Senior home care typically means a mix of skilled and non-skilled medical and in-home personal care services which enable elderly and disabled people to live as independently as possible in their homes, provided they have the facilities and staff that they need. Senior home care services differ from other types of service in many ways, such as the level of assistance provided, the extent of care given, the age and condition of the recipients, their ability to interact with others and the duration of the services required. As most seniors will live longer than the average person, the need for in home care for senior citizens is expected to increase significantly in the coming years.
The first step in choosing senior home care service is to assess your situation and the needs of your senior family member(s). The assessment should include looking at the situation in a holistic manner, and determining what type of care would best suit your loved one(s). For example, if the senior is suffering from arthritis, then a physical in home care service may be best, along with a variety of gentle touch senior care services. There are also specialized in home care services for Alzheimer’s disease sufferers and those who cannot care for themselves on a day to day basis, requiring more specialized levels of care. Your local social security office can help you find an appropriate home health care agency to provide this type of care.
Once you have assessed the needs of your senior family member(s), you should contact a home health agency that provides in home care services. Most agencies offer a variety of services, including professional medical, legal and home health services. In order to find a home health agency that will best meet your needs, it is important to do your homework. Contact local agencies to ask questions, get references and learn about their licensing and background.
If the elder care concern is a member of your household, you should first make arrangements with your family members before contacting a home health agency. Since the elderly population is growing substantially, it is a good idea to consider all of your options. Contacting a home health agency could mean additional costs, so it is recommended that you take the time to discuss your needs with all members of your household. A representative from a home health agency may be able to make an appointment with your family members to discuss your elder care options. At this meeting, they can discuss which in home care services would best suit your needs.
Once you have decided on a home care provider, the agency will make an appointment to interview the senior citizen. During the interview, the agency staff can determine if a person has any special needs, such as cognitive problems, or special medications. Elder care agencies often require their employees to undergo specialized training in order to provide proper care. During the interview, the staff will also discuss the specifics for the in home caregiver. While you may have your own ideas on who should live in your elder’s home, the agency will want to know what you think would be best for your senior loved one. In general, the in home caregiver should be someone who is calm and capable of taking over the senior citizen’s role, while being able to live in the senior’s home.
If the caregiver is not appropriate for the senior citizen, there are many other options available to the homebuyer. The agency can refer potential caregivers to local hospitals or physicians, depending on the needs of the elderly loved one. The primary goal of in home care is to ensure that the elderly loved one gets the assistance he or she needs. Since most physicians do not offer home confinement, you may need to seek out medical assistance for your senior family member. Your insurance policy should cover some or all of the cost of medical assistance, depending on the plan you are carrying.
Another possible option for your loved one is medication management. Medication management involves the scheduling of daily medication trips with your doctor. If the in home caregiver does not have the time to do this, or is not responsible enough to do it, then a professional home caregiver can be used. In order for medication management to work effectively, your medical specialist will need to keep an eye on your loved one’s vital signs on a regular basis. He or she will also keep a close eye on the progress of the medication by checking the vital signs periodically. Keeping track of how well the medication is working will allow your physician to adjust the dosage as needed, without having to come up with a new prescription.
Nursing homes and hospitals offer many services to their patients, including in home assistance. Senior home health aides are trained in the medical aspects of living in a home. Many home health aides provide both medical and non-medical services, depending on the senior citizen’s individual need. Some of these services include but are not limited to taking the senior citizen’s temperature at specified times throughout the day, as well as assisting with his or her hygiene. In addition to this, they will also help to bathe him or her and may even help with dressing, depending on the senior’s preferences. Having a nursing assistant at your home will allow you to rest easy knowing that your senior has someone there to assist them when they need it most.