As our loved ones age, their physical and mental strength diminishes. Aging calls for special care to ensure seniors lead quality and healthy lives.
Sometimes, we, the seniors’ family and friends, are unaware of the changes they are undergoing. We need to understand that as our loved ones age, their health tends to deteriorate, and they may not be able to bounce back from an illness as quickly as they used to.
Most seniors are battling diseases like diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, kidney infections, joint pains, heart-related conditions, and tuberculosis. Besides these illnesses, most seniors face psychological issues affecting their overall health.
We can not overemphasize the importance of senior care in Dayton, as research shows anxiety and other stress factors increase with age.
Once you note your loved one is struggling, devise ways to make their golden days as comfortable as possible. Moreso, you don’t have to wait until they cannot walk, cook, or attend to their daily chores to seek senior care.
If your loved one has decided to age at home, getting premium in-home care services will ensure they receive the support they need, while retaining their independence.
Importance Of In-home Care To Your Loved One
Since staying at home doesn’t require significant lifestyle changes, most seniors prefer aging at home to staying at assisted living homes or even nursing homes. Staying at home means your aging parent will continue waking up at their usual time, in their bedroom, being at home surrounded by things that evoke good memories. To make this possible, consider hiring an in-home caregiver to assist.
In-home care is a fantastic choice as it allows seniors to retain their independence, dignity, and freedom. Your aging loved one will continue to receive excellent care from the comfort of their home. With in-home senior care, the familiarity of home can benefit your loved one, especially during the early stages of any form of dementia.
Amy’s Eden is ideal when considering in-home senior care for your loved one in Dayton or Reno, as we offer excellent senior care. We will ensure your loved ones live comfortably and safely and retain their dignity during their golden years.
Our caregivers are passionate about seniors, making caring for your loved one easy and enjoyable. Additionally, when matching your loved one with a caregiver, we consider their interests and hobbies, and by doing this, we ensure to match two people who will get along well.
The Benefits of In-Home Care for Seniors in Dayton
Research shows that most seniors prefer to age from the comfort of their homes. Aging in place ensures your loved one feels safe and helps them lead quality lifestyles. Here are some benefits associated with in-home care.
Quick Recovery Period
If your loved one has just left the hospital, in-home care will help them recover faster as they are surrounded by their family and loved ones.
Offers an Alternative To Long-term Skilled Senior Care
Depending on the medical condition or illness of your aging loved one, in-home senior care is always a good option. If a senior needs medication management help, mention it when seeking an in-home caregiver. Additionally, a skilled caregiver can help your loved one with wound dressing.
Helps Maintain High Morale
Most seniors will always feel at ease and comfortable when aging from home, which allows for long-term care success. A senior will be more comfortable trying a new exercise routine at home than at the gym.
Aging at home allows your loved one to live a happier life while maintaining their social relationship. An active social life helps reduce the risk of depression and keeps their spirits high.
Personalized Care Plan
With an in-home caregiver, your loved one will have a personalized care plan created to fit their needs. The caregiver will solely focus on your loved one’s needs, and such a level of care is something they can not get in a care facility.
A professional caregiver will notice changes in your loved one’s physical and mental condition. Doing this will allow you to address any health issues as soon as they arise.
Offers Excellent Support For Long-Term Treatment
When your loved one decides to age at home and have an in-home caregiver, they will have assistance with their dietary needs, medication management, and physical and occupational therapy. You and other family members can chip in when the caregiver isn’t around.
It’s Cost-effective
Other types of senior care, like skilled nursing, tend to be quite expensive, especially if your loved one is staying at a nursing home or the hospital. Having an in-home caregiver coming in when necessary will ease the financial strain on the family. It will offer you the flexibility that works for you as you can have an in-home caregiver coming in while you are at work.
Provides Companionship
Everyone must stay connected with others to have a fulfilling life. Usually, most seniors live alone, which can lead to loneliness and social isolation.
In most cases, when a senior lives alone, it can deteriorate their health. An in-home caregiver will provide companionship to the person they are caring for, as they will accompany them throughout their day. Your loved one will have someone to enjoy coffee with, do home exercises, garden, or read their favorite book together.
Friendly interactions benefit your loved one as they help them form and maintain meaningful connections.
Peace of Mind
As your loved ones age, and you note how they struggle with daily activities, it’s natural to worry. But knowing they have someone skilled assisting them, will give you peace of mind.
You won’t have to constantly worry about how they will manage or about being alone at home; such peace of mind is priceless.
