When choosing the best senior care program for a loved one, first a family must determine that their elder’s personal needs are. The most important factor to consider is how much a senior is able to do for themselves. When possible, maintaining a certain degree of independence is beneficial for seniors’ overall mental and physical health. However, if certain tasks become to much for them or if they just need a little extra assistance from time to time, home care services are a suitable option. There are many options in home care services which allow a plan to be tailored to fit the specific needs of the client.
Elderly home care is provided on two levels. The first level is a caregiver who provides non-medical, personal care and assistance to the clients during scheduled visits to their homes. These services are sometimes referred to as companion services. Some of the services that a caregiver or companion may provide are:
- Personal grooming and hygiene assistance such as bathing and toileting
- Meal preparation
- Housekeeping services
- Laundry services
- Shopping
- Running errands
- Paying bills
- Transportation
The other level of elderly home care is provided by trained medical staff. These services are provided by nurses, physical therapists, physicians, and other licensed professionals during scheduled visits to the seniors’ homes. Some of the services the trained medical staff may provide are:
- Physical therapy for rehabilitation from injury, stroke, or surgery
- Dispensing and prescribing medications
- Monitoring blood pressure and blood glucose levels
- Monitoring infections and/or infectious diseases
- Administering breathing treatments
- Maintenance of medical equipment such as breathing machines or oxygen tanks
- Wound dressings
- Maintenance of long-term treatment equipment such as feeding tubes, IV drips, trach tubes, and/or colostomy bags
These services are available for as long as a loved one may need them. One option is on a long-term basis where a family member is decided to have an ongoing need for assistance. Another option is for temporary services, such as during rehabilitation after a hospital stay. One level of services is not dependent upon the other. Some elderly individuals may not have medical issues and would only have a need for a caregiver’s services. Perhaps a senior has the need for the medical services, but family members manage their personal care services on their own. Whatever the situation may be, a suitable solution can be found that will meet and exceed the needs of all clients utilizing ‘in home’ care services.
We at Advanta Home Care provide all the above care and assistance to San Diego, La Mesa and El Cajon areas and we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Tags: el cajon, elderly home care, in home care, la mesa, san diego
