Cedar Rapids Weather
Growing Demand for In-Home Health Careby Nicole Agee, Anchor/Reporter
CEDAR RAPIDS - As baby boomers retire and grow older, there's a growing demand for in-home health care. The U.S. Census Bureau says the 85-and-older population will triple in the next 40 years. That means an estimated 19 million seniors will be looking for health care. As a result, in-home care agencies are seeing more and more patients
A majority of seniors want to maintain a certain level of independence. That's the case of Bob and Yvonne Marsh, who are now living with their daughter who depends on in-home services to care for her parents. Diane Beach's home is full of music, full of life, and just.. full. Diane's parents, Bob and Yvonne lived in separate nursing homes. Bob suffers from a form of dementia. Yvonne has Alzheimer's Disease. Both need 24-hour care, so the couple moved in last February. "Because my husband and I work full-time, we needed help," said Diane Beach. They hired an in-home health care agency to provide that help. The family is part of a growing trend as baby boomers grow older. "Parents just don't want to go to a nursing home, they're maybe not physically able to stay in their own home, financially, they may not be able to afford the nursing home, or a care facility or assisted living and so they are moving back in with their children," said Karen Hueber, Home Instead Senior Care. "They did not want to be a burden to us three kids. And finally, we had to take over to be a reversal role you read about. And that's hard." Every day is different under this roof. And in-home care is an option that allows Diane to be with her parents, who can get the attention they need. "I can't change the disease of dementia or Alzheimer's. But if they're physically in as good of shape as possible, laughing, enjoying the good times." As more seniors move in with their children, Home Instead Senior Care says the number of health care professionals will need to double in the next decade to keep up with the demand for in-home care. More Good Stuff |
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