Respite Care and Finding Trustworthy In-Home Care

Respite Care And Finding Trustworthy FACT: Most adults over the age In-Home Care of 65 prefer to stay in their own home as long as possible. We know n Make a list and choose 3 to 5 there are many long-term benefits home care providers of allowing adults the freedom to n Call and ask for a complimentary age in place. Staying at home helps in-home assessment seniors maintain a routine, and home Questions To Ask: provides the familiarity and comfort n Are you HIPPA compliant? no other place can. n What specific services do you provide? FAMILY CAREGIVERS: n What process do you use to hire

Their duties cover a wide range and assess caregivers? of responsibilities requiring endless n What training do you provide? amounts of energy, empathy, and n Are your caregivers’ direct patience. It can be a fulfilling expe- employees on your payroll? rience, but it also comes with its own n Do you check in on clients and unique challenges including: caregivers regularly? n Emotional and physical stress n How soon can I get a caregiver n A loss of self-identity and how often? n Lack of time to care for themselves n Do you tailor your services to n Financial strain my particular needs? n Feelings of isolation n How do you provide great n Sleep deprivation communication and problem solve? n Need to do it all and not ask for help n Will the same caregiver come FAMILY RESPITE CARE SERVICES: Respite care allows family members in a primary caregiving role to take some time off from their responsibilities so they can focus on themselves for a while. While the family member every time? n Do you match caregivers to clients? n What happens if the caregiver does not show up on time or at all? n What payer sources do you take? n What are the rates for your services? takes a break, a professional caregiver If possible, make sure your loved can be there to make sure that their one is part of this process. They’ll feel loved one is well taken care of, safe more comfortable in the long run when and comfortable. they’re involved in the selection of the FINDING A HOME CARE YOU Home Care provider. ~ CAN TRUST – Preparation: n Identify your loved one’s In-Home care needs Editor’s Note: This article was written by Jaye Firmature McCoy-Owner of Firstlight Home Care, 402-614-0413, jmccoy@ n Ask family, friends or doctor for firstlighthomecare.com, or omaha. referrals and/or go online firstlighthomecare.com. See ad page 67.

Home Health Care Definitions continued from page 65

ENTERAL FEEDING – Enteral feeding, or tube feeding, is a way to deliver nutrients through a tube if you cannot take food or drink through your mouth.

HOSPICE – Hospices provide individuals facing terminal illness with care at home or in a healthcare facility. The goal is to assist patients to live the last stage of their lives with dignity. The focus is on comfort rather than treatment.

HOUR MINIMUM – The least number of hours a Non-Medical Home Care Agency will be available for hire. Medicare certified Home Health Agencies are not on a specified time frame.

INTRAVENOUS THERAPY (IV) – Refers to any medical treatments/ medications that need to be introduced into the body via a patient’s veins. Numerous IV Therapies can be provided in a patient’s home under supervision of a MD. Some of these include: inter-infective/ antibiotic therapies, hydration therapy, pain management, chemotherapy and central line care and maintenance.

MED-ALERT – Company offers a pendant or home alert system that notifies staff that user is in distress and needs immediate assistance.

NON-MEDICAL HOME CARE – Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s), homemaking, companionship and other non-medical in home care. These services are available for hire after, or in conjunction with, Medicare certified services. Private payment, Medicaid and Veterans Benefits are a few of the ways personal care can be paid for.

PSYCHIATRIC CARE – Refers to the agencies’ ability to offer services related to psychiatric support with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness. Services may include counseling or administering of medications.

SOCIAL WORKER – A clinical social worker whose purpose in health care is to enhance, promote, maintain, and restore the best possible social abilities of the patient or family. Services provided may be preventive, developmental, or remedial in nature.

THERAPY SERVICES

(ST, PT, OT, RT) –Speech Therapy – Refers to services to assess and treat speech and swallowing disorders. Speech therapy can treat speech, language, cognitive skills or swallowing. Physical Therapy – Refers to services for the treatment and the rehabilitation process where a physical therapist will often stretch, strengthen, facilitate muscles, challenge balance, test