It can happen overnight. Or it can creep up gradually over a long period of time. What started as a simple helping hand for your aging loved one doing shopping, laundry, and chauffeuring to doctor’s appointments has now turned into a full-time job. Suddenly, you’re a caregiver.

How do you navigate caregiving 101? We’ve got you covered.

It can be overwhelming, frustrating, and exhausting all at the same time. Whether your parent has had a major health event like a stroke or is suffering from cognitive issues like dementia, it’s important to understand the full scope of caregiving. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, here are some good caregiving 101 tips to act on if you’ve made a commitment to take care of someone else.

Caregiving 101 To-Do List

For many caregivers, this isn’t their only job. Often, they have a professional daytime career as well. They might have children or grandchildren that they care for as well.

That’s why self-care is critical to mitigating fatigue, stress, depression, and the other side effects of too much caregiving. Remember, it’s one thing to gear up for a short-term health crisis with your aging loved one, but it takes another level of energy and tenacity to provide care over a longer period.

So, here are ways to be a successful caregiver by making it a top priority to care for yourself, too, along the way.

Caring for the Caregiver 101

• Set realistic expectations—for yourself and your loved one
• Learn about the disease and what you can expect
• Learn the skills you need to care for the care receiver and which ones you are or are not able to perform
• Learn to say “no” to things you cannot do
• Learn to accept help from others
• Build resilience
• Identify your button-pushers/stressors
• Identify your coping skills
• Remember the big three for successful coping:
  • Eat right—good nutrition as opposed to stress-snacking. Limit alcohol and other drugs
  • Exercise—it may be hard to find time but it’s the best cure for depression and increases your endorphins (“good” coping hormones)
  • Sleep—7-8 hours is hard to get but essential. Admit when you are experiencing burnout and get help

Most importantly, remember that taking care of yourself is as important as taking care of someone else.

A great place to get the support you need is by letting us help you. Senior Resource Connectors is here to provide trusted resources for all of you caregivers out there. Promise. We’ve got your back.

Contact Senior Resource Connectors

Your roadmap for determining the best care plan for your senior loved one in Arizona – at any age or stage. View our business directory, or connect with us below.

Home health vs home care? Have you heard these two terms and just assumed they meant the same thing? Or have you been confused about what the difference was? Don’t worry; you are not alone. These terms are often used interchangeably, but they mean very different things in our industry.

Home With Help® , a coalition member of ours is a home care agency. So, we get asked a lot of questions about what services they offer, because most people don’t know the difference between the two types of companies. We totally get it as our family didn’t know how they were different before we got into this line of work.

Hopefully, this will help…

In-Home Care Agencies

Home care is a term people use to describe non-medical care provided by a caregiver in someone’s home. If a company says they are an in-home care (or home care) agency, then they have caregivers that will provide non-clinical services for people who need help with activities of daily living.

Below is a list of services that Home With Help® and most other companies offer as a home care agency. We pride ourselves in being able to offer a concierge approach to in-home care. So, this is not a comprehensive list of our services, but will hopefully give you a better understanding of what home care companies offer.

1. Personal Care Services such as bathing, toileting, dressing, grooming, hygiene assistance, and transportation.
2. Companionship for clients can be anything from medication reminders to playing games to monitoring diet and eating. This service can be for the senior who lives alone or for the family member who lives with the sick or elderly person and cannot leave the home.
3. Homemaking for the elderly, permanently or temporarily disabled, or senior suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia. These services include laundry, dishes, light housekeeping, meal prep, transportation to doctor’s visits or grocery store, and more.

Why should you should hire a home care agency?

Most seniors think if they hire a home care company, it takes away their independence. But, it is actually the opposite. It is a great preventative tool to allow them to stay in their homes as long as possible.

Home care services are perfect for anyone who needs a little extra help with activities pertaining to daily living. Hiring a caregiver is a great idea for someone who has had a recent surgery or hospital stay and cannot perform all of the normal tasks at home. If you have an elderly loved one in another state, you could hire a home care agency to check on them and help around the house.

Home Health Care

Home health is defined as in-home medical care and/or skilled services. Companies that offer in-home health care have licensed professionals on staff to help with acute or chronic health conditions.

This is a general list of services offered by home health care agencies…

1. Occupational therapy
2. Physical therapy
3. Nursing
4. Wound care
5. Doctor visits

Reasons to hire a home health care company

If you or a loved one has recently been released from the hospital, rehab center, or skilled nursing facility and still need clinical help, you would hire a home health care company. Or, if an elderly loved one has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition, home health care may be ordered by a doctor.

In a recent article published by The Huffpost, writer Ann Brenoff points out some insightful and sobering facts about millennials and their caregiving roles within the next couple of years.

