subject: Home Care For Seniors [print this page] Many seniors don't want to move to an assisted living facility or nursing home. Caring for the elderly is something that home health care agencies provide. They employ skilled and screened workers to help with elderly care. The agency can arrange these visits on a daily basis and as often as necessary.
It can be very stressful and time consuming for families who have seniors living on their own. They may need to see them daily and provide help.An agency can give them peace of mind knowing their loved one is being looked after. This is especially important when family members are going away on vacation, or usually busy during the day.
In addition, family members who have a senior living with them may need respite. This gives the family a break and will help to avoid burn out or getting over tired. An agency can provide respite care at the convenience of the family.
The services offered by a home health care agency are vast and which services provided will, of course be dependent on the requirements of the individual. Prior to beginning the relationship, the agency will assess needs and determine preferences as to how much care is needed, how much time is optimal and what time the client wishes for the caregiver to arrive, Everything possible is done to accommodate the senior in regards to when they like to eat meals, get started in the morning or go to bed at night.
A common theme for many elderly is the experience of loneliness. Having outlived most of their friends and a good deal of their family, they have known loss and grief. Even the world they had been used to, is gone. A nurses aide can offer much needed companionship in addition to other duties. In addition to her other duties an aide can accompany the senior on walks, shopping excursions and other activities. The caregiver can even do the food shopping should the client be unable or unwilling to do so.
Meals can be prepared and cooked according to the way the senior likes them. If the person has any dietary restrictions or is a diabetic needing to use a certain diet plan, the meals will follow this.Home cooking is always preferable to that which one might find at a live-in facility.
Personal care and hygiene is important for health and well being and this can be provided as well.
If the senior needs assistance beyond the scope of what a nurses aide is able to do, a professional Registered Nurse will visit.
All staff employed by a home health care agency go through a detailed screening before they are sent to anyone's home. The agency is committed to excellent care and support. Also, a home health agency has a sizable staff. If an aide is poorly matched with a senior, than the agency will swiftly provide another.
The elderly care provided by agency staff allows people the freedom to continue to live at home as long as possible. It also gives families comfort and much needed support.
