Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Arlene Petersen, Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Q. I am recently widowed and I am realizing that I just can’t do things as easily as I once could do. I want to retain my independence, but with so many scams in the world, I am skeptical about asking for outside help. Any suggestions?
A. I am very happy that you are aware of your needs, and that you are being cautious! When it comes to retaining independence, most people shy away from calling in outside help.
The reality is that getting help will empower you to be independent! The daily chores and tasks that are necessary to run a household can be difficult for many of us. A great way to tackle limitations is to have a trusted network of people you can rely on. Put a list in place so you can take on tasks as they arise. You might consider a professional caregiver to help with day-to-day tasks to keep your home in shape as well as to assist you with running errands and such. I have found that when people take steps to educate themselves on what to look for when hiring help, they can make good choices. Education equals empowerment. It takes just a little bit of work to gain understanding on how to evaluate providers that can bring services to help you thrive and retain your independence at a higher level than they expected. Many times, an individual is capable of living safely in his or her own home, but it would not be possible without the help of a caregiver. An experienced, professional caregiver offers assistance to people in their homes to aid with their daily chores and miscellaneous activities. Take a personal inventory and then wisely research agencies that would be suitable for you. Paired with other services, you will have a solid team of resources to help you. You may find this quite liberating!
Have a question for our angel correspondent? You can send our angel an email to apetersen@visitingangels.com or send your question via mail to Ask An Angel, 65 Woodbury St., South Elgin, IL 60177.
