In home caregivers that excel are open and accommodating of help from other sources. A friend or family member might offer to take your loved one for walks a few times each week or run errands, for instance.
Caregivers should do what is possible to preserve their individual relationships while joining a support group for validation and encouragement.
Personal Care
If a person needs assistance managing daily activities like bathing, getting dressed, grocery shopping and cooking, then an in home caregiver could be beneficial. Professional caregivers provide services within an individual’s own home and may also accompany them on outings such as social gatherings or medical appointments.
Caregivers may be hired through an agency or registry; when hiring directly it’s essential to conduct a comprehensive interview process and conduct background checks on all potential caregivers. Because a caregiver provides companionship as well as practical services it is vital that someone pleasant is found – the care recipient should also attend this interview so the caregiver can meet him/her personally and better understand their needs and help provide what assistance may be necessary.
Companionship
An elderly adult’s companion can provide much-needed social contact and prevent loneliness – an often-debilitating health risk for older adults. Caregivers also often help with grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning and other household duties that might otherwise go undone.
Senior caregiving assistants can accompany seniors on outings such as visiting a library or shopping center. Furthermore, they provide transportation for medical and therapy appointments outside the regular visit schedule of care recipients.
Companion care services do not offer direct assistance with hygiene tasks like grooming and toileting – these responsibilities fall to certified home health aides. Families should inquire as to the agency’s process for creating client care plans as well as whether there are backup staff available in case of emergencies. Furthermore, determine whether Medicare reimburses their services.
Medication Management
Caregivers often assist patients in taking their medication (as long as it’s legal). This includes making sure it is taken on time and in the appropriate dosage, evaluating effectiveness, as well as checking for potential interactions or side effects of certain drugs.
Caregivers typically keep track of a care recipient’s medications through various tools or strategies, from simple pill boxes with labeled compartments to notebooks or loose-leaf binders with tabbed pages. Medication Management refers to keeping this list updated with changes from doctors as they modify prescriptions; or reviewing whether over-the-counter medicines are appropriate to their condition – all these efforts help achieve desired health outcomes and achieve desirable health outcomes.
Transportation
Many seniors stop driving as their health declines and family members may struggle to arrange transportation for them – leaving them isolated and socially disconnected.
Home care agencies provide transportation for your loved one to run errands, visit friends and see doctors, as well as accompanying them to appointments and helping them into and out of vehicles.
Hired caregivers are provided through referral from friends or community groups or registries that match you with caregivers; both options involve stringent screening processes that fall solely under your responsibility for hiring. You may also apply to Colorado’s Single Entry Point agency (SEP) IHSS program for in-home caregiver services and transportation; applying through this route grants more control over who you hire while also creating more paperwork; for instance involving hiring an Fiscal Employer Agent that manages taxes and payroll withholding responsibilities on your behalf.
Housekeeping
Caregivers provide light housekeeping services to keep their clients’ living environments neat and orderly. This may involve emptying trash cans, washing dishes, sweeping or vacuuming floors or surfaces and wiping surfaces etc.
Messy homes can be extremely stressful and lead to health issues for seniors. Clutter can make it hard to focus, while food that spoils can spread disease – making their kitchen cleaner an invaluable way to promote overall wellbeing. By helping keep their kitchen organized for them, you can help ensure they remain in optimal health.
Disinfecting bathroom surfaces is also key to good hygiene, helping reduce the risks of slipperiness in bathtubs, sinks and showers and helping avoid falls that could cause serious injury and hospital stays. Even one slip up could result in serious repercussions for which medical attention may be necessary.