What do you think in-home care is like? Well, what does it look like on television?
We think that in some cases, television actually does a good job of portraying home care situations, because it focuses on those social interactions that are so important to seniors living at home. On the other hand, sometimes things look a lot easier and quicker on TV! In reality, it takes dedication to do this job well day in and day out, and really keep the welfare of the elderly in mind. We are up to the challenge – because we believe in what we are doing.
The Daily Routine
Part of the task of being an in-home caregiver is participating in someone's daily routine. For seniors, this often means medication, meals and helping them to take care of themselves and their properties, in whatever ways they can.
The caregiver is key in all of this as a regular visitor to the home. He or she can start to spot problems as they develop, and provide that support for maintaining a certain quality of life in the home. In some cases, nobody else is there to do that!
Logistics and Task Lists
Then there are the actual processes that seniors may need help with. This includes meal preparation and nutritional help. Caregivers are often involved in assessing someone's diet and looking at how they can provide their meals in a healthy way.
Transportation is a big deal, too, for people who need to go to doctors’ offices or anywhere else.
Caregivers may also be involved in assessing housekeeping goals and helping with this result.
But above and beyond this, they are real people who show up in real situations. The social component is beyond important in this type of business, and we know this, so we take care to hire people who understand that need.
Another way to say this is that there is a profound emotional component to caring for seniors. They are essentially stuck in their homes to a certain extent, even if they've made the conscious decision to stay there. As elderly people age, they may lose certain kinds of mobility and capabilities that they previously enjoyed. So the caregiver helps fill the gaps and maintain that quality of life!
Talk to us about what’s best for mom or pop, or any family member or loved one who needs special assistance in their home.
