I've been a caretaker of an elderly woman with dementia for over two years. I've seen the effects of this mental affliction, and how devastating it can be to loved ones. This is why I am a firm believer in seeking a professional diagnosis, so the patient may receive necessary care and treatment. Once diagnosed at the onset of symptoms, a plan can be devised. Through social interaction and daily care, my charge has achieved a higher quality of life. If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, you can make a difference. Love will find a way.
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Dementia and Your Loved One
3 Mistakes Made During Home Healthcare For Seniors
Vickie Armstrong
For many seniors, home care assistance is the most convenient and comfortable option available. However, there are also potential pitfalls that should be avoided to ensure you or your loved one remain safe during your home healthcare experience. Here are great 3 tips to ensure home health care goes smoothly and you avoid mistakes.
Avoid Too Many Caregivers
Often, home healthcare agencies fail to try and establish a regular caregiver for a senior. Instead, they might find it's cheaper and more convenient to send whatever caregiver they have on staff at the time. This can leave you or your loved one without the chance to build trust and a connection to the person who is helping with care and recovery.
This is especially important for issues like bathing, where a senior might not feel comfortable having a new face every time they need this very personal service. Seeing the same face also can help calm seniors with dementia or Alzheimer's, as building a routine is especially important for seniors with those type of ailments. Speak with your healthcare agency and try to ascertain whether they plan to have a regular healthcare aide, and how often this aide will be available per week.
Pick an Agency with Backup Care
If you're using an agency that provides nurses and home healthcare specialists, ensure that they have nurses and specialists on reserve who can fill in if your standard nurse isn't available. Although you want a regular healthcare aide, you also want to be sure if your regular aide isn't available, then you or your loved one still have the required support.
Otherwise, you may run into situations where you or your loved one are left alone during busy holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving when healthcare staff is stretched. A professional agency will ensure that your loved one always has the care they need no matter what time of the year it is.
Hiring Your Own Healthcare Aide
Some choose to go outside healthcare agencies and hire a healthcare aide. This is possible, but there are a number of drawbacks you should be aware of. For one, you will then be the employer accountable for this nurse or aide, which makes you responsible for extra taxes and increased liability. If your employee is hurt on the job, you may be responsible. You should call your state employment agency to understand what your basic liability issues may be.
If you do hire your own healthcare specialist, be sure to thoroughly check references and ensure you are covered for worker's compensation if anything were to go wrong.
Ultimately, home healthcare is often a desirable option for many seniors. Following the above tips can help you avoid potential mistakes of home healthcare, and hopefully help you obtain a home healthcare specialist that fits your needs.
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