Some people can’t imagine having a private duty home care provider move into their home, until they experience the change companionship can bring. What families quickly learn is that there are many benefits to professional live-in care, particularly for older adults who wish to remain in the comfort of their own homes.
A cost-effective strategy for living safely in the comfort of your own home
When a caring and competent live-in professional takes the responsibility of 24/7 care, those same people who couldn’t imagine living with a non-family member, suddenly can’t imagine life without their trusted companion. For aging adults, injured individuals, or people with special needs, having live-in care can be life-changing and life-saving.
Live-in care professionals are compassionate, knowledgeable, health home health aides (HHAs) who are specially trained to provide support for people who need assistance with the activities of daily living. Such support might range from help with bathing, toileting, dressing, grooming, and basic exercise, to light housekeeping and help with errands.
Many families rely on a live-in care provider to prepare healthy meals for their loved one and ensure that nutritional needs are met. A live-in companion can also provide medication reminders to make sure that medications are taken as prescribed, alleviating the fear of overdosing, or missing medicines that may be critical to controlling chronic conditions.
Since live-in caregivers are there all the time, they are likely to notice small changes in their client’s condition before they become more serious. This kind of proactive oversight often prevents unnecessary hospitalizations.
Flexibility to fit everyone’s lifestyle
Even when family members are caring for children, spouses, or parents with illness or special needs at home, a private duty home care professional can relieve some of the pressure of being a ‘round the clock caregiver. Many people employ a live-in HHA to provide companionship for their loved one while they go to work, or to provide respite care when they need a well-earned break from the demands of caregiving.
AARP recommends, “in order to choose the right home care agency for your family member's needs, you will need to do the research to ensure you have reliable information on your options, including how to manage the type and duration of the services that will be provided, as well as the costs.”
Before you engage a home health care agency, confirm that their employees are fully insured, and that they undergo thorough background and work reference checks. The agency should provide ongoing skills evaluations and training for its HHAs, and RN supervision throughout the course of the engagement. A good agency will also help you determine Medicare or other insurance eligibility, and will coordinate paperwork and reimbursements on your behalf.
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