In-home health care
In-home care services can help someone who is ageing and needs assistance to live independently; managing chronic health issues; recovering from a medical setback, or has special needs or a disability. Professional caregivers such as nurses, aides, and therapists provide short-term or long-term care in the home, depending on a person’s needs.
Your loved ones may be used to handling everything themselves, dividing up duties with their spouse, or relying on family members for minor help around the home. But as they get older and the circumstances change, they are bound to seek help from others. If the idea of moving to a retirement community, assisted living facility, or nursing home doesn’t appeal to you, in-home care services may be able to help keep your loved ones living in their own home for longer.
Moving out of the home to community living might require an elderly to start over from scratch. As we know elderly people are resistant to change and as they keep losing things they hold dearly, they like to live with memories of those. The home they have been throughout their lives is not the thing they would like to lose. Most of these changes might hurt the elderly’s overall mental as well as physical health which makes in-home health care most efficient and the best choice.
The diversified range of facilities the in-home health care services provide makes ageing a lot easier and convenient. Adulthood becomes easier even without appropriate familial hands for support with the help of agencies that provide in-home services. In-home health care practitioners are sensitive about a range of problems faced by your loved ones and accordingly have the best possible solution.
Financial and healthcare management keeps a tap on your daily needs like laundry, shopping, gardening, housekeeping or handyman services. On top of it, if you, as a caregiver, are having problems with bills and payments, there’s no harm taking help from trained professionals you can trust.
If your loved ones have a limitation in their mobility, home modifications can go a long way towards keeping their existing residence comfortable and accessible. Home modifications can include things such as grab bars in the shower, ramps to avoid or minimise the use of stairs, or even installing a new bathroom in a convenient place. Such small measures stretch far beyond in providing a sense of mental satisfaction and also limiting thoughts of their incapabilities.
Home health aides can provide personal care services that range from a few hours a day to around-the-clock live-in care. They may also provide limited assistance with things such as taking blood pressure or offering medication reminders. Personal care services or custodial care include personal grooming, assistance in the activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, or meal preparation.
Once you have figured out the essential needs and the type of assistance they require, it’s time to evaluate which home care services are right for them and where to find the best providers. Of course, it can be difficult to entrust your home or personal care to others, especially people you don’t know. Whether you engage a home care service provider directly or work through an agency, you can allay your fears by conducting some basic research.
Start by seeking referrals from family, friends, or neighbours. There may be a neighbour who could regularly check-in with you or provide yard maintenance, for instance. Local religious groups sometimes offer meals or social activities for older adults. Ask the people you know if they have care providers they can recommend. Your doctor or other healthcare professional may also be able to provide referrals.
Full-service agencies usually come at a higher cost but provide prescreened applicants who have already had background checks. Since the hired caregiver works for the agency, they take care of billing and other issues. They may also be bonded for issues such as theft. If a caregiver quits or is not working out, an agency can usually find a replacement quickly, and may also provide coverage if a caregiver calls in sick.
Independent providers usually come at a lower cost but require more legwork on your part. You’ll need to handle any other requirements and perform background checks and identity verification. In the case of illness or sudden termination, you’ll also be responsible for finding a replacement provider.
Additionally, some of the best home care agencies offer enrichment programs that are tailored to each customer, patient or client’s needs. For example, a senior’s customised home care enrichment plan might include playing word games, painting, mindfulness, taking walks, working with a crossword or puzzles and attending church with her caregiver.
Home care helps a wide range of seniors and their families. People most commonly choose home care when they’re ill or recovering from surgery, or when they simply need help with activities of daily living (ADL) because of “normal ageing”. Some seniors’ caregiving needs are covered by professional homemakers, who provide companionship while also keeping house, helping with errands and preparing meals. Other seniors need assistance from people with medical training, such as entry-level health aides or skilled nurses.
Memory care patients receive home care as well. However, home care for dementia patients is usually respite care. Memory care patients generally need 24-hour monitoring for safety, so home care costs can add up quickly. Many home care agencies have four-hour minimum shifts. Still, it’s possible to get care for just an hour a day. Caregivers are also available for overnight stays.
Certain points to keep in mind while hiring home care providers are:
- Conduct an in-depth interview with each candidate. Screening applicants on the phone should always be followed by an in-person interview.
- Be specific about all of the tasks, skills, and schedules involved and be sure that the person you are considering is comfortable with them all.
- Discuss compensation and payment schedules. Do not pay for services in advance.
- Request several works and personal references, and check them carefully. Verify the information provided, and ask all references about reliability, trustworthiness, punctuality, and the care provider’s ability to handle stress.
- Perform background checks. If you’re working through an agency, these are often provided, but you’ll want to check exactly what is covered. Background checks can be done inexpensively through online agencies and alert you to potentially serious problems.
- If you are working with an agency, make sure you understand all of the terms and conditions. Are there additional fees that apply to specific services or add-ons? If needed, what are the procedures for termination or requesting another provider?
- Don’t be afraid to move on if it’s not the right fit. It’s important that you feel comfortable with a home care provider who’s delivering services in the privacy of your own home. If you don’t, try talking to the provider to see if any miscommunication can be resolved. If not, don’t be afraid to search for other opportunities.
There might be a lot of uncertainties associated with your decision as a primary caregiver for choosing in-home care services. Do not worry an ounce about, professionals have it all figured out for providing the best services that allow your loved ones to maintain their independence for as long as possible.