In-home care is also a form of respite care. It gives family caregivers time to unwind and relax. You can rest easy and concentrate on your work and family, knowing your aging loved one is under the care of a skilled caregiver.
How to Find Quality In-Home Care Staffing in Dayton
When considering hiring a caregiver, you want to find someone who fits in and can deliver the best care services to your loved one.
You can determine which agency in Dayton provides the best in-home senior care in several ways.
The following tips will come in handy and help you choose the best caregiver who will meet your loved one’s unique needs.
Your Loved One’s Needs
Consider their unique needs before choosing an ideal caregiver for your loved one. What will the caregiver assist your loved one with? Is it light housekeeping or personal care? Do you need a skilled nurse to help with severe health issues, or do you require a companion for your loved one?
Most seniors requiring in-home care need a mild level of care. However, keep in mind that your loved one’s needs might change, especially when they have progressive chronic health issues, and may have to transition to assisted living home care.
Many variables may determine a senior’s level of care. But to be on the safer side, start by creating a comprehensive list of your loved ones’ needs.
On this list, you can consider the following:
- Does your loved one need help with cooking, cleaning, and other housekeeping chores?
- Do they need assistance with activities of daily living such as toileting, bathing, and dressing?
- Does your aging parent need help with medication monitoring?
- Will the caregiver help your loved one with daily walks, exercise schedules, and social activities?
- How many hours per day do you need assistance with?
- How many days do you want the caregiver caring for your loved one?
- Does your loved one require a skilled caregiver due to their mental or physical health condition?
This list will help you narrow down the potential candidates the agency supplies you with. It will also help you understand the type of caregiver you want for your loved one.
The In-home Caregiver’s Agency Reputation
Although many home care services exist in Reno and Dayton, not all will meet your expectations or provide the type of in-home care you want for your aging loved one.
Before hiring an in-home caregiver, it is best to conduct thorough research on their agency, check their online reviews, and how they respond to not-so-good reviews
Evaluate Your Financial Situation
When searching for an in-home caregiver for your loved one, you should first evaluate your or your loved one’s financial situation.
You may choose an in-home caregiver depending on your finances. Check if your loved one can finance their in-home care through savings, investments, insurance policies, home equity loans, and annuities. You can also check if the agency accepts Medicare or Medicaid.
You can also check if your loved one qualifies for Medicare, as it can help pay for some services such as therapy and nursing under certain conditions. However, coverage can va
To check if your loved one qualifies for in-home health benefits under Medicare, they must meet the following:
- A senior must be getting health care under a doctor’s approved care plan
- If a doctor certifies that your loved one needs skilled occupational, and physical therapy or nursing care
- If your loved one’s doctor certifies that they are homebound
Medicaid requirements and coverage can vary from state to state.
However, don’t despair if you can’t afford senior care for your loved one, as some care agencies in Dayton offer assistance programs. Be sure to always ask and go for one that favors you.
Billing and Costs
Check the agency’s billing process; some may not offer services covered by long-term senior care insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare. If you are considering either of these methods to pay for in-home care services for your loved one, ensure the agency offers the services covered by your insurance provider first. Also, remember to enquire about the agency’s pricing and costs before committing to their terms and conditions.
Caregiver’s Agency Certification
Nevada has some requirements regarding caregiving certifications. When searching for an ideal caregiver, checking if their agency is fully legitimate and follows government rules and regulations is advisable.
Caregiver Training and Certification
Although some caregiving careers don’t require certification, some require these certifications. Most in-home caregivers require a fair amount of training and certification to ensure they deliver top-notch services.
Depending on the services you require, check if the caregiver is qualified beforehand.
For example, hiring someone trained in first aid CPR and one with specific training that meets your loved ones’ health concerns would be advisable.
The Caregiver Screening Process
Talk with the caregiver’s agency and find out how they hire their staff.
Do they run a background check on their caregivers before hiring them? What other criteria do they follow before committing their caregivers to clients?
These and many more concerns you shouldn’t feel guilty about. Look for an in-home caregiver agency that makes you comfortable with their screening process.
The Agency Supervision Procedures
Since an in-home caregiver will be helping your loved one at home, you may worry about how their agency supervises them.
Unlike in an assisted living home, where you know a caregiver is monitored as they care for the residents, being away from the facility can be another story.
Most agencies in Reno have laid down procedures that ensure they supervise their in-home caregivers. These procedures could include:
- Unscheduled drop-in supervision
- Care plans
- Clock-in and out software.
