In-home care services assist people who want to stay at home and avoid moving to an assisted living community. In an AP/NORC Long Term Care Poll, 80% of older adults stated they would prefer to receive home care services at their home over having to move.
When caregiver services are needed, the two commonly required services are transfers and bathing. For transfers, it’s helping adults get in and out of bed that is prevalent. If your parents need help around the home, how does it work?
Caregivers Come to Your Parents’ House
When your parents need assistance with daily activities, caregivers stop by to assist them. The care services may cover personal care needs or companion care needs. There are differences between them.
Personal care services help your parents with personal care, hygiene, and grooming. If your parents need help brushing and flossing their teeth, caregivers can help. They’ll also have help with toileting, bathing/showering, and hygiene tasks like shaving, applying moisturizers, and styling hair.
Suppose your mom has Alzheimer’s and cannot remember when she needs to go to the bathroom or how to get there. Her home care aide can remind her to try or show her where the bathroom is. Her caregiver helps her remember when to have a meal or snack and get a drink.
Companion care services provide companionship and help with chores around the home. With companion care, your parents have someone to help them run errands and go shopping. They can hire caregivers to clean their homes, help organize mail, and cook their meals.
With companion care, your parents have a trusted aide available to join them for conversation. Instead of being lonely all week while you’re at work, your parents have caregivers available to join them for a meal, take them to a local park for a walk, or put on a movie during a rainy afternoon.
Your parents may need help remembering to do things for themselves. If they get up and often forget to take their daily prescriptions, hire caregivers to remind them. Do they forget to feed their pets? Caregivers can help out with all of that.
Daily walks don’t have to be a risky task. Let your parents take walks with their caregivers to ensure they have someone to support them. This is especially helpful if your parents have a hard time with mobility or balance.
What Doesn’t Home Care Offer?
Home care aides are not there to cater to your needs. If you stop by, the caregiver isn’t there to cook a meal for you or do your dishes if you prepare something during your visit.
Home care aides cannot do anything medically necessary, such as change a catheter or clean a wound. You need a different type of service for those issues.
Scheduling Home Care Services
How do you arrange home care? Start by sitting down with your parents and asking what they do well independently and where they need help. Once you have that list, call an agency.
During that call, you can ask questions, get answers, and learn more about the available services. Your parents can ask any questions they have. Call now to get started.
Incredicare is a Trusted Home Care in Springfield, VA, serving Arlington, Alexandria, McLean, Reston, Burke, Ashburn, Centreville, Springfield, Oakton, and Woodbridge Virginia. And the surrounding areas. Call today to speak with our caring staff: (703) 272-8838
Sources:
https://www.statista.com/topics/4049/home-care-in-the-us/#topicHeader__wrapper
https://apnorc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/LTC_Report_AgingatHome_final.pdf
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