Home Helpers - Massachusetts

The Importance of Affordability and Flexibility (August 2008)
By Home Helpers, Jennifer Anastasiades

With the economy being on the mind of most every American, our feature story for this newsletter is about the importance of affordability and flexibility. As Americans have quickly come to realize, gas not only fuels our cars, it also fuels the American economy. On July 17, former Vice President Al Gore said, “I don’t remember a time in our country when so many things seemed to be going wrong simultaneously.” Due to the uncertainty in our economy, most people are forced to reconsider many of their leisure activities, lifestyle choices and long-term plans.

“Regardless of the economic climate, people continue to face health-related challenges, experience functional limitations, and need assistance with daily living activities,” said Jennifer Anastasiades, owner of Home Helpers. According to A Profile of Older Americans: 2007 published by the Administration on Aging, “Most older persons have at least one chronic condition and many have multiple conditions.” Whether a person is younger or older, one thing is for certain, chronic conditions often lead to functional limitations – physical and/or cognitive.

As people are becoming increasingly aware of the cost of products and services, it seems that people want to get the maximum value for each dollar they spend. That same level of scrutiny also applies to finding affordable and flexible options for loved ones who need assistance with daily living activities and desire companionship.

“Frankly, assisted living and nursing care facilities are not feasible for many people who need assistance. Also, few people want to commit to making such a drastic and often irreversible change,” said Anastasiades. Earlier this year, the results released from an AARP survey indicated 90% of people ages 64 to 74 want to live out their lives in their current homes. “That’s no surprise to us as there’s no place like home. Our clients tell us that their homes provide comfort, enhance quality of life, and signify independence,” Anastasiades added.

Homecare provides tremendous flexibility and tends to be affordable as clients pay an hourly rate for care services. According to a report released by the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related Statistics and the Family Caregiver Alliance, “Limited (not 24/7) but regular care at home costs less than 50% of care provided in a ‘facility.’”

Home Helpers provides the care and support people need and deserve, regardless of their age. It’s all about Making Life Easier (SM). “An advantage of home health care that many people are finding to be increasingly important is our affordability and flexibility,” added Anastasiades. Offering services on an hourly basis for a minimum of three hours per visit, Home Helpers tailors its homecare services around an individual’s needs and budget. If you or someone you know may be interested in learning more about home health care, we offer a no obligation, free in home consultation. We also offer a helpful educational series covering a variety of topics and can direct you to other resources within our community that might be appropriate.