Why Home Care

 

"The home care industry helps seniors to live with
dignity and self-respect, and to feel like an integral part
of the society and world in which they live."- Caregiver

What is the benefit of having a Caregiver and working with an agency?  

As our population ages, the importance of caregiving for older adults and those with disabilities is becoming increasingly vital. Caregiving can take many forms, from providing assistance with daily tasks such as bathing and dressing to managing complex medical conditions. It is a demanding and often challenging role, and one that can have a significant impact on the lives of both the caregiver and the person being cared for.

One of the most effective ways to provide care for older adults and those with disabilities is through working with a home care agency. Home care agencies are organizations that provide trained and qualified caregivers to assist with a wide range of needs in the comfort of the person's own home. These agencies offer a range of services, including personal care, homemaking, and companionship.

One of the key benefits of working with a home care agency is the level of expertise and experience that the caregivers bring to the table. Caregivers are trained in a variety of areas, including geriatric care, dementia care, and palliative care. They are also able to provide assistance with medication management and other medical tasks. This level of expertise and training ensures that older adults and those with disabilities receive the highest quality of care.

Another major benefit of working with a home care agency is the flexibility that it provides. Home care agencies are able to offer a wide range of services, from a few hours of assistance a week to around-the-clock care. This allows individuals and their families to customize the care they receive to meet their specific needs. It also allows for adjustments to be made as the person's needs change over time.

Working with a home care agency also provides peace of mind for both the person receiving care and their family members. Home care agencies are responsible for hiring, training and supervising their caregivers. They also handle all necessary background checks and insurance coverage. This means that families can have confidence in the care their loved one is receiving and have a point of contact in case of any issues or concerns.

In addition, a home care agency can also provide respite care for family caregivers, allowing them to take a break and recharge. This can be especially important for family caregivers, who often shoulder a significant emotional and physical burden.

In conclusion, caregiving for older adults and those with disabilities is an essential and demanding role. Working with a home care agency can provide a range of benefits, including the expertise and experience of trained caregivers, flexibility in care provision, peace of mind, and respite for family caregivers. It is an important consideration for those who are looking for assistance and support for their loved ones.

What is Home Care?

Not all in-home care is the same. An individual who shows signs of Alzheimer’s, but has no physical impairment, may only require assistance with paying bills, getting to appointments, or running errands. Others may require more assistance with day-to-day tasks that do not require a move to a skilled nursing facility or nursing home. Helping your loved one to remain in their own home by providing them with home care allows them a modicum of dignity and self-respect. A few hours of home care assistance per day can actually prevent a trip to the hospital or keep them out of nursing homes.

For individuals with a challenging physical and/or cognitive impairment who require help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and eating, home care is a game changer. However, home care is also beneficial to those who are in good health. They are provided companionship, help in and around the home, transportation to run errands or to attend social functions, and help to remain active and engaged.

What are some of the benefits of home care?

Home care allows the individual the choice to age at home and promotes peace of mind and wellness for family members who know their loved ones are getting the care they need and deserve. Home care improves health, safety, and emotional well-being of the individual. It reduces the cost of our nation’s health care system by improving health outcomes, strengthening preventive care, and lowering hospital admissions and re-admissions.

How can home care improve the physical and mental well-being of the individual?

Having one-on-one care can help prevent falls, keep the individual on track with medications, provide nutritious and healthy meals fixed the way they like, and help maintain good personal hygiene. Caregivers can also help provide doctors with valuable information that may help to improve diagnosis and treatment, as well as help keep family members in tune with the needs of their loved one. The result is better health outcomes and lower overall health care costs. 

A caregiver’s companionship not only impacts the individual’s physical well-being, but their emotional health as well. Isolation and loneliness is not only a social problem, it is a serious health issue. Companionship has been shown to help deter diseases such as Alzheimer’s by keeping the individual mentally stimulated. The Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry found that older adults who described themselves as lonely were twice as likely to develop dementia.  A caregiver may discuss current events, listen to stories about the individuals past, play games, share meals, and help keep them engaged.

How does home care benefit the family as a whole?

In the past and in other places, generations of family lived together or very close to one another. Younger family members learned from the wisdom of elders, and in turn the younger generations made sure that their elders were comfortable and well cared for. In today’s world not every elder person has family that is close and able to accept such responsibilities, or perhaps families have such busy schedules that they are unable to provide that support.

Providing your loved one with home care can help alleviate some of the stress that come with the responsibility of caring for a family member. Care Managers and Caregivers can help you work through the many different challenges that you face. They will establish a “one-on-one” relationship with you and your loved ones, and act as your advocate. 

Removing that stress factor often times relieves tension that is related to the task of managing an individual’s care. When a person chooses home care over assisted living it gives them the opportunity to better involve their friends and family with treatment choices. 

How does home care differ from a facility when it comes to continuity?

Home care offers the benefit of continuity. The providers are almost always the same and therefore promote relationship building between the individual and the Caregiver. The rotational nature of staff in many assisted living facilities does not offer the same comfort and ability to build relationships and trust. By receiving one-on-one care from a known Caregiver in the home, your loved one is likely to receive a higher quality of care than in an environment that is less consistent or unfocused.

Most times CNA's in a facility are often times to busy to focus on an individual, and are unable to spend any additional time with your loved one. With in-home care the Caregivers focus is solely on their client, your loved one. They get the attention they need and deserve while getting the best care possible. This time allows them to form a bond and a trusting relationship that increases the quality of care they receive.

How does having in home care prevent injuries?

The number one cause of emergency room visits and the leading cause of injury death among individuals age 65 or older is falls. Falls can easily happen while attempting simple household tasks. Caregivers complete many of these everyday tasks, helping prevent accidents that could otherwise potentially lead to serious injury requiring months of rehabilitative care or in some cases even death. Having one-on-one care in the home provides you peace of mind that your loved one’s needs are being met while keeping them safe from harm.

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