Adeste In-Home Care - Colorado

In-Home Care in Colorado

The Most Important Elements Of Caregiving At Home

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Are you considering your options for caring for a loved one? Have you reached the point where you need some help?

It can be a difficult transaction when you’re new to the process. It can take time for your loved one to adjust to needing help. It can also be an adjustment for you, relying on the skills of others to help you along.

Yet for all the right reasons, you’re considering caregiving at home.

Home is where the heart is. It’s what makes each of us happy. And that’s the best reason to consider in-home caregiving.

When you look for a team to bring into your home, there are a few things you should consider.

Professionalism

It almost sounds too simplistic – of course, you expect an in-home caregiving service to be professional. Unfortunately, you don’t always find stellar companies, and you learn to “forgive” the little things that bring their services down.

Professionalism can mean a lot of things. It should ensure all of your loved one’s needs are met. We think it should also mean:

  • Showing up on time, ready to work
  • Providing undivided attention, never disappearing or taking extended breaks
  • No talking, texting, or playing online
  • Having everything needed for the job at the caregiver’s disposal

When a caregiver is present, it means they are there to do the best job possible.

Empathy

One of the biggest complaints in caregiving today is the lack of empathy between caregivers and the ones they are providing care for.

Caregiving at home isn’t an easy job. Some think it’s a great way to make money without having to do a lot of work. And that’s simply not true.

Ignoring, snapping, sighing, rolling their eyes, or muttering under their breath is not a way to provide service. Caregiving at home means being empathetic throughout the entire process.

It means treating with respect through every hour of the day. To create the best life possible, no matter what that means.

Specialized help

The reason more people are turning to caregiving at home is they realize they can’t get personalized help in assisted living or skilled nursing arrangements. When you’re just one of many patients, you have to wait for your turn. Everything is done in order, with no personalization on any level.

With caregiving at home, everything is about the patient. For many patients, it means they stay active and alert longer because their individual needs are met.

Is caregiving at home right for you?

In Home Care or Something Else? How Do You Choose?

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When your loved one starts having trouble, it’s time for a difficult decision. Yet there may be more options than you’re considering.

Many more are choosing not to go into skilled care, and are instead choosing to remain at home. Aging in place is a growing field, and it’s all about keeping someone in a place where they’ve always felt happy and secure.

If you’re in the decision-making process, there are two kinds of care: in home care, and the care you can only receive by leaving your home.

With in home care, you can receive all types of care:

  • Home care
  • Recovery care
  • Respite care
  • Home health care
  • Hospice care

Outside of the home, you also have different choices:

  • Senior living
  • Assisted living
  • Nursing home
  • Respite care
  • Hospice

The two cross over a bit. It some cases the care is similar. And in other cases, the two can’t be further apart. Where do you start? How do you know which type of care is best for your loved one?

What if my loved one is healthy, yet I’ve noticed certain failures at home?

That’s always the first stages of trying to decide what’s next. Maybe they aren’t paying the bills on time. Or the refrigerator is bare and you aren’t sure if they’re eating properly. Or maybe the prescription bottle has more pills in it than it should – are they taking their medicines on time?

Home care is perfect for these issues. Home care isn’t about medical treatment. Instead, it’s about bringing someone in for the little tasks that are being left by the wayside. They’re personal in nature – think of it as hiring a personal assistant to ensure the most important things get done.

What if it’s a bigger challenge – my mom has bigger problems and needs regular check-ins?

That’s when many turn to assisted living. But imagine all of a sudden you have to leave the place you’ve called home. You’re still able to do certain things – have lunch with friends, clean the house, maybe even drive. And suddenly your kids want you to move to assisted living – that’s a difficult process at best.

In home care can provide the care you need for peace of mind, while leaving your mom in a place she’s most comfortable. Plus an in home care assistant is also a way to introduce human connection on a regular basis. This can be especially important if your mom has had to give up some activities because of her health.

What if my parents are at different stages, and you can’t find a facility that will take them both?

Imagine being married for fifty, sixty years. You’ve always been side by side, and suddenly you’re told you’ll have to sleep in different bedrooms, possibly be in different facilities. How devastating will that be to both?

In home care means they can stay together. They can enjoy each others company in a place they’ve called home. They can each receive the level of care they need, personalized to help them stay together.