In a recent AARP report, “Millennials: The Emerging Generation of Family Caregivers,” this reality looks rather scary. However, it notes that caregiving responsibilities are just starting to gain momentum. About 1 in 4 millennials are already putting in an extra 21 hours a week taking care of ‘boomers,’ or the sandwich generation more eloquently. That is 21 unpaid hours of caregiving ― while you maintain your full-time career and care for your own family simultaneously.

Close to half of all millennials will be helping a parent or an in-law, while it will be your mother in 65 percent of instances, said AARP. The average care recipient supported by a grandchild is 77 years old. And more than half of millennial family caregivers (51 percent) are the sole caregiver, utterly alone in their duties. 

This trend is expected to continue as U.S public policy is too slow to respond to the +- 10,000 boomers turning 65 every day. As of 2020, more than 55 million Americans are age 65 or older, according to the Census Bureau’s 2020 population estimates. 

The real question is, are millennials ready to tackle the challenges that caregiving entails? It is, unfortunately, a job that is often not glamorous. Bathing, bathroom assistance, and even changing adult diapers can be expected. While the boomer generation is traditionally better geared both in demeanor and grit for such tasks, it remains to be seen whether millennials will be able to rise to these challenges.

This is not to undermine the abilities of millennials to be caring, compassionate, and helpful. Still, generational gaps often go hand-in-hand with changes in attitude when dealing with difficult situations, such as caring for a senior loved one.

Are millennials ready for the financial aspect of caregiving over and above the physical and mental toll it can take? We’ve all been privy to jokes about millennials being more concerned with paying for avocado on toast than investing in property. Still, the reality is that with inflation, rising costs of living, and increasing mountains of seemingly endless student debt, many millennials will only ‘get on their feet’ in the financial sense at a much later age than the boomer generation did. Does this mean that they will be financially secure enough to afford to take time off from work to care for a senior loved one? Will they have the necessary funds to drive their senior to doctor’s appointments or pay for their chronic medication up-front if needed?

Some research has been done on the matter by AARP and notes that due to the financial strain caregiving has, most family caregivers reduce, if not stop, saving for retirement altogether. They don’t eat out or take vacations. And many have dipped into personal or retirement savings. This does not bode well for the compounding effect on the next generation that will one day need to care for millennials.

This is why using local resources that can assist with such issues before it’s too late is so important, not only for millennials but also for baby boomers. This is where Senior Resource Connectors comes in. Our vast network of vetted, reliable resources can offer the best advice, guidance, or referrals to have total peace of mind that your aging plan is on track.

It can be difficult to know where to start when looking for home care assistance services.

How do you know if a company is reputable?

What should you look for in a caregiver? And how much should you expect to pay?

Keep in mind that everyone’s needs are different, so these tips should not be considered comprehensive.

Always do your own research and ask around for recommendations before selecting a service provider.

When it comes to this kind of service, you want to be sure you are making the best decision for your loved one.

Here are eight tips to help make the process easier:

Tip #01: Consider the needs of your loved one

The first step in selecting home care assistance services is to consider the needs of your loved one.

You want to make sure the services are available for when your loved one needs them the most, whether that’s during a holiday or when you’re at work all day.

Tip #02: Talk with your loved one about their needs and preferences

The next step is to talk with your loved one about their needs and preferences.

This will help match them with the correct service provider.

Tip #03: Look for a homecare assistance that offers customized plans

When looking for home care assistance services, be sure to find a provider that offers customized plans.

This way, you can be sure your services are tailored to your loved one’s needs.

Tip #04: Ask about the provider’s training and certifications

Asking service providers about their training and certifications is important as well.

In fact, the service providers should have a minimum of eighty hours of in-service training every year.

Tip #05: Ask about the home care assistance policies and procedures

When selecting home care assistance services, be sure to ask about the provider’s policies and procedures.

This will help ensure that your loved one is safe and comfortable while in their care. You should also ask how often the carer will visit.

Tip #06: Get to know the provider’s staff and team members

Knowing the carer is important as well since they are who you’ll be working with most often.

Asking for references from previous clients can also help you get a better idea of the type of service they provide.

Tip #07: Ask about the provider’s credentials and insurance coverage

Ask the service provider what kind of credentials they have, as well as if they carry insurance coverage to help protect you in case something goes wrong while your loved one is under their supervision.

You should also ask the carer about liability insurance coverage.

Tip #08: Get a contract in place to protect both parties

Finally, make sure you get a contract signed by both your loved one and the carer before they start working together.

This protects everyone involved!

What does home care assistance do?

