Many seniors are choosing to age in place at home instead of moving to an assisted living or nursing facility. To maintain a good quality of life, some seniors may need additional assistance with their medical or personal care and daily household tasks. Deciding whether a “home care nurse” or an “in-home personal caregiver” is required is a crucial first step. What Does an In-Home Caregiver Do? An in-home personal caregiver provides non-medical assistance for adults needing personal care, including daily tasks. Professional in-home caregivers help older adults maintain their independence, continue living at home, and age safely and comfortably. Caregiver tasks may include:
What Does a Home Care Nurse Do? A home care nurse is either a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN) who offers nursing-level medical care to individuals in their home. Home care nurses provide treatments that may include:
Which Type of Care is Right for You? The first step is determining whether your loved one’s needs are medical or non-medical. If your loved one needs in-home medical support, discuss their situation with a doctor. In-home care provided by nurses is typically recommended by a physician and paid via insurance. Care is limited to the individual’s physician-documented medical needs. In-home nurses often provide care for the short term (during the time of a patient’s illness or injury). Some patients with chronic or progressive conditions may need in-home medical assistance indefinitely. The duration of visits is also limited to the time it takes to provide the recommended care. Examples include a one-hour visit for a monthly infusion or a 15-minute visit to change a dressing and administer medication. If your loved one needs non-medical personal assistance, a professional home care provider from a reputable home care agency such as Visiting Angels Newton/Canton might be the right choice. Clients and their families can select the required hours and tasks, even if those requests are for respite care only. Visiting Angels offers numerous types of care arrangements, including:
About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning home care agency providing high-caliber in-home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over seventeen years. Countless families have benefited from our at-home care, senior companion support, in-home respite care, live-in and 24-hour home care, dementia, and Alzheimer’s care, transitional aid, and private duty care services in Stoughton, Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Brookline, Canton, Watertown, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities in Massachusetts. The non-medical assistance provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton home care can significantly impact your loved one’s happiness and quality of life.
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Nobody enjoys being admitted to the hospital. Whether it’s an overnight visit or an extended stay, the time away from the comforts of home can negatively affect a senior’s physical and mental health. Readmittance soon after discharge from the hospital is difficult for seniors and their loved ones. Unfortunately, this scenario is a sad and familiar reality for many individuals over 65. Roughly 20% of seniors on Medicare end up back in the hospital within 30 days of their last visit due to preventable factors such as:
Reduce hospital readmission risks by learning what questions to ask and understanding why professional in-home care can be vital for seniors after a stint in the hospital. Questions to Ask During a Hospital Discharge
The hospital discharge practice often feels onerous, and seniors and their caregivers may leave confused. A smooth process — and getting clear instructions — can help reduce the odds of hospital readmission. Here are some questions to ask before your senior loved one leaves the facility: What do I need to know about their condition before discharge? Make sure you get all information about your loved one’s condition from the hospital staff. Understand what they have been diagnosed with and what kind of care they received in the facility. Learn which symptoms will require follow-up from a medical professional. Are there any changes to medication? Medication errors are one of the main reasons seniors get readmitted to the hospital. Ask the hospital staff to provide you with a list of prescribed medications. Make sure you understand the dosages and recommended times. Also, confirm which medications your loved one should no longer take. What upcoming appointments are needed? Get a list of upcoming medical appointments and mark them on your calendar. Follow-up appointments will help a doctor confirm recovery is on track and prevent a return trip to the hospital. If possible, try to attend these appointments with your loved one. What additional support is recommended? Many seniors need non-medical support — such as help with mobility, bathing or dressing, and other household tasks — following a hospital stay. Ask hospital staff what kind of in-home care support your loved one requires. Also, find out what tasks they should do on their own. Not being able to do these tasks could be a sign of worsening health. Can the hospital provide written, step-by-step discharge instructions? Make sure to get clear, easy-to-understand, documented instructions from the hospital before discharge. If you can’t comprehend the instructions, review them with the staff. Make copies so both you and your loved one have the same information and, if necessary, rewrite them so they can be easily followed. In-Home Care Program for Seniors After a Hospital Stay Many family caregivers underestimate the support needed for seniors to continue on their road to recovery. As a result, the care at home may end with a return to the hospital or an emergency room. With proper support and planning, you can reduce the risk of re-hospitalization. Consider enrolling in the Visiting Angels Newton/Canton’s From Hospital/Rehab to Home Program for extra assistance. This specialized service helps seniors transition from a hospital to a home setting safely and effectively, enabling your loved one to recover comfortably in familiar surroundings. Experienced caregivers will provide seniors with:
