The growing demand for home care
According to the Home Care Association of America, ninety percent of Americans aged 65 and older want to stay at home for as long as possible as they age, but what happens when these seniors require care interventions?
Home health care can offer patients 1 to 1 care and support in the most comfortable and familiar surroundings, complementing the care provided by family members so they can live their lives with total peace of mind. This significantly reduces the pressure placed on family caregivers — many of whom are already balancing full time employment and parenting. It is also the most cost-effective way to increase access to primary health care services, and with the current administration committing to making home care more accessible to the masses, will be a key step toward achieving optimal health outcomes for many patients.
How home care affects family caregivers
Today’s seniors and their families are seeking better ways to age gracefully at home, but with friends and family juggling more demands and responsibilities than ever, it’s becoming a challenge for many family caregivers to find a healthy balance. Not to mention the feelings of guilt that often arise when a caregiver believes they aren’t doing enough for each individual family member.
What to do when you need help caring for an aging parent
It’s no secret, the physical demands of family caregiving can be exhausting and overwhelming. And since caregiving is often a long-term commitment, the emotional impact can snowball over time. And when you get to that point, both you and the person you’re caring for suffer. That’s why home health care has emerged as a powerful option for families seeking a better way to care for their senior loved ones. Not only does it provide exceptional medical and personal care for seniors, opting for senior home care can remove many of the burdens from your plate, so that you can care for your loved ones and enjoy your time together without stress.
Home health care could never replace your role, but it can provide balance, compliment your care and help your family stay happy.
What services are available for home care?
With home care, family members can stay safely at home, while a trained caregiver, nurse, or therapist provides important personal care or medical services to their door. It's important to note that senior home care services include both non-medical and medical care options.
Here at Interim HealthCare of Fort Lauderdale South, we offer the full continuum of care, including specialized care that you would not be able to find from other home care providers. Our team works with your family and your loved one's doctor to determine the level of care and services needed, so whatever you choose, we will be here to support you along the way.
Interim HealthCare offers the following home care services for clients:
Personal Care and Support Services (Senior Care)
Often called non-medical or private duty, in-home personal care and support services provide the kind of help senior adults need in order to avoid moving out of their homes and into assisted living facilities.
This can include companionship and also assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring (walking) and continence. In most instances, these services are provided to seniors who may need a little extra help or in some instances 24 hour support. Senior care can also be utilized as a source of respite for family caregivers - to help with certain tasks when they have their hands full, or need a break. Read more
Home Nursing Services
The most common type of home care Interim HealthCare provide is nursing services, that as allowed by state law, are provided in a patient’s home by Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs). Depending on the patient's needs, their doctor may recommend in-home nursing care for any of the following medical services:
- Wound dressing
- Ostomy care
- Intravenous (IV) therapy
- Medication management and/or injections
- Monitoring the general health of the patient
- Pain control
- Management of urinary catheters, drains, tubes, and bags
At-Home Physical, Speech and Occupational Therapy
For patients recovering from an illness or injury that impacted their physical capabilities, therapy may be a critical part of their home health care plan. To help patients regain their independence, strength, form and function, Interim HealthCare of Fort Lauderdale South offers in-home physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy services. Read more
Home Care Pharmacy
Ensuring your loved ones have access to, and properly take their medication is a critical part of staying safe. A home health aide can take care of many daily tasks and reminders for seniors who require home care pharmacy assistance, including picking up the actual prescriptions and making sure medications are taken at the appropriate times. For special needs, a nurse or other health care professional can also help administer medications. Read more.
Hospice Care and Bereavement Services
These services are put in place to support the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients who are reaching the end of life's journey. Bereavement care and grief support services are also available for the loved ones who are caring for our patients. Read more
Specialized In-Home Senior Care Services
Interim HealthCare has been at the forefront of specialized home care for the elderly for over 50 years. Our comprehensive approach to care fits around your life - it’s tailored, it’s flexible and it’s adaptable.That’s why we have been the first choice for so many families for over five decades. Read more
How home care can assist with specific medical conditions and diseases
Home health care is a fantastic way to enhance the quality of life for your aging loved ones, helping them to manage their challenges and limitations in the ways that are right for them - so they can age in place and remain in their homes for as long as possible.