Home care assistance provides home-based services to seniors, allowing them to live independently in their home for as long as possible.

This level of care should be customized according to each client’s needs and preferences.

How do I qualify for home care assistance in Arizona?

Home care assistance is available to seniors in Arizona who meet the following requirements:

• They must be at least 18 years old.
• They must reside in Maricopa, Pima, or Yuma County.
• They must need help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and grooming.
• They must be homebound, either because of their health or an environmental barrier to leaving home.
• They cannot need care 24 hours a day (for example, it could be for between three and 14 hours per week).
• A doctor must determine that home care is necessary in order to avoid institutionalization.

What are the benefits of home care assistance?

First, home carers should be able to offer tailored plans for each client.

Second, home carers can help seniors live independently in their homes as long as possible by providing around-the-clock supervision and support services.

Third, home care assistance benefits include keeping clients safe and comfortable while allowing them to retain their independence for as long as possible.

These benefits include home-based services, ensuring clients are safe and comfortable while retaining a high level of independence.

This is the perfect way to keep your loved ones healthy and happy.

To select home care service providers, consider the needs of your loved one, talk with them about their needs and preferences, look for a provider that offers customized plans, ask about home care assistance service provider training and certifications policies or procedures before selecting home care assistance services.

Finally you should get home care assistance services contract in place before they start working together!

The best home care services are the ones that create a customized plan to suit your family’s needs.

We have compiled 8 tips for selecting these experts to help you find the right person or company for you and your loved one(s). If you require our expertise, please contact us at Senior Resource Connectors.

Our team of resource specialists offers free consultations in order to get started on dreaming up an optimal living situation together with your loved one (or someone close) who is experiencing challenges with daily tasks like bathing, dressing or cooking.

We’re a trusted coalition of Arizona companies committed to providing your senior loved ones with the best care resources in Arizona, at any age or stage. You can reach out to us for help directly, or submit an application to become part of our trusted coalition.

These specialists can also provide valuable insight into finding solutions that work within any budget constraints!

Contact Senior Resource Connectors

Your roadmap when it comes to determining the best care plan for your senior loved one in Arizona – at any age or stage. Visit our resource center, view our business directory, or connect with us below.

This blog article will give you all the information you need about home health care and how it can benefit you or your loved one.

When searching for the right care for your loved one, it is important to match the need to the solution carefully and accurately. 

By proceeding with care in a facility that is away from your loved one’s home when they require minimal assistance, would be a really difficult experience for them. 

To select the best care for your loved one, understanding the care and the extent of it across each senior living option is without a doubt, the most critical part of finding the best fit for them. 

While it’s common for families to believe that relocation to an assisted living facility or a nursing home would be best, it’s often forgotten that the individual may not be ready to leave home and they may not yet require that either. 

A popular solution for many families is Home health care.

This is also referred to as skilled home care and it involves an outside carer who tends to the needs of the senior during periods where the primary carer is not available to do so. 

The carer is skilled in the caretaking of injured or ill individuals, both practically and in terms of drug administration.

Why Home Health Care is a great option for you

Home health care is generally less expensive than a hospital stay, and a lot more comfortable too, without compromising on the level of care you will receive. 

It also has a psychological effect on the patient, if they are admitted to the hospital for an extended period. The disruption to the life of an admitted patient can affect them negatively. 

While most hospital staff are excellent at what they do, the effects of being hospitalized for an extended period can include feelings of being low or depressed. 

Home health care ensures that the patient receives adequate care outside of the hospital and that the treatment is as effective as it would be while admitted. 

The primary goal of home health care is to : 

• Help the patient get better
• Help the patient regain confidence 
• Help the patience become self-sufficient once more 
• Help the patient maintain their level of function 
• Help the patient slow the decline of health

What services are generally provided in-home health care? 

The services generally offered by home health care providers include:

• Surgical and pressure wound care and treatment
• Education for both patients and caregivers 
• Therapy in nutrition or via intravenous administration
• Administration of injectable drugs
• Monitoring patients’ health status if unstable or experiencing serious illness

What does the process of home healthcare entail?

The process of home health care starts with the recommendation of the patient’s doctor.

Senior Resource Connectors can then refer you to a reputable service provider in the area. Once you have that referral, you may contact the home health care agency and schedule an appointment with them so that they may visit your home. 

They will also ask many questions and assess whether you and your loved one will benefit from the home health care. 

The patient’s doctor will always be consulted and kept up to date with the status of the patient’s health and progress. 

The home health care professional will see the patient as often as the doctor orders.
They are only to heed the instructions of the patient’s doctor and cannot prescribe or administer drugs without the consent or directive of their doctor. 

What can I expect from a home health care service? 

