Home Companion Care refers to supervision that provides care, safety, and assistance to senior citizens while they remain in their homes. This type of care is provided by licensed professionals who are trained in the field of elder care. There are two categories of companion care: in-home care for seniors. Companion care is typically provided by live in companions or non-live in companions. An in-home caregiver provides visits to seniors, or alternatively, lives with an in-home elderly adult, and either visits twice or three times per week or every other day.
A caregiver respite is a special arrangement between an in-home care provider (often a caregiver of an elderly adult) and a client. The client pays for services in a schedule set by the provider. In most instances, the caregiver respite is an arrangement wherein the caregiver attends to the client’s home for a specified amount of time each week. In some instances, a respite will be more extensive than this.
The purpose of a home care service is to enhance the quality of life for loved ones when providers are not able to provide on-site assistance. It is beneficial for older people who are frail or ill and isolated. It is important for older people to have their independence and freedom. It is also necessary for them to maintain social interaction in order to minimize stress and decrease the chance of disability.
There are a few steps involved in turning a visit from a live in caregiver into a companion appointment. First, the family member or friend needs to schedule an appointment with the local senior center. After this initial visit, the senior center can provide the appropriate medical assistance that is needed. Next, it is important for the caregiver to select a medication that is compatible with the senior citizen. This may involve a visit with the pharmacist to review the senior center’s list of medications or even a telephone call to the local senior center to ask if a certain medication is on the list.
Once medication is selected, the caregiver will need to develop an in-home care plan. This in-home care plan should include a daily schedule for the senior citizen to follow as well as a listing of tasks that need to be completed in each visit. A daily schedule will allow the caregiver to better evaluate whether or not the client needs additional assistance. It will also allow the caregiver to record progress and setbacks on a daily basis.
It is also important for caregivers to understand the personal care needs of their clients. In some cases, this may involve helping the senior citizen to engage in personal activities such as walking or shopping. If the personal care needs are not correctly planned, then the elderly individual may find that he or she is not able to remain in the home. This could result in increased costs or even abandonment of the client. When properly planned, assisted living facilities provide the much needed support to the client.
In addition to scheduling services, it is important for caregivers to understand the rules of the facility. While many senior communities offer in-home services, some require their employees to attend a certain number of hours of community service every week as part of their employment agreement. It is important for the caregiver to follow these rules in order to provide the most suitable companionship for their client. Some communities have regulations that require caregivers to be licensed or registered and all workers must be fingerprinted in order to ensure they are who they say they are.
Home companion care services are a great way for an in-home caregiver to make extra money. However, for the care recipient it is important for the caregiver to provide consistent and reliable care. Clients may be a bit shy about letting someone else to help them with their basic needs, but if they are offered the right services, they will feel much better about allowing someone else to run errands or do housework. Also, if the senior citizen has any special requests, such as having someone come in on weekends or during school vacations, the caregiver should make sure that the schedule can accommodate the request. Once the senior citizen understands how much time they can expect to spend in the home, they will feel much more comfortable letting someone else care for them in their absence.