Most older adults prefer home-based care to other assisted care because they can receive professional and compassionate care in their homes. 

This form of care also guarantees quality of life when recovering from an illness or injury or managing a chronic illness.

However, many families and loved ones need help with enlisting the help of professional home-based caregivers.

On the one hand, the loved one prefers dealing with someone they’re familiar with, e.g. a family member. 

On the other, family members notice their loved one needs help but aren’t certain whether home-based caregiving is the best way to go.

We explain what home-based care is, signs a loved one needs it, and the types of home-based care available at Go-care. 

What is Home-based Care?

Home-based care is supportive care provided at home. 

This form of assisted care allows a loved one to live independently while recovering from an illness, managing a chronic disease or special needs.

The individual receives support from professional caregivers like aides, nurses, and therapists at home. This arrangement could be short-term or long-term, depending on the individual’s needs.

Benefits of Home-based Care

Home-based care is critical to achieving the highest quality of life. Not only does your loved one receive care from the comfort of their homes, but they also enjoy safety and independence. This form of care also:

• Reduces unnecessary hospitalization
• Helps manage an ongoing medical condition
• Aids with recovery from an injury, illness, or hospital stay

Types of Home-based Care

Home care providers offer different types of home-based caregiving services. Our specialists tailor caregiving services to the loved one’s needs and could include one or more of the following types described below:

Home Nursing Care

We offer this form of care to patients discharged from the hospital but need a nurse to perform rehabilitative, preventative, and therapeutic services.

Also, older adults and patients struggling with long-term illnesses like cancer, HIV/AIDS, dementia, and stroke, to mention a few, are eligible candidates for home nursing care.

Our caregivers offer various non-medical and medical care services based on your needs and arrangement. 

Whether you need help with everyday activities like bathing, meal preparation or more specialized care, e.g., wound management, checking vitals, administering medication, etc., we’ve got you.

Therapy

If your loved one is experiencing mobility problems either due to reduced movement or injury from an accident, you can count on our physiotherapists.

We tailor treatment plans to your needs, helping your body regain mobility and function. Your well-being is our priority; hence, we involve you every step of the way.

Our occupational therapist will liaise with you to develop the treatment plan and help you perform the prescribed exercises.

Diet Planning

Diet is critical to keeping the body healthy and strong for older adults, and diet planning is necessary.

Older adults can be picky eaters because their taste buds change over time. Our home-based caregivers know this all too well and are keen to help your loved one develop a healthy diet plan.

We ensure that the diets are well-balanced and that nutritional content is tailored to the individual’s health condition and age.

When is the Best Time to Consider Home-based Care?

Oftentimes, family and friends notice a series of events that signal a greater need for assistance. 

The loved one may become increasingly forgetful and find it challenging to perform everyday grooming activities like bathing, brushing. Other signs your loved one needs help are:

Poor Hygiene

Changes in your loved one’s grooming and dressing habits is a telltale sign of deteriorating health. Dementia patients, for example, can find it challenging to manage their hygiene without help.

Poor eating habits

Due to physical or mental challenges, older adults often struggle to follow healthy eating routines. Their taste buds may change, making their favorite meals seem unappealing. 

A home caregiver can help evaluate their eating patterns and develop a varied diet that meets the loved one’s needs.

Frequent Accidents and Falls

Even simple falls can cause excruciating pain in an older adult. 

Their bones are delicate, making falls that would be shrugged off while younger cause injury.

A professional caregiver helps the loved one move safely and remain mobile during recovery.

Increased Forgetfulness

This is another telltale sign that your loved one needs special care. Their forgetfulness could interfere with their daily activities, hence the need for home-based care.

Reduced Mobility

Older adults experience reduced mobility as they age and need help moving from one place to another. 

Sometimes, the loved one may have underlying physical or neurological illnesses that affect the gait in specific ways. A home-based care professional helps them keep mobile to avoid injuries.

Financial and Emotional Burden

There’s also the potential burden they may bring to family members and friends who spend much time to ensure they’re safe. 

Home-based care eliminates all such concerns while preserving and maintaining their freedom, independence, and dignity. 