Schedule a free care consultation to discuss your loved one’s needs during and following a hospital stay. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA has been providing high-caliber in-home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our companion care, personal home care, live-in and 24/7 home care, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, fall prevention, respite support, transitional aid, and at home care services in Wellesley, Natick, Dedham, Needham, Newton, Watertown, Brookline, Stoughton, Canton, Jamaica Plain, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. As a result of our exemplary home care service, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has won the Best of Home Care Leader in Excellence Award; the Best of Home Care Provider of Choice Award; and the Best of Home Care Employer of Choice Award from the national client satisfaction survey firm, Home Care Pulse, for six years. We have been honored to receive the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work award for seven years and one of the ten best places to work in Massachusetts in 2021 based on diversity and inclusion. Our dedicated and well-trained caregivers love their HHA jobs and CNA jobs. When your senior loved one chooses to age in place, it’s essential to take proactive steps to keep them safe, comfortable, healthy, and happy. For many families, hiring professional in-home care services is the best solution. But how much care does your loved one need? Visiting Angels Newton/Canton provides in-home care services with flexible schedules depending on the level of need. We offer customized hours to suit the needs of seniors and their families. Professional caregivers fill in gaps — providing care only when a senior needs it, so families don’t have to pay unnecessary home care costs. Clients and families can add, remove, or adjust hours as needed. Popular Home Care Options
RESPITE CARE Respite care is typically provided hourly to give family members a break from caregiving duties. It can cover evenings, weekends, holidays, and regular business hours. Respite care can be customized to unique circumstances, providing short-term, temporary care as needed, which can come in handy during a family vacation or other personal obligations and responsibilities. HOURLY CARE Visiting Angels Newton/Canton’s caregivers can provide support on a routine, hourly basis, enabling seniors and families to customize the length and frequency of visits. For example, your loved one may need help in the morning, assistance with their evening meals, or a bedtime routine a few days a week. Maybe they need two full days of care per week or during the weekend. Whatever their needs, an hourly plan offers flexibility. FULL-TIME CARE A full-time home care option is available for seniors who need 9-to-5 assistance on weekdays. This 40-hour-a-week service is ideal for multigenerational households that need senior care during the day when family members are at work or school. 24/7 CARE Visiting Angels Newton/Canton’s caregivers provide around-the-clock support for seniors, offering a reliable alternative to nursing home care. 24/7 care is also ideal when families live far away or cannot provide consistent in-person caregiving support. Seniors receive one-on-one attention from several caregivers who work 8- or 12-hour shifts. This schedule ensures a senior’s routine is not disrupted. OVERNIGHT CARE Many older adults benefit from having a trusted caregiver with them overnight — particularly if they are living with dementia, insomnia, or experiencing anxiety or loneliness at night. Caregivers can assist seniors with bedtime habits, offer companionship, and provide a sense of security during the overnight hours. Home Care Cost Savings When considering senior care options, it’s important to remember that an in-home personal caregiver may be able to meet your loved one’s care needs for a fraction of the cost of full-time nursing home care. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton’s clients only pay for services when they need them, which provides significant savings compared to 24/7 care in a nursing or assisted-living facility. If you think in-home personal care might be the right choice for your loved one, schedule a no-cost, no-obligation in-home care assessment. A case manager will visit you at home to learn your unique needs and then design a personalized care plan for you. We provide home care for seniors with dementia, companionship, light housekeeping, meal preparation, medicine reminders, dressing and grooming assistance, and much more for a loved one living alone. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation! About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, MA has been providing high-caliber in-home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our personal home care, live-in and 24/7 home care, dementia, and Alzheimer’s care, companion care, respite support, transitional aid, and home care services in Wellesley, Natick, Newton, Watertown, Brookline, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Canton, Jamaica Plain, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. As a result of our exemplary home care service, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has won the Best of Home Care Leader in Excellence Award; the Best of Home Care Provider of Choice Award; and the Best of Home Care Employer of Choice Award from the national client satisfaction survey firm, Home Care Pulse, for six years. We have received the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work award for seven years and one of the ten best places to work in Massachusetts in 2021 based on diversity and inclusion. Our dedicated and well-trained caregivers love their CNA jobs and HHA jobs. In any new relationship, there is an adjustment period. A relationship between your senior loved one and a new caregiver is no different. It may take some time to develop. It can be a little awkward for your senior loved one and a new professional caregiver to get used to each other. A good and trusting relationship takes time to develop. But this is an integral part of your loved one’s life and hitting the ground running is essential. Follow these tips, and you can set the foundation for a successful and long-lasting connection. Involve everyone in the family
