Unlike other business models serving in-home care clients, professional in-home care providers put an emphasis on offering trained, fully screened, insured and bonded caregivers. Companies operating in this segment of the senior care industry range from organizations with a nationwide presence to locally-owned agencies. Professional in-home care providers can offer caregivers for as little as a few hours a week, when a family caregiver simply needs respite, to 24 hours a day. Also known as “private duty home care agencies”, most professional in-home care businesses provide a wide range of services that are broken down into distinct categories: companion care and personal care.
Companion care includes:
• Medication reminders
• Meal preparation
• Shopping and errand services
• Light housekeeping
• Laundry services
• Recreational activities
Personal care involves services such as:
• Bathing
• Toileting
• Grooming
• Eating
• Family respite care
• Personal hygiene and dressing guidance
• 24-Hour emergency response
On the whole, companion care does not usually involve significant client contact. In contrast, physical contact is a necessity for individuals who need personal care assistance with activities in their daily life.
Ultimately, what matters most to families is that their aging loved ones receive the right type of care at a level that allows them to lead the most fulfilling life possible. To be certain that caregivers will deliver the services their loved ones need, families should make sure that:
• All background checks (including criminal history and state abuse registry in addition to work references) have been completed and documented;
• The care recipient is matched with the right caregiver;
• If the caregiver becomes ill, there is an immediate plan in place for a replacement caregiver; and that
• You will be kept informed of your loved one’s progress through reports and updates.
Flexibility of Professional In-home Care Agencies
Companion and personal care services can be administered in a variety of settings including a client’s home, hospital, nursing care facility, hospice center, assisted living facility and retirement centers. In every case, the use of a caregiver can be a welcome respite for family members who act as the primary caregiver and face emotional and physical stress.
For seniors in nursing homes or in hospital stays who need extra attention, sitter service from an in-home care agency can fill the need for companion care for up to six hours a day or longer.
At retirement communities, assisted living facilities, or in home settings with spouses under the same roof, shared care service is a money saving option for multiple residents. A single caregiver can provide the appropriate care needed for multiple individuals. Self-sufficient seniors in independent living communities also may require the assistance of a caregiver. These communities are often void of caregiving, nursing and medical care, yet, residents are regularly in need of extra support in their homes.
Conclusion: You Are Not Alone
With so many choices, it can become a daunting task to find the right caregiver for your family member. For families developing an in-home care plan, the process can be an emotional experience riddled with anxiety, stress and guilt. Enlisting the help of an experienced professional such as Right at Home has unlimited benefits. With just a few hours of research family caregivers can discover that they do not have to take on the caregiving role alone.
About Right at Home
Right at Home offers in-home supportive and personal care and assistance to seniors and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently. Select offices provide light skilled nursing as well. Right at Home directly employs all caregiving staff, each of whom are thoroughly screened, trained, bonded and insured prior to entering a client’s home. All ongoing care is monitored and supervised by local independent owners. Right at Home’s national office is based in Ottawa, Ontario with franchise offices throughout the Canada. For more information on Right at Home, visit the website at http://www.thorncliffeplace.com/
Senior Living Ottawa 