaning, cooking, toileting, personal care and the many small tasks that can become overwhelming when health begins to decline.

But home care is about much more than completing a list of tasks.

It is about preserving independence and dignity. It is about allowing someone to wake up in their own bed, sit in their favorite chair, look out their own window and be surrounded by the things that are familiar and meaningful to them. It is also about giving families the reassurance that their loved ones are safe, cared for and not alone.

As their health declined and they eventually became bedbound, we worked alongside hospice to ensure they remained comfortable and received the care and support they needed. Our caregivers provided round-the-clock assistance, bringing compassion, patience and a sense of calm during what can be an incredibly difficult time for a family.

About six months ago, she passed away at home.

Yesterday, her husband passed away as well.

And as difficult as it is to say goodbye to two people we had the privilege of knowing and caring for, there is also something deeply meaningful in knowing that we accomplished what he asked of us more than two years ago.

He wanted to be home.

He wanted his wife beside him.

And ultimately, they both were able to spend their final days surrounded by the comfort and familiarity of the place they called home.

This is one of the reasons home care matters.

It isn’t simply about helping someone shower, prepare a meal or keep their home clean. It is about helping people live the life they want for as long as possible—and sometimes, it is about helping them fulfill one final wish.

For this couple, that wish was simple: to come home and stay there together.

We are grateful that we were able to help make that possible.

At Assured Assistance, we often say, “Home care you can count on.” For this couple, those words became more than a tagline. They became a promise we were honored to keep.

Assured Assistance is a non-medical caregiver company based in Shillington, PA. serving Reading, Wyomissing, Sinking Spring and surrounding areas. Assured Assistance provides in home senior care, for seniors who want to remain in their homes but need some assistance to complete everyday tasks. Assured Assistance also provides respite care, home care, and compassionate skilled senior care. In home assistance we can provide includes but is not limited to…Companionship, Errand Services, Housekeeping, Laundry Services, Transportation, Organization Needs, Meal Preparation, Shopping/Groceries, Family Respite Care, Grooming/Hygiene Assistance AND More. We provide service when you want and how you want, anything from 3 hours to 24/7. If you are a caregiver who needs respite, a family member looking to assist your parents in their journey to remain independent or simply looking for help for yourself, call Assured Assistance at 610-796-4737.