Need more? Want a better understanding of what in home care can do for your family? Set up an initial consultation today, and let’s talk about what in home care can do for you.

What In Home Care Is and Isn’t

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When your loved one is in need of caregiving, there are a lot of different needs to be met. Some needs require medical assistance. Others are non-medical activities.

In home care is non-medical care provided in a person’s home or residence. It provides assistance with all kinds of activities, such as eating, personal hygiene, medication reminders, or transportation services to meetings and appointments.

In home caregivers are professionally trained to ensure they maintain a safe and healthy environment for your loved one at all times. Their jobs are to ensure your loved one’s safety when you aren’t around.

Even though in home caregivers may be with your loved one a significant part of the day, they aren’t personal assistants or an extra set of hands. There is a limitation to what can be expected of their services.

For example, an in home caregiver can remind a person to take their medication, but they aren’t medically trained and can’t administer medication. You will need a medical practitioner to administer for special needs.

Likewise, an in home caregiver might clean up the kitchen after making your loved one lunch. But their job isn’t to give the kitchen a thorough cleaning. They aren’t housekeeping ready to keep the home clean.

Where in home care excels is providing your loved one with one on one care. Assisted living facilities can never do that. The ratio of trained caregivers to patients is always many to one. With in home care, your loved one receives undivided attention. If a caregiver is in their home, your loved one is receiving individualized care. That means whatever they want or need, an in home caregiver will provide. That can change every day. They can provide transportation to doctor’s appointments one day, and take them out to lunch with friends on another.

And because your loved one remains in the comfort of their own home, chances are they remain happier and healthier longer. It’s the most economical way of ensuring all of your loved one’s needs are met.

Wondering what in home care can do for your family? The best place to start is with an initial consultation. Schedule your today.

What Is In-Home Health Care?

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There are many ways for you to help your parents or loved one remain in their home indefinitely. Not every person is required to move to assisted living and beyond.

Remaining at home gives your loved one peace of mind. However, for you to have peace in your life, it’s important for you to get the required care your loved one needs and not attempt to do it all on your own.

That’s where a lot of people mistake the differences between in-home care and home health care. Both are required. Both offer a variety of options and distinctions.

In-Home Care

In-home care is provided by caregivers who are trained to understand the daily aspects of home care. In-home caregivers provide a wide variety of services usually associated with daily living. In-home care is classified as personal care or companion care, and is considered “unskilled” or “non-clinical”. [Read more…]

A Caregivers Guide To Downsizing A Home

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Moving is one of the most stressful times of your life. Whether it’s moving to another home in your local community, or across the country for new opportunities, there’s a lot you leave behind.

For seniors, that compounds, especially if they leave a family home they’ve lived in for decades.

Tackling the planning, organizing, packing, discarding, cleaning, paperwork, and a host of other chores can be daunting at best.

As we age, moving often signals new opportunities. We find new relationships. We find new positions. We might even make a move for new adventures.

But for many of us, we reach a point where the move is no longer as positive as moves once were. The move may be to make it easier to live – moving from a two story to a single story can make mobility that much easier. Yet the process means there are things we’ll have to give up.

As difficult as it is for your loved one, sometimes it’s even more difficult for you. You may realize it’s the best decision for your spouse. But given different circumstances, you’d never move for yourself. How do you leave it all behind? How do you put a smile on your face and realize it’s for the best? [Read more…]

How Will Your Loved One Survive Rehab After A Hospital Discharge?

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After a serious health event that requires hospitalization, the days and weeks that follow can be strenuous at best. Many people need rehabilitation services, such as physical, occupational, or speech therapies. Some may even need nursing care until they are fully recuperated.

For families, this time frame can be life-changing. The realization that things are changing and may never be the same becomes a stark reality. You may discover that your loved one doesn’t have a voice in the process, which can leave you even more stressed as you scramble to determine what’s next.

Your best bet at this time is to find your voice. Ask questions. Then ask them again.

Because the answers will change all the time.

Create a hospital discharge plan

This guides you to decide what’s next. You should start this process from the moment your loved one enters the hospital. Questions will become your best sense of direction.

  • What’s next?
  • What therapies will we need?
  • What services will health insurance or Medicare pay for?
  • Who handles personal tasks such as dressing or bathing?
  • How safe will my loved one be every hour of the day?
  • How much support will they need to do everyday tasks?
  • What problems can arise?
  • What is the average length of recovery?
  • What side effects should I watch for?
  • What do I consider an emergency?