And the beauty of it all is that they stay in and live in familiar surroundings- at home.

Need GoCare Home-based Care?

With most older adults opting to continue living in their homes for as long as possible home-based care is a no-brainer. At GoCare, we offer a vast range of home-based caregiving services; you only need to liaise with our caregivers to find the best care for your loved one. They may not always agree to professional caregiving, but if they exhibit the signs discussed above, it’s time to call us.

While the ailments are manageable during the early stages, it can be overwhelming for family members to provide care as they progress. As such, most family members opt for specialized care facilities for assisted living and professional home health care at the patient’s home.

The progression of the disease determines the type of care the patient needs. Understanding your options is crucial to maximizing those twilight years for your loved one. The next part of the text compares and contrasts two forms of specialized care available to people with dementia.

Home health care

Maintaining dignity and preserving independence is a primary concern as we age. Yet, this proves challenging when a loved one suffers from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. To keep your loved one as independent and safe as possible, home health care may be the option.

Home health care includes medical or non-medical services provided in the comfort of a person’s own home. Depending on the type of care needed, home health professionals may be nurses, home health aides, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, or social workers. Each person’s situation is unique.

In the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia, personal care assistance may be what is most needed, as long as the person does not have any other medical needs.

Types of home care services

Not all home care services are the same. Some in-home services provide non-medical help, such as assistance with daily living. Other home health services involve medical care given by a licensed health professional, such as a nurse or physical therapist.

Common types of home-based care services:

• Homemaker services and companion care: This is assistance with tasks like laundry, errands, meal preparation, and light housekeeping. If individuals receiving care are able to leave their homes, homemaker and companion caregivers can accompany them to appointments or take them shopping. Homemakers can help you or your loved one with household management to ensure a clean, safe, and orderly environment. Companions focus on well-being and provide social interaction, physical activities, and recreation. They create a safe and supportive environment for activities like reading, conversing, and playing games, while assisting with leisure time and providing cognitive stimulation.
• Health care assistants (HCA) or Trained Caregivers: This is personal care for you or your loved one, which includes assistance with activities, such as preparing meals, medication reminders, and exercising. HCAs offer step-by-step directions for dressing and give cues and directions for bathing, grooming, and toileting. HCAs can also assist with transfers for those who have difficulty walking. Most home health care providers allow HCAs to perform some of the duties of a homemaker/companion. Nurse clinical managers usually supervise the care given by companions, trained caregivers and HCAs.
• Advanced care: These professionals help with wound care, injections, physical therapy and other medical needs often provided by a licensed health professional. Often times, a home health care agency coordinates these types of skilled care services once they have been ordered by a physician.

Most importantly, these professionals can provide you with peace of mind when you are unable to be there yourself.

Alzheimer’s and dementia can be very challenging for both the person with the disease and their family. It’s important to select a home health care agency that hires caregivers who embody compassion, excellence, and reliability.

Assisted Living

This form of care is a long-term care option that combines health care, housing, and support services. The patient is also entitled to personal care services like transportation, medication management, and round-the-clock care.

Patients also have the option of living in a shared space or a private room depending on their budget. Assisted Living facilities are ideal for dementia patients who are independent but need help with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living.

Conclusion

GoCare Health Solutions Limited understands that Alzheimer’s and dementia affect each person differently and because of this, we customize a care plan tailored to the individual’s needs. As the disease progresses, we continue to evaluate the situation and work with you to keep adapting our care to support you and your loved on in the best way possible.

To learn more about dementia or to plan for a loved one’s care, contact us today.

Exercises recommended for older adults should focus on all parts of the body i.e., by developing a routine that ensures all the parts of the body are active.

Our professionals build exercise regimens customized for each patient depending on their condition. Here are some basic exercises we recommend for them:

Please note this information is for educational purposes. We understand that not all aged people might be effectively able to perform them due to physical or medical challenges. Some exercises also require the guidance of a professional physical therapist.

BRISK WALKING

It is a less intense aerobic exercise compared to running or jogging.

Experts at GoCare recommend this form of exercise for healthy seniors who want to improve gait and increase stride. It also keeps the heart healthy and has less impact on the joints.

