Summer is traditionally the time of year when we can take a break from the day-to-day stresses and escape on vacation. The past year and a half has been particularly hard — COVID took away the opportunity to go on any trips, and we’re all due for some relaxation. However, if you’re a caregiver tasked with supporting your elderly loved ones, you may not feel you can take time off — caregiving is a full-time job, and you may feel wholly responsible for caring for your family members. On top of this year’s pandemic, you’ve been supporting and looking after your loved ones — if anyone needs a break, it’s YOU!
This is where 24-hr in-home care comes in. 24-hr in home care is one of our specialty areas of service. Read on to learn what 24-hr in home care is and how it could support you. Go on and book that vacation!!
24-hour care may be the right choice for you if your loved one needs care at any hour of the day. That care may be difficult to anticipate so the caregiver needs to be available at all times to respond to wandering, helping someone to the bathroom, preparing meals, giving medication reminders. With 24 hour care, caregivers are booked daily and work a number of hours each, ensuring that there is always someone available to care for your loved one.
1 – STRUCTURE + ROUTINE
Structure, routine, and a clean environment all contribute to a successful recovery. 24-hr in home personal care services include assistance with living activities, such as personal hygiene, dressing, laundry, shopping, meal preparation, and night-time tasks. Two extremely valuable benefits home care services offer is discreet safety supervision and true companionship between aide and client. This bond often develops into relationships based on mutual respect.
A patient who opts for private care will experience:
- Monitoring of symptoms such as palpitations, excessive perspiration, dizziness, or difficulty breathing.
- Healthy meals, that include dietary restrictions if necessary, prepared by the home health care expert, as well as a daily recording of the client’s intake of fluids.
- Assistance with personal hygiene resulting in showering more often, shaving, and toileting. In-home caregivers also ensure the client’s clothes, hair, and nails are clean, and that the bed linens are changed regularly.
- Reminders to take meds on time.
- Laundry is washed, dried, folded, and put away.
- Transportation to follow-up doctor’s appointments
- Food and/or pharmaceutical shopping is taken care of
- Companionship and conversation: playing cards, doing jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, or other hobbies. Having someone who is there just for a patient’s wellbeing fosters a feeling of safety and security.
2 – FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
With 24 hours in a day, there are many options on how and when you’d like to schedule care for your loved one. You can set up recurring shifts for day and night care, ensuring that there is always someone there to assist. 24-hr in home care means that a caregiver can actively monitor someone at night, which is particularly important for those who may have sundown syndrome or who become agitated during the evening. This is also helpful in the case that your family member needs assistance during the night, such as going to the restroom or getting a drink of water.
3 – COMBATING LONELINESS + DEPRESSION
Loneliness and isolation are very real concerns for the elderly, especially in New England. In-home caregivers are able to provide warmth and caring human connections that can keep loneliness at bay. The caregiver and client develop a bond of trust, security, and a sense of peace which enriches both their lives. A well-trained caregiver is skilled in encouraging interest and engagement in fitness and nutrition. Motivating your loved ones to pursue their interests by daily conversation, encouraging consumption of lecture/seminars on the arts, music, theater, or religious events, and connecting with friends and family.
4 – ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL CARE-GIVERS
Caregivers – certified nursing assistants (CNAs) & home health aides (HHAs) & Companions – are available for 24-hr in home care. They have completed a certification program and are licensed to practice by the Commonwealth. A reputable home care agency has undertaken background checks on their Aides including a CORI, verifying past employment, permission to work in the USA, as well as reviewing medical tests for drugs and TB. Seniors who take advantage of in-home care remain independent and are more apt to maintain their existing lifestyle.
5 – PEACE OF MIND
The stress and uncertainty of knowing if your elderly loved ones are okay while unattended can be incredibly taxing. 24-hr in home care allows for peace of mind– you know that your family member is receiving the best care available and it not alone. You don’t have to worry about them accidentally falling in the night, or if they ate a good dinner, and can rest assured that they are in good hands with a professional caregiver that they (and you) trust.
Abundant Home Health Care’s motto is COMPASSION + EMPATHY = TRUST. As always, we are here to support you and your family. We offer 24-hr in home care with personal support and can make sure that your loved ones are taken care of. Reach out to us today if you’d like to learn more.