Through a set of highly personalized services, our specialized in-home care promotes safety and health, boosts mental and emotional health, and encourages seniors to find greater fulfillment in the later chapter of their lives.
These services can include reliable transportation to various destinations, assistance with a variety of household tasks, support with personal care tasks like bathing and grooming, companionship, medication reminders, meal preparation, and much more:
How can senior care help a senior with high blood pressure?
Throughout the United States, approximately 32% of the adult population is living with high blood pressure -- more than 75 million people. Of those afflicted, experts estimate 54% do not manage their condition effectively and consistently.
This could mean your senior loved ones are at risk of serious health consequences and complications, including increased risk for cardiovascular disease, heart failure, stroke, aneurysm and even Alzheimer's disease.
Having an Interim HealthCare team member in the home with your loved ones on a regular basis would provide support and personalized services designed to keep them on track with treatment, while alleviating some of the time- and stress-burden you're facing with care.
Some of the ways we can help seniors with high blood pressure include:
- Companionship and emotional support
- Assistance with tasks like grocery shopping
- Healthy meal preparation
- Encouragement to get and stay physically active
- Medication and guideline reminders Read more
The value of home care for seniors fighting cancer
If you are currently serving as a caregiver for senior loved ones who are fighting cancer,
you are a critical source of support, encouragement, love and assistance - whatever the prognosis. But while you are being counted on to provide this care, it can also be a tremendous strain, as you simultaneously battle your own emotions and try to care for your own needs.
To help augment the care you are providing, home health care services can make a tremendous difference in the life of your loved ones living with cancer, and can also help to make this experience better for you. After all, your whole family deserves the best possible care.
Here at Interim HealthCare of Fort Lauderdale South, we understand the unique challenges and stressors that families deal with while fighting cancer. Our specialized home care services were designed to deliver compassionate, exceptional care to help alleviate stress and keep your loved ones comfortable and healthy. Read more
How senior care can help with later stage dementia
There’s no simple way to describe the complex emotions and stresses that accompany a diagnosis of dementia. The emotional turmoil that is inflicted upon patients and their families is undeniable, especially during late stage dementia, which requires constant care.
Interim HealthCare’s dementia program is designed to address the specific needs and concerns of dementia patients and their families through every stage of dementia. In order to provide the most supportive environment possible, certification in the Teepa Snow Positive Approach® to Care philosophy is offered to our caregivers and clinicians, so they can leverage specialized training techniques that focus on what patients can do instead of what they can’t.
As your loved ones’ dementia progresses, we pledge to preserve their dignity, while meeting their evolving needs with skill, patience and compassion. Our specialized dementia care is tailored to each stage of brain change according to the GEMS® dementia classification model, so we can meet people where they are on their dementia pathway and adjust activities and interactions based on their current abilities, as well as the challenges they’re facing.
If you’re struggling with the idea of putting your loved ones in a nursing home versus keeping them at home, dementia care home services can offer peace of mind and relief for your family. Read more
Some of our other special care conditions include:
How to pay for home care
With home care services empowering seniors to age in place, many family caregivers are questioning, “What is the cost of home care?”
As you conduct research into home care options, the prices might initially sound expensive. But, consider this: Home care services typically cost considerably less than the cost of a nursing home, and may even cost less than an assisted living facility.
For many seniors and their family members, the comfort and peace of mind that home care offers is well worth the investment. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help families with in-home care expenses:
Private Pay
Private pay means an individual or their family will use existing savings or assets to cover the cost of care services.
Health Insurance
Private health insurance policies can be purchased by individuals or provided by employers and used to cover the cost of in-home care.
Medicare
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for seniors older than 65, who have worked full time for at least 10 years. Medicare is split into the following four parts:
- Part A (which is free for most people) helps cover hospitalization, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care and some home health care.
- Part B (which costs about $100 a month) covers outpatient services such as doctor’s visits, lab tests, preventive care, some surgeries, clinical trials, mental health care and durable medical equipment and supplies.
- Part C (also known as Medicare Advantage) varies in cost and allows individuals to enroll in Medicare health plans sold by private insurance companies that contract with Medicare.