Brisk walking helps patients seniors improve posture as the back should remain straight, and the shoulders set backward for optimal benefits.

SQUATS

It is a great balance exercise for strengthening the lower body.

You don’t need any equipment to perform it though other variations are best performed using a chair. The individual lowers his body from a standing position into a semi-sitting position while keeping the back straight. Be sure to hold the position for a few minutes and rise to a standing position. Repeat two sets of 10 reps.

SWIMMING

It is another effective aerobic exercise that keeps the joints active without applying too much pressure. The water supports the body weight and creates resistance for additional strength training benefits.

Swimming is ideal for seniors who have osteoporosis and arthritis. Those who don’t know how to swim can use a swimming board which helps train the core and leg muscles.

We also encourage our patients to join aqua aerobic classes where they can perform a range of water exercises while standing in the pool.

LEG RAISES

This form of strengthens the lower back muscles, hips, thighs, and buttocks while improving balance. You can start with a back leg raise using a chair for balance. Lift one leg behind you and hold for some time and lower the leg without bending the lifted leg and keep the standing leg bent.

You can also do a side leg raise by standing behind a chair and lifting one leg sideways. It should be aligned from the heel to the hip while keeping the back straight. Complete two sets of 10 reps for each leg as you alternate between sets.

TAI CHI

Also known as a longevity exercise, Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese exercise which was first developed as a fighting art. It is perfect for older adults looking for low-impact exercises while still improving balance and flexibility.

Tai Chi is performed in groups making it the ideal activity for seniors looking to interact, relax, and improve focus.

ARM WEIGHTS

It is a strength training exercise that helps develop strong arms, strengthens the shoulders and the upper back muscles. It is easy to perform these exercises as you only need to stand or sit while holding weights at shoulder level and lift them before lowering them to the original position.

Let us know in the comment section below what we might have missed out.

Blood Pressure Monitoring

High blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart disease and stroke hence the need to reduce/maintain at a healthy rate. Research shows that taking a proactive role through home-based blood pressure monitoring helps speed up recovery and maintains a healthy lifestyle through addressing instances of high/low BP. Our caregivers or nurses are trained to monitor a patient’s blood pressure using digital blood pressure monitoring machines and share the readings with their nurse supervisors/patient’s physician. As such, the patient’s doctor is able to monitor the trends thus accurately adjust/change/prescribe dosages or drugs.

Diabetes Management

Diabetes does not have a cure but it can be effectively managed. Patients who have diabetic wounds, foot ulcers, multiple new medications and those who frequent hospital admissions are more likely to benefit from home-based diabetes management. Our highly trained caregivers or nurses offer specialized care to such patients by helping them follow the set meal plan, promoting physical activity and managing medication.

Wound Dressing and Management

Home health care patients suffer from complex wounds as a result of diabetic ulcers, surgery and circulation disorders. In fact, most of our home-based admissions are related wound dressing and management hence the fastest growing needs in home-care services. We also take care of people with chronic illnesses or disabilities who develop wounds caused by pressure on specific parts of the body. All such conditions affect an individual’s quality of life and our care providers are dedicated to helping you manage them through our proprietary wound management services.

Catheter Care

It is another essential home care service for patients who have urinary infections/problems. Home catheter care minimizes infections and complications that occur during insertion of catheters. Once a catheter is inserted using aseptic technique, care should be taken to maintain a closed drainage system. Care providers at GoCare are adequately equipped to ensure the proper management of catheters by preventing leakage, disconnection and obstruction.

Behavior Management

Conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety disorders, bipolar and schizophrenia affect the patient’s mental and behavior state. Our professional patient attendants and or nurses are well-trained to provide support to such patients to improve their quality of life. This home care service is tailored to benefit the whole family by:

• Learning to identify triggers so we can respond to them appropriately
• Helping patients reduce stress
• Promoting positive behavior
• Providing supportive counseling
• Offering home safety
• Managing difficult behavior such as aggression, wandering, sundowing and agitation

Basic Exercises

Home-based exercise programmes help reduce the rate of falls among older adults whose mobility is limited. They help improve function, balance, physical activity and strength. Our caregivers customize the home-based exercises based on the concepts of empowerment and self-efficacy. They also develop coaching sessions in collaboration with the patient’s physiotherapists to ensure the exercises are tailored to the patient’s mobility needs.