Your caregiver should see to the needs of the patient regarding their health or wound care as per doctor’s orders.

Things you can expect from your caregiver are: 

• Checking in on what you are eating and drinking 
• Monitoring your heart rate, breathing rate, temperature, and blood pressure
• Checking that your medication is being taken as per your doctor’s prescription and that the correct dosages are being administered
• Asking if you are feeling any pain or discomfort
• Checking the general safety in your home 
• Teaching you about taking care of yourself 
• Coordinating your care by keeping in touch with your primary carer, your doctor, and you, ensuring that a clear line of communication is maintained.

Professionalism in treating and caring for a patient in their home is of paramount importance, however, care and compassion can also be expected. 

How will I find a home healthcare agency? 

Senior Resource Connectors is based in Arizona and offers the service of a full directory for seniors requiring assistance in deciding on where the next move will be. 

We also guide and refer seniors to facilities that best meet their requirements because we understand that the number of facilities available may be overwhelming for some. 

In the Senior Resource Connectors coalition, there are professionals ranging from legal to real estate to healthcare and each has the very same goal; to ensure that services offered to a senior are of the very best caliber and with the best interest of the individual at heart. 

Contact us today to find the perfect solution for the care of your loved one. 

Contact Senior Resource Connectors

Your roadmap when it comes to determining the best care plan for your senior loved one in Arizona – at any age or stage. Visit our resource center, view our business directory, or connect with us below.

Home care refers to numerous in-home health services provided to seniors, such as wound care, administering medication, and assistance with pain relief, to name a few. Home care allows them to maintain independence and freedom while obtaining affordable and practical health care and help from home caregivers or skilled nurses. Below, our top 5 tactics for planning home care for your senior.

Planning for home care 

Initiating the home health care process may seem daunting, but we’ll assist you by providing a step-by-step plan. 

1. Understand the importance of planning sooner rather than later

Planning for home care should start as soon as possible. This will give you enough time to research what options best suit you and your family’s needs when caring for your senior.

2. Establish the cost and funding options for home care 

Available funding for in-home health care can be limited. Medicaid has stringent income requirements, with patients needing to be low-income to take advantage of their services, while Medicare does not pay for what they deem as “ongoing health care services.”

It would be beneficial to verify what you may qualify for so there is enough time to investigate any available and affordable insurance options. Click here for advice from Aging Care on how to pay for in-home care.  

3. Check the safety and functionality of your senior’s home 

Safety aspects in a senior’s living space are paramount. There are many factors to take into consideration: is infection control possible? Is the premises easily accessible to your senior?   

Some alterations that can be made to the premises include building a ramp, installing grab bars in the bathrooms or shower, or even adjusting kitchen countertops. Replacing slippery flooring with slip-resistant tiles or carpets can also go a long way. First, however, it must be determined if this is financially viable and will result in the premises being liveable and safe for both seniors and caregivers. 

4. Monitor your senior family member

As people age, it may become more difficult for them to ask for home care assistance.  As the family member of an aging adult, look out for red flags that indicate a need for in-home care. Aging care has a list of signs that may suggest it is time to start in-home care services. 

5. Know your goal

Home care is specific to the needs of an individual. What works for one person may not work for another, and cost implications differ for contrasting conditions. AARP has a worthwhile goals and needs checklist, which can be discussed amongst family members and your senior to make the best decision for forging a secure home care plan. 

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many factors in deciding the best way to plan home care for your senior. However, the benefits of planning sooner and vigorously assessing your senior’s needs will contribute to a cohesive and successful home care plan.  

For any further questions about home care for seniors, contact us today. There is no cost or obligation for our services. We can connect you with Arizona’s most trusted senior living resources. 

*Disclaimer: This blog post was inspired by a recent article posted by Aging In Place. To view the original, click here. 

This week, we’re honored to talk with Kimberly Mitchell from Home With Help, an Arizona-based home care company specializing in structured non-medical home care services for seniors.

Kimberly shares how her journey in senior care started and how her personal experiences shaped her view and fuelled her to provide families with better care for their vulnerable seniors.

Kimberly and Scott delve into the concerning issue of the lack of regulation in their respective industries. They highlight how this can lead to disastrous care for seniors if best practices are not adhered to, raising our awareness about the potential risks.

Furthermore, Kimberly and Scott discuss the importance of paying caregivers fairly and how many workplaces are not adequately equipped to support a workforce that is increasingly needed for care at home.

If you are an adult child responsible for a senior parent or aging loved one, contact us at Senior Resource Connectors for vetted advice, a trusted referral, or a patient ear.

Call Us: (602) 698-9720

Visit Us Online: https://seniorresourceconnectors.com/