Why You May Need Home Care for Mom and Dad

You may live far away from mom and dad or work full-time, and signs that they could need home care may go unnoticed until one of them ends up in the emergency room. For instance, mom or dad may have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and may not know which foods to avoid. They may have been prescribed a diuretic for swelling and edema and may not know how important to is to drink lots of water with the medication. They may have COPD, and rescue inhalers just aren’t working as they used to, or they may trip on the tubing if they’re using oxygen therapy. They may have incontinence issues and are just too embarrassed to ask for help, leaving them homebound and increasingly isolated. Or they may be fearful of forgetfulness or frustrated with memory loss due to the aging process or a more organic condition, such as Alzheimer’s or incipient dementia. These are the issues faced by many adult children, who want the best for mom and dad in terms of treatment, care and independence.

Your mom may just need help around the house with meal preparation, light housekeeping and friendly reminders to take her medications. Or she may need more specialized care after recovering from surgery after leaving a skilled nursing facility. Or mom may have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and dad can’t keep up with her needs and diminished capacity. You want to know there is a trusted individual you can turn to who has the skills necessary to keep your mom thriving at home.

It may be difficult to convince mom or dad that they need someone in the house to help with meals and the laundry. Gradually introducing a caregiver into the home for a few hours a day to lighten the burden of housework will make the transition easier as they become more accustomed to the extra help around the house which, in turn, makes life easier for them.  At the initial intake, a geriatric nurse meets with mom or dad to assess their  physical condition and limitations; then based on that evaluation,  mom or dad’s primary care physician will be notified and a plan of care established. As needs change, there may be more help needed in the home, and all efforts are made to ensure continuity of care through familiar caregivers.  Ideally, a home care agency gives the elderly  the best opportunity to lead a normal and active life within their capacity in  the comfort and security of their home with trusted and reliable staff.

Each of our CNAs, LVNs, RNs, Home Health Aides and Home Care Companions is checked and rechecked for their applicable certifications and licensures; and at hire, they are tested to ensure their knowledge of the pertinent medical, safety and psychosocial care-giving appropriate to their job. From meal preparation and transportation to doctors’ appointments, to wound care and skilled nursing services, our staff can provide a wide range of services, and you have the assurance of a state-licensed agency providing this care to your loved one.