In home care services for improved quality of life help not only the person who requires assistance, but also ease caregiver burnout among family members such as the spouse or adult children. Quality homecare based on a plan of care that is built with the client’s needs, values and preferences as a focus can reduce stress, increase community activity and counter depression by providing elderly companionship.
The most obvious benefit and often the first reason to seek in home care services is the need for help with activities of daily living including bathing, dressing, toileting, ambulation, transfers and eating.
Less obvious benefits that may be an added bonus to the family include improved elderly nutrition. When finding caregivers, a top request among homecare clients is to match them with someone who enjoys creating meal plans, shopping and preparing nutritious food.
Other in home care services for seniors include a focus on fall prevention, removing hazards from the home and aligning the client with appropriate exercise or physical therapy.
Medication management is a key component of in home care services for seniors, Research published in AgingCare and updated August 2020 shows that 39 percent of seniors take five or more prescriptions each day. The more medications a person takes, the higher the chances are for experiencing adverse reactions, negative side effects and even life-threatening conditions.
Nurse case managers can update a medication profile, check medications for adverse reactions, provide education about what each medication does and can organize them into pill boxes or dispensers to avoid confusion or missed doses.
If an elderly person has a need for dementia care, in home care services can include constant safety monitoring, engaging the client in meaningful daily activities to stay active.
When doing a search for in home care services near me, be sure to call a few homecare agencies to gauge their professionalism and empathy on the phone. Find out of they are upfront with rates and have a written rate schedule and whether they are the full employer of the in home care services provider, to avoid employment liability.
Anyone providing in home care services for seniors should be fully vetted, including a background check, post employment offer physical evaluation and drug screening, adequate initial and ongoing training, plus supervision at regular intervals.
With some research and planning, hiring the right agency to provide in home care services can help a client live a better life at home.