Post-surgical Care

We tailor post-operative home health care services to fit the patient’s needs based on his/her personal preferences and the physician’s instructions. Care services provided vary from basic to complex care depending on each patient’s needs. This home care service can be arranged for as little as a few hours to 24 hours a day depending on the complexity of the surgery.

While several home care agencies have been established to cater to this need it can be daunting to find a reliable home care service provider. Itâ€s not just about hiring a professional caregiver or nurse but finding a provider you can trust to enter your living space and take good care of your loved one.

Home care professionals at GoCare understand this need all too well and highlight essential questions you should ask when enlisting the help of a home care service provider:

How Does the Company/Agency Train Its Caregivers or recruit nurses?

Caregivers should be adequately trained in the different areas of care the patients†need. Enlisting a qualified professional reduces stress and worry among loved ones who may be sharing the responsibilities of taking care of the patient.

Nurses providing care should be licensed. GoCare assigns professionals who are competent in a range of services thanks to its four-month comprehensive course that offers knowledge and skills required to provide effective care to the patient.

The course provides a broad range of practical and theoretical lessons that will help aspiring caregivers succeed in any assignment.

Can I Interview Several Caregivers/Nurses Before Hiring One?

Home care agencies work with different caregivers or nurses who might have varied skills, levels of knowledge and experience. However, most home care providers are inclined to match their clients with available caregivers/nurses instead of the most qualified/appropriate for the task.

It explains the need to inquire if the agency allows clients to interview the caregivers/nurse from the onset and select their most preferable. Patients dealing with chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, dementia/Alzheimer etc. need caregivers well-versed in these areas to offer the necessary care.

Donâ€t shy away from asking the provider to assign the most qualified caregiver/nurse. He/she should be ready to provide a resume that shows his credentials and experiences in dealing with patients with certain conditions. GoCare is conscious of its patients†needs and assigns qualified caregivers according to the familyâ€s requests, preferences and needs.

What is your Response Time in case of an Emergency?

In the case of a medical emergency, the patient should be taken to the nearest health facility. However, where the assigned caregiver/nurse is late (without prior notice), schedules a change or does not show up, it is important to ask the home care service provider what his response time will be.

This is critical if the patient canâ€t be left alone as it impacts his/her health and his ability to function. GoCare takes into consideration all such factors and responds promptly by assigning a substitute caregiver/nurse.

What Much Does the Home Care Service Provider Charge for Its Services?

Home-based care agencies charge different rates based on the clientâ€s needs, the care provider and the amount of time the patient needs the care.

A client should not shy away from inquiring if the rates are negotiable and what happens if agreements change or end. It is important to find out if the agency payments are covered by health insurance in whole or in part or none.

You also need to verify how the home care agency pays its caregiver i.e does it expect the client to pay them directly or once the client pays to the company, it is the companyâ€s responsibility to pay the caregiver/nurse.

Can the Home Care Service Agency Provide the Agencyâ€s References?

References come in handy when you want to determine how past/current clients were/are treated and how the caregivers or nurses interact with families, their abilities, character and skills.

Reliable agencies should have sufficient contacts willing to vouch for their ability to take care of their patients.

What Other Services Can The Company/Agency Provide?

Caring for patients at home can be complex and demanding. With various daily responsibilities, some clients/families prefer a one-stop organization where they can source both services and items that facilitate their loved oneâ€s care.

It is important to ask a potential company what it can provide and what it cannot. GoCare is a one-stop shop for home care requirements. From care services to therapy services to supply of personal care items, devices and equipment, GoCare confidently stands tall in meeting the needs of patient care at the comfort of their homes cost-effectively.

It doesnâ€t hurt to be picky when it comes to taking care of loved ones.

These questions should help you choose an agency that can provide reliable home-based care services without causing unnecessary stress or charging exorbitant rates.