For seniors or individuals who are struggling with serious disabilities, the thought of having to leave familiar surroundings in order to manage everyday life is an unpleasant one. Fortunately, for many individuals, in-home care may be a viable option that does not require leaving home. In-home care is a type of support that is designed to help seniors or individuals struggling with a serious disability to remain in the surroundings they are familiar with, while still receiving daily support. With in-home care, a professional caregiver travels to a private residence, assisted living community, nursing home, or other facility to provide assistance with “Activities of Daily Living” (ADLs). ADLs are the most basic tasks that every individual needs to complete in order to survive and maintain a good overall quality of life.
In-Home Care Explained
In-home care focuses on helping individuals to safely complete ADLs. Basic ADLs include the essential tasks of daily living such as:
- Bathing
- Eating
- Personal Hygiene
- Dressing
- Toileting
- Mobility
These daily activities are critical to survival. But even though support with ADLs is the central goal of in-home care, it can sometimes be difficult to understand what is included in in-home care. This is because the specific care provided to each individual can vary. This may be determined by what affliction is affecting the individual. A common example would be how the care provided to someone with Alzheimers/Dementia would be different than the care that would be provided to an individual who is not suffering from any memory-related issues. Additionally, the degree of care provided can also vary. Some individuals may only need support with a few ADLs tasks, while others may need support with all aspects of daily life. For example, some individuals may only require basic supervision during bathing, while others may be unable to complete the task without assistance.
The In-Home Care Evaluation
Before an individual receives in-home care, an evaluation of their needs is typically performed. An in-home care evaluation will assess what ADLs the individual is struggling with, and how much support is needed. If applicable, an in-home care evaluation will also gather information on the needs of the primary caregiver. A primary caregiver is usually a family member or loved one who is close to the individual who needs support. The information that is gathered during the evaluation will then be used to create a customized care plan.
Developing a Care Plan
Before an individual receives in-home care, an evaluation of their needs is performed. An in-home care evaluation will assess what ADLs the individual is struggling with, and how much support is needed.
Every individual who receives in-home care has their own care plan. A care plan is created using the information gathered during the in-home care evaluation. The care plan provides an overview of how the individual is struggling during their daily routine. It will also outline how in-home care can help the individual in these areas. This will include a description of the exact in-home care services that will be provided.
Non-Medical vs Medical Care
Another confusing element can be the role of in-home care for an individual’s medical treatment. An in-home care professional provides support with ADLs, but does not perform medical tasks/procedures. For example, an in-home care aide would not perform injections.
Supporting Caregivers
Many people do not consider the benefits of in-home care for caregivers. However, in-home care plan also considers how to best support caregivers. Some people might ask, “Why is this important?” In many cases, primary caregivers are involved in most aspects of their loved one’s care. Since caregivers play such a vital role, it is important to attend to their needs as well. If a caregiver becomes overwhelmed or unable to provide an adequate level of care, then their loved one will be affected negatively. In-home care can help caregivers to more manage care for their loved one by taking on caregiver responsibilities.
Care At Anytime
The degree of support a caregiver selects can be adapted depending on the needs and schedule of the caregiver. Family members may choose to have an in-home care aide support their loved one once or twice a week, or they may decide to have a professional caregiver provide support on a daily or even 24/7 basis.
Choosing In-home Care
Support from an in-home care agency is only meant to improve the quality of life for the individual who is receiving care and their caretaker. It is important for family caregivers to remember that enlisting support from an in-home care agency does not mean that they are incapable in providing care, or insincere. Discussing the option of in-home care may help caregivers to overcome these feelings.
Contact Comfort Home Care to Learn More!
Comfort Home Care has served individuals and families throughout Montgomery County, MD and Washington D.C. since 1991. Our compassionate in-home caregivers are all Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) or Geriatric Nursing Assistants (GNAs) who go through a thorough screening process before they are selected. Making a decision about in-home care can be a lot to consider, but Comfort Home Care is ready to provide useful guidance. We offer downloadable guides, as well as complimentary in-home care evaluations to help families and individuals make an informed decision about in-home care.