What happens when it becomes overwhelming to support your loved one who lives at home with you? It becomes time to consider in home care.
The first step is determining exactly what degree of care is required, as care-giving falls into two categories: medical and custodial care.
Medical care is for more extreme cases, where the patient is constantly monitored to ensure that the best level of safe care is given. Custodial care is there as a caretaker of sorts, helping the infirm to get around, dealing with their daily medical requirements, cooking their food and feeding them if needed. Once you’ve evaluated exactly what your loved one needs, it’ll become easier to select the correct in home care option.
Most importantly, you’ll need to have a frank conversation with the person who needs to receive in home care, and ascertain what their requirements are. Do they prefer a male or female caregiver, what do they need assistance with especially, and what would it take for them to feel comfortable? You may have to eventually move them on to assisted living centers, so do your best to make their stay at your home a comfortable one.
Until a suitable in home caregiver is found, there are a few precautions you can take to ensure that your home is safe for your loved ones. Such as: installing night-lights in the home to make it easier for them to see, keeping the kitchen area protected by storing sharp knifes in a locked drawer, or setting-up grab bars in the toilet.
When hiring the in home care provider, and after narrowing down the list, pre-prepare a list of questions such as what their exact costs are, their qualifications and what type of care they can provide. See if they can introduce light exercise into your loved-ones daily routines or even assist them with a better eating plan. Visit a local senior home for recommendations, ask your GP or search online for the best-reviewed services. This is your loved-one’s life here, so these choices cannot be taken likely.
Constant monitoring of the caregiver is needed until you’ve determined that they’re the right fit for your family. If there are any doubts, don’t hesitate to question the caregiver – after all no one knows your loved one better than you.
It can be difficult to pass on the duty of in home care to a paid professional, but with patience and knowhow, you’ll find the right caregiver for you and your family’s needs.