- Part D helps cover prescription drug costs.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a joint state and federal program that provides health coverage to seniors with low income and limited assets. Benefits are administered on a state level, so eligibility requirements and covered services can differ greatly. Learn more
Veterans Benefits
A senior veteran of any branch of the armed forces who was honorably discharged may qualify for health benefits sponsored by the Veterans Administration (VA). These benefits can be used to cover in-home care including skilled nursing care; home health aide services; physical, speech and occupational therapy; and medical social services.
The Interim HealthCare VetAssist Program helps veterans, or their surviving spouses, apply for the help and support they deserve.
Making the right decisions about home care
It’s normal to feel some hesitation when considering home health care for your senior loved ones. While they may be counting on you to provide care and support, raising and caring for your own kids and family, plus balancing work can be incredibly overwhelming.
Choosing senior home care services as a complement to your care is something to feel proud of, but sometimes for family caregivers, it can feel like a failure. We hear from many family members who feel torn over the decision. If you’re wrestling with some of these emotions right now, know that you are not alone:
Guilt
It’s completely normal to feel guilt and stress over choosing in-home care services for your loved ones. But, it’s also important to recognize that home care will help them stay healthy, happy and home, while also removing some of your worries.
It’s okay to initially feel guilty, but it’s also important to let it go. Remind yourself that while it may feel like you are giving up or turning your back on the people you love, nothing could be further from the truth. Instead, you’re merely changing your role. You’ll always be involved in your loved ones’ care, but now you can focus more on nurturing your personal relationships with them, and the rest of your family. You may even alleviate some guilt from your loved ones - after all, no one wants to be a burden, and seniors are especially adept at noticing the stresses you bear. Read more
Apprehension
Having a non-family member assist with your loved ones’ care can seem daunting at first. While no one loves your family member more than you, home care services are administered by trained medical professionals who are well equipped for a range of health issues and/or challenges - so you get peace of mind in knowing that your loved ones are receiving excellent care.
And as a bonus? Your loved ones will enjoy seeing more happy faces and having more company! This companionship can be a big boost to a senior’s mental health, as well as their self-esteem. Our compassionate nurses and home care professionals often become like members of the family, going above and beyond to deliver tailored care from the heart.
Meet Renee. For her caring for others is not just a job; it’s a calling.
Helplessness
There’s no easy way to relinquish control over caring for your loved ones, and with home care from Interim HealthCare, there’s no need to. Our HomeLife Enrichment® Standard of Care focuses on empowerment, so clients and their families feel in control of their own destiny. We like to put ourselves in the shoes of each of our clients by creating a whole-person, individualized plan that caters to their specific needs. Our care complements that of family caregivers to provide the best possible continuum of care.
Struggling to work through family disagreements? Although every situation is unique, these tips can help you work through disagreements to jointly make important decisions about home care for the health and happiness of your senior loved ones.
Getting started – choosing home care for your loved one
The decision for choosing care at home can be overwhelming. Knowing what questions to ask can make the decision easier:
How long have they been in business?
When choosing an in-home care provider, one consideration should be their years of experience. You will want to verify those caring for you or your loved one have years of expertise.
Are they accredited by a reputable agency?
CHAP accredits home and community- based healthcare organizations that make high-quality care a business priority.
Interim HealthCare of Fort Lauderdale South is CHAP accredited, to allow us to deliver a better quality of care and run a better business overall. A list of accredited providers in your area can be found at www.chapinc.org.
Do their staff receive background screening?
Inviting a care team into your home requires safety to be top-of-mind when choosing a healthcare agency. It's important to have background screening not just for a nurse or therapist, but for all non-skilled caregivers as well.
What specialized programs are available?
Whether you are recovering from surgery, managing a chronic illness, discussing end-of-life care, or any other in-home care needs, you want to know your care team is well-trained and can provide the right care at the right time. Specialized programs elevate the care you receive by requiring extensive additional training.
What is the company ethos?
Your loved ones deserve to be at the center of their care plan. A care approach that considers not just the ailment, but the mind, spirit, and family is important. When deciding on a provider for in-home care, be sure that you feel heard, educated, and coached along the way.
Here at Interim HealthCare of Fort Lauderdale South, we offer the full continuum of home care services. Locally owned and operated by a Medical doctor with over 25 years of health care experience, we have the knowledge and skills to help keep your senior loved ones happy and healthy.
Contact our office to get started.