Reliable at home care agencies provide respite care for caregivers who are helping to meet the emotional, financial and medical needs of an elderly parent, ill spouse or injured loved one. Baby Boomers (people born people 1946 and 1965) might provide more care for their aging parents than they provided for their own children. This can create an unhealthy demand on these adult children.
Licensed At Home Care Agency Services
Licensed at home care agencies that employ bonded and licensed nurses, nurses’ aides and caregivers are available to take on some of the responsibilities that adult children face as they care for their aging parents. Prices for at home care services can range from $12 an hour to over $20 an hour, depending on the aging parent’s needs. Types of services that at home care agencies provide are:
- Bathing and hygiene assistance
- Meal preparation
- Grocery shopping
- Light errands and housecleaning
- Companionship
- Physical therapy
Some at home agencies provide day, afternoon or evening services. Others offer services for seniors 24 hours a day. Adult children and extended family members who live out-of-state can have peace of mind knowing that their loved one is receiving the care that they need.
Before agencies assign caregivers to seniors they have the caregiver and the senior meet. Interviews might last 30 to 60 minutes. Purpose of the interviews is to measure whether the caregiver and the senior are a good match based on their personalities, the senior’s needs, etc. Agencies can also meet with the senior’s family members, physicians, social workers and staff at the hospital where the senior receives medical care to make sure the senior receives adequate care. So, read this review article for wellness.
Additional Services Offered by Licensed At Home Care Professionals
There are agencies that offer specialized care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. Others provide assistance to seniors to reduce the chances of the senior falling and fracturing their hip or another bone. Because a fall can cause seniors to lose confidence that they can continue to enjoy their current lifestyle, this added support is valuable. Some at home care agencies provide fall prevention training to an ill or injured person’s family members at no additional charge.
Finding At Home Care Agencies
Caregivers can contact at home care agencies through local senior service directories listed in the telephone book or at websites that focus on seniors (e.g. AARP). They can also ask their aging parent’s physician for at home care agency references. Long distance care giving services offered by at home agencies include:
- Helping an elderly parent with dressing, showing or bathing
- Assistance with walking, shopping or getting around the house
- Preparing meals
- Companionship while the senior attends social events
- Help writing and paying living expenses (e.g. utility bills)
- Light housecleaning
- Reminders for the senior to take their medication
Agencies that send registered nurses to the senior’s home might administer medications. They can also take a senior’s vital signs and update adult children on how well their aging parent is doing.
Paying for At Home Care
Adult children, extended family members and friends should contact two or more at home care agencies to check out prices, customized services that they offer and availability of caregivers. They should also ask the agencies if all of their home workers are bonded. Payment plans can be set up with the agencies so the services become more manageable. At home care agencies can relieve adult children of responsibilities associated with caring for an aging parent. They can also assist with the care of special needs children and injured family members. Relatives who live out-of-state can have peace of mind knowing that their loved one is receiving the quality care at home that they need.