Setting caregivers up for success starts before you meet them or contact a home care agency. This is a big decision in the life of your loved one and yours. This person will spend time alone with your senior in their home, so you need to gather the whole family or everyone involved in their care and include them in the decision. Then ask yourselves some questions: What are your senior loved one’s home care needs? Is it medical care? If so, in-home assistance may not be the right option. Does your loved one need a little help around the home with housework? Do they need support with personal care like bathing and getting dressed, or even just getting around the house? Does Mom or Dad require companionship? Isolation in seniors can often lead to further difficulties. Make a list of your loved one’s needs and be ready to share them with the agency so you can determine what kind of care you need. How often does your loved one need in-home care? Does Mom or Dad need someone to visit every day? Would a few hours a week be enough to help your loved one with what they need? Would morning shifts be more appropriate, or would it be better to schedule night visits? Hiring a professional caregiver to help can give you a much-needed break. But leaving your loved one can give you a sense of guilt: It shouldn’t. Be honest with yourself about what you need and communicate your requirements to your family and home care agency. Talk to Your Loved One Remember that talking to an elderly loved one about bringing in a professional caregiver can be an emotive topic. Your mom or dad may be fiercely independent, and it can be hard to bring this person around to the idea of daily assistance. For more help, check out these tips on talking to a parent about care. Consult the Professionals Once you have worked out what your loved one’s requirements may be, it’s time to contact an agency. Agencies should offer a free consultation. They can talk to you about your loved one’s needs and whether they align with what the agency can offer. The agency should give you an estimate of the cost of home care services in Greater Boston, and they may also be able to provide you with some advice on options available for funding in-home care. Choosing the Right Caregiver Once you’ve identified an agency, here are questions to ask when considering a caregiver: Is this caregiver’s personality compatible with your loved one? Talk to the caregiver to assess — you know your loved one best. This will be an essential person in your loved one’s life, and ensuring compatibility is vital. Do this caregiver’s skills and experience align with what your loved one needs? If your loved one has dementia and one caregiver has professional training in caring for seniors with dementia, that’s a solid match. If you’re worried about your loved one falling, look for a caregiver with a fall-prevention qualification. Does this caregiver’s availability match your loved one’s schedule? Availability can easily be overlooked. If your loved one needs assistance in the morning and the caregiver only works evenings, that won’t work. If your loved one requires care five days a week and the caregiver is fully booked on three of those, you’ll need alternative options. Develop a Home Care Plan The best home care agencies will take your concerns and use them to build a care plan. Be clear about what you will be doing as a family and what you expect from this caregiver. Make sure everyone involved in support of the senior knows their role: If everyone knows their responsibilities, then you can ensure that your loved one’s care is as seamless as possible. Introduce Your Loved One to the Caregiver Arrange a meeting between your loved one and the caregiver. Be there to introduce them and to help them bond. When your loved one seems settled, leave them to get to know each other and go to the kitchen or somewhere else out of the room. Your loved one will know that you’re close if they are not comfortable, but you’ll also give them space to bond. Communicate Caring for your loved one is now a shared responsibility. It is essential to keep the agency and professional caregiver abreast of any changes you’ve seen in the health and behaviors of your loved one, and they should do the same with you. Take advantage of their training and experience: They may pick up on subtle differences you may not notice. That’s when you know you’ve genuinely retained superior home care. If It’s Not Working, Act Give it a short time and see how things go. Talk to your loved one. Is Mom or Dad happy? Are they receiving the help they need? If it’s not working out for your loved one, contact your care manager and discuss your concerns. There are times when a caregiver can be given additional training and guidance to improve their ability to provide the best support possible. Inform your care manager if a change in caregiver is clearly necessary so they can arrange to introduce someone new to your loved one, you, and your family. This could be a long-term relationship for your loved one, and it must be with the right person. