For many older people, some aspects of living alone can become difficult. There may be some daily tasks that are challenging to do alone, and other family members may not be available to help. However, most people prefer to stay in their own homes as long as possible, rather than moving into an assisted living facility or a long-term care home. If you are starting to need help with personal care, or if you have a parent who will soon need more help than you can give them, you may want to consider hiring an in-home caregiver.
An in-home caregiver can provide help with a wide variety of tasks, depending on the client’s needs. An elderly person may need help with personal care, such as bathing, going to the restroom, and getting dressed. Family members sometimes find it difficult to assist with these tasks, especially if their relative has had a sudden injury or is gradually declining in health. A professional caregiver will have the necessary experience to help with these tasks.
In-home caregivers often help with household tasks as well. They may do chores such as laundry and general cleaning. They can prepare healthy meals for clients and provide help with eating, if necessary. They may also be able to run errands such as grocery shopping.
Clients often need assistance with managing health care, especially if there are no relatives nearby who can help. In-home caregivers can take them to doctor’s appointments. They can help with keeping track of necessary medications. Most caregivers are also trained to help with exercises that a physical therapist has advised the client to do.
According to the Visiting Angels of South Charlotte, in addition to providing practical help, an in-home caregiver is beneficial to a client’s emotional well-being. They said, “Many older people start to feel isolated as their physical health declines. They may no longer be able to do activities outside the home. If they don’t have many relatives nearby who can visit frequently, they may not get enough contact with other people.” The companionship provided by a caregiver, even if it’s just for a few hours a day, can make a big difference.
If you think it’s time to hire a caregiver for yourself or for a loved one, you should first consider what your needs are. Some caregivers have formal training and a license (Certified Nursing Assistants, Registered Nurses, etc.). If you hire someone with one of these titles, you know that they have been trained in accordance with state standards. Other professionals, with job titles such as Home Health-Care Worker or Caregiver, are not necessarily licensed. There are of course many excellent caregivers who work in these roles, but you will want to look into their training and experience. If the client has very complicated medical needs, you may want to hire either a nurse or a caregiver who has previously worked with similar clients.
You should also consider the specific tasks you will want the in-home caregiver to do. If they will need to help with errands, they need a driver’s license and a car if the client doesn’t have one to use. You should also make sure that the caregiver can use any special equipment, such as a lifting device.
You can hire an in-home caregiver either privately or through an agency. Each way has advantages and disadvantages. An agency makes the process easier for you. The agency takes care of hiring, background checks, payroll, and taxes. Most agencies have caregivers with various skills, so they will be able to provide someone who fits the client’s needs. However, with an agency, a client might have different caregivers on different days, which can be upsetting.
With a private caregiver, you can choose an individual who is the best fit for the client. Private caregivers are often cheaper, but they are less likely to be covered by insurance or Medicaid.
For more information, visit the following sites:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/homecareservices.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_care