Check On The Caregiver’s References
There is nothing like too much caution regarding a senior’s safety and general well-being—request for a caregiver’s reference from their agency.
A reputable agency will not hesitate to help you contact their current partners and clients who can provide a reference for an in-home caregiver.
Once the agency gives you the contact of these clients or partners, you can contact them and ask any question regarding the caregiver’s ability to deliver excellent care to your loved one.
Conduct Interviews
When hiring a caregiver, you should interview the agency and the potential candidate for the job. If your loved one can attend the interview, it would be best if you included them. Doing this makes them part of the hiring process, and they will know which candidate will best suit them.
Hire and Monitor
Once you know the agency and the caregiver, hire the ideal candidate. Your role doesn’t stop with hiring, as you should keep a close eye on your loved one and the caregiver to see if they are getting along.
This close monitoring should not be permanent; once you note that your loved one is happy with the match, you can let go. But always keep in touch, check on the caregiver to know how they are feeling and if you can do something to make their work easier.
At Amy’s Eden, we usually contact our in-home caregivers, ensure they are fine, and offer assistance and support. Our caregivers’ well-being is crucial as it enables them to provide excellent care services.
The Role of In-Home Caregivers in A Senior’s Life
Our seniors are our family’s backbone and must be well cared for. Our duty as their family is to ensure they are safe, comfortable, and healthy.
Balancing your young family career and caring for your aging parents can take a toll on you.
You can hire an in-home caregiver to help you with the following:
- Help your loved one recover from an illness, post-surgery, or injury.
- Help your beloved senior with their ADLs
- Help keep your loved one safe from injuries and falls
- Assist with mobility
- Provide emotional and physical support, especially to dementia patients
- Help your loved one have a normal and quality life
- Help your loved one retain their independence for as long as possible.
The Role of Technology in In-Home Care
Technology affects all aspects of our lives, and the home care service industry has been included. The healthcare industry is evolving, creating new opportunities for you and your loved ones.
With a touch of a button, you can check on the progress of your loved one or verify if your loved one’s care plan is the best option.
Impact of Technology on Your Loved One
Currently, two main technology categories will significantly impact a senior’s life.
- Home physical devices that an in-home caregiver can access easily.
- Home Programs that facilitate the use of data collected by the physical devices.
The new technology is easy to use, allowing real-time data for doctors and other health professionals. Real-time data results in better work experience for the in-home caregiver, and your loved one will receive better care.
Some in-home care areas that technology affects are:
Remote monitoring Technology
This wearable technology allows your loved one’s doctors and healthcare providers to monitor them remotely. The health care providers can also interact with their patients via this technology.
With remote monitoring, healthcare providers can identify any potential health concerns early on and address them promptly.
2. Machine Learning Technology
This machine AI technology helps analyze huge amounts of data and identify patterns that can assist doctors and other healthcare professionals in making an uninformed decision regarding your loved one. With machine learning, you can be sure your loved one will have a unique care plan that addresses their needs.
3. Cloud-based Technology
Cloud-based technology allows wearable and telemedicine technology to store and share their data. With this technology, your loved ones’ healthcare providers can access their data remotely and help them with their treatment.
Technology has made in-home care easy to manage, as your loved one can communicate with their caregiver even when the caregiver isn’t around. On the other hand, an in-home caregiver can remotely monitor their care recipient, making it easy to remind them when to take their meals and medications.
At Amy’s Eden, we incorporate technology into our day-to-day activities, making it easier for caregivers to access their care recipient data. We can also monitor our caregivers when caring for your loved one.
Conclusion
If your loved one desires to age from home, you don’t have to worry, as in-home care services can come in handy. The benefits of in-home senior care are undeniable and will allow your loved one to remain in the comfort of their homes, leading to a better quality of life and remaining healthier.
We all want what’s best for our loved ones, and if in-home care is the way to go, let them enjoy their retirement in peace. You will also have peace of mind and concentrate on your other responsibilities without constantly worrying about your aging parents.
Hiring an in-home caregiver is a win-win for all parties involved. A professional caregiver will offer the hands-on care that most older adults require including the social and physical aspects.
At Amy’s Eden, we believe in matching our caregivers with recipients who share most of their interests, ensuring the best possible care.
We believe every older adult deserves to be happy, enjoy life, and do what makes them comfortable. To achieve this, we equip our caregivers with relevant skills and help them achieve their career goals. If you have questions or you’re looking for an in-home caregiver, please do not hesitate to contact us; we will be happy to assist you.