One question leads to another. And even when you backtrack and ask the same question again, you may get a different answer. Be sure to take it all in and write it down. This tool will become invaluable as you navigate each new day.

Consider Your Resources Carefully

All rehabilitation programs are not the same. And many rehabilitation programs have waiting lists trying to get in. As early as possible, start doing research and creating a tentative schedule of what your loved one will need next. Then start making calls to find out where they will best fit.

Many people are not aware that different therapies can be given in different ways. It’s up to everyone to decide the best route for your loved one. Some can be in home processes; some need skilled nursing care in order to receive the best help.

Look at the assistance your loved one requires from every angle. Will they need an advocate to ensure they are getting proper care every hour of the day? How much can they handle on their own? Again, the answer to this question can change daily. Be sure you revisit it on a constant basis.

Get Better Yourself

Most people only push to do what’s best for their loved one without stepping back and doing what’s best for themselves. This can be a heavy burden for some people, especially if they are dealing with health problems of their own.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to take the time you need to do what’s right for you. Your questions shouldn’t always be about the best care for your loved one; also ask questions for your state of being. Find out what counseling options are available to you to ensure you stay healthy through this transition. Not addressing feelings can be detrimental to the entire process.

This is a time of transition for everyone involved. Take the steps necessary to build a solid life plan from this day on.

How can we help you during this time in your life?

Hydration Affects Your Hospital Stay

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Dehydration occurs when a person loses more fluid than they bring in. If a body doesn’t have enough water in its system, it can’t carry out normal functions.

It’s especially important that seniors pay attention to hydration because a lack of fluids can lead to things like delirium, infections, or worse.

How much water do you need?

There are a lot of factors that go into determining how much water a body needs, such as gender, weight, and body fat. Bodies in motion need more than bodies at rest.

As we age, our bodies tend to hold less water. Even sitting can drain a body of much needed fluids quickly. That is why seniors inevitably have more problems with dehydration.

Older adults also lose their perception of thirst. When dehydration sets in for us, we quickly become parched. Not so with seniors, so they might not know they need an intake of fluids until the signs of dehydration set in. [Read more…]

Help For Long Distance Caregivers

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It doesn’t take more than a minute or two to look around you and realize that we’re a nation of stressed, depressed, and anxiety-ridden people. Estimates show that around 8.3 million of American adults – 3.4 percent of our population – are in serious psychological distress.

You may be feeling some of that too, especially if you are in a caregiving role.

Caregiving doesn’t just mean taking care of someone in your home. Even if your aging mom or dad is hundreds of miles away, the stress can quickly add up and cause you pain as well.

You may have tried doing things on your own, but are quickly finding it’s not enough. That’s when most people start looking for help.

We typically find people ask for help when: [Read more…]

Ways To Ensure Food Security

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The simple act of putting food on the table every day can be difficult for aging seniors.

  • Getting to the grocery store
  • Selecting the proper foods
  • Having money to make healthy choices
  • Having the physical ability to stand and make a meal
  • The emotional implications of eating alone

All of these and more make the elderly more vulnerable to malnutrition. [Read more…]

4 Myths Of Hospice

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What do you think of when you hear the word hospice? It evokes a certain reaction, doesn’t it?

As humans, we have a natural reluctance to think about the eventual need for these services, yet it’s inevitable. So we build walls and put the thoughts aside until they are thrust upon us in a moment of need.

We’ve built up misconceptions about what hospice is – and what it isn’t – and in many cases, it prevents us from seeking out the critical support hospice provides when it can do us the most good. Hospice benefits in many different ways. Hospice can be an important part of the journey your loved one is taking and provide the critical care that will benefit all of you.

Myth #1 Hospice is a place

Hospice, hospital, assisted care, nursing home – what does it all mean? It’s easy to get lost in the words and concepts when your world suddenly changes. Unlike physical healthcare units like hospitals and nursing homes, hospice is not a structure or a place. Instead, hospice is a comprehensive, patient/family centered care that offers compassion and medical care in the advanced stages of illness. It provides multidimensional pain and symptom management as well as emotional, spiritual, and practical support to those in need. It can be offered anywhere a patient and family chooses, including a personal residence, a long term care facility, or a hospital. It’s all about the patient. [Read more…]