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA has been providing high-caliber in-home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our private duty care, companion care, respite support, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, live-in and 24/7 home care, transitional aid, and home care services in Wellesley, Natick, Newton, Watertown, Brookline, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Canton, Jamaica Plain, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. As a result of our exemplary home care service, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has won the Best of Home Care Leader in Excellence Award; the Best of Home Care Provider of Choice Award; and the Best of Home Care Employer of Choice Award from the national client satisfaction survey firm, Home Care Pulse, for six years. We have been honored to receive the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work award for seven years and one of the ten best places to work in Massachusetts in 2021 based on diversity and inclusion. Our dedicated and well-trained caregivers love their HHA jobs and CNA jobs. Most seniors want to age at home for as long as possible. Still, seniors living with chronic health conditions or physical and emotional limitations may need 24-hour living assistance at home. This constant care is likely to be impossible for families to manage and sustain. One option is to move in with a family member. Another option is to move them to an assisted living facility. A third option is full-time or 24-hour in-home care, where professional caregivers provide 24/7 assistance — day and night — in the comfort of their own home. Why Some Seniors May Need 24-Hour Home CarePoor eyesight, memory loss, mobility issues, and deteriorating health are some of the things that can make simple everyday tasks challenging and frustrating for older adults. Professional one-on-one caregivers from Visiting Angels can handle these daily responsibilities and offer safety, support, and companionship. Here are some advantages of round-the-clock care: SafetyProfessional home caregivers from Visiting Angels are trained to identify tripping and accident risks and other potential household hazards for seniors. They can act as your eyes and ears to monitor and protect your loved one. Reliable care at a reasonable costNursing homes and other facilities for the elderly can be costly. Knowing you’re getting reliable, affordable home care is a cost-effective advantage of a 24/7 live-in home care aide. Support from friends and familyWhen your loved one is comfortable in their home, they can welcome and entertain family and friends. Visitors can come when they want, unlike nursing homes with permanent visiting hours. This flexibility enables more people to spend quality time with senior loved ones. Personalized care & lifestyle maintenanceWhen seniors move into a nursing home, many things change — a new room, surroundings, people, and schedules. All of these transitions can disorient and upset the elderly. In-home caregivers will ensure the care they need without disrupting their routine. A one-on-one support system enables a high level of personal care for seniors. Meals, activities, and other requests can be tailored to your loved one’s preferences. A home caregiver can tackle light everyday chores and keep the house clean and orderly according to your loved one’s wishes. They can also help with day-to-day transportation to and from doctor appointments, grocery store visits, and other out-of-home activities. Meaningful companionshipIn addition to physical assistance, a 24-hour professional caregiver offers emotional support and one-to-one companion care. A 24-hour home care aide provides seniors with an acquaintance they can rely on and prevent loneliness. Respite for family caregiversMany family caregivers can become overwhelmed when supporting an elderly loved one and may benefit from respite care service. 24-hour care service can provide families a brief break by offering a helping hand with household responsibilities. Families can rest easy knowing there is always a considerate, competent professional taking care of their loved ones.
Visiting Angels’ 24-hour home caregivers provide dedicated and compassionate care for seniors, keeping them safe and comfortable while giving you peace of mind. Take the first step to learn more through a complimentary home care assessment. During a Visiting Angels’ in-home care assessment, we’ll meet with you and your loved one to determine how 24-hour care can deliver the best outcome. Our Select Your Caregiver® program enables you to choose your loved one’s caregiver(s). Thanks to our in-depth care assessments, we’ll suggest caregiver matches that closely meet your needs, making it easy to select the proper care professional for your loved one. To learn more, please contact us at 617–795–2727. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA has been providing high-caliber in-home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our private duty care, companion care, respite support, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, live-in and 24/7 home care, transitional aid, and home care services in Watertown, Brookline, Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Canton, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. As a result of our exemplary home care service, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has won the Best of Home Care Leader in Excellence Award; the Best of Home Care Provider of Choice Award; and the Best of Home Care Employer of Choice Award from the national client satisfaction survey firm, Home Care Pulse, for six years. We have been honored to receive the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work award for seven years and one of the ten best places to work in Massachusetts in 2021 based on diversity and inclusion. Our dedicated and well-trained caregivers love their HHA jobs and CNA jobs. |
AuthorVisiting Angels Newton/Canton is an award-winning in-home care agency that provides high quality home care to seniors and disabled adults in Greater Boston, MA. Archives
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