New Movement Encourages People to Make a Difference in the Lives of Older Adults

Ready to Care, created by Home Instead, encourages members to carry out weekly acts of kindness

TORONTO, Sept. 26, 2018 /CNW/ - Home Instead, Inc. recently introduced Ready to Care^SM, a movement aimed at inspiring people of all ages to make positive differences in the lives of older adults. 

Ready to Care encourages people to complete simple acts of kindness on a weekly basis. Text messages remind and encourage members to connect with aging neighbours and loved ones.

"It is a mathematical certainty that we will not have enough people to care for the rapidly growing aging population," said Jeff Huber, President and CEO of Home Instead, Inc. "We must inspire young people to turn their attention to the needs of older adults, and that starts with small acts of caring."

The interactive resource also identifies opportunities to volunteer, donate and learn more about aging issues such as nutrition, isolation, dementia, mobility health and safety. Through the Ready to Care online community, people can share their care mission experiences and inspire others to do the same.

Since its launch, Ready to Care users have completed more than 1,000 care missions. Simple actions such as, saying "hi" to a senior, helping with yardwork or assisting with groceries are just a few examples of care missions.

A CARP survey¹ found that people who are lonelier or have less social contact are also likely to report lower levels of general health, and are more likely to report that they are sicker than they were one year ago. Furthermore, loneliness impacts people's description of their overall health more than twice as much as being older.

Ready to Care was created by Home Instead to support its mission of enhancing the lives of aging adults and their families. The intent is to provide more care for the growing aging population by expanding the world's capacity to care. In less than two years, it is predicted that people aged 65 and older will outnumber children under age five for the first time in history. At the same time, the declining number of professional and family caregivers has created an urgent need for caring. 

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¹ CARP Survey Reveals How to Avoid Loneliness as We Age

To join the Ready to Care movement, visit www.imreadytocare.ca.

Each Home Instead Senior Care franchise office is independently owned and operated.

ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE

The Home Instead Senior Care network provides personalized care, support and education to help enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, this network is the world's leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,100 independently owned and operated franchises that provide more than 70 million hours of care throughout Canada and 11 other countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ approximately 70,000 CAREGivers^SM worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. The Home Instead Senior Care network works with clients and their family members to help meet varied individual needs. Services span the care continuum – from providing companionship and personal care to specialized Alzheimer's care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources.

SOURCE Home Instead Senior Care

Lauren Treadgold, Telephone: [phone]