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Seeking out a home care company that you feel comfortable with, and trust is understandably daunting. Naturally, you will want a company that can provide the very best home care services for your loved one, but how do you differentiate between all the companies out there? They all seem to offer similar services and state that they’re the best in the business. Don’t worry, we have got you covered!

Before considering any home care company, it’s best to prepare some information in advance that you can clearly relay to them i.e. medical condition of the person needing care and what type of services you think you need. You will also need a list of pertinent questions to ask to ensure the home care company can meet your needs and provide the level of care required for yourself or your loved one. Here are some in depth questions that you may want to consider…

About their company

• How long have you been in business and who owns the company.
• Can they provide references from current or past clients.
• Are they licensed, bonded, and insured.
• What makes their company different from others.

Services offered

• Do they offer the services you require, for example, personal care, companionship, medication management, etc.
• Can they provide assistance with activities of daily living such as toileting, bathing, dressing, and grooming.
• Do they offer specialized care for the condition your loved one has.
• Are their caregivers trained to handle medical emergencies.

Caregiver Screening and Training:

• Do they use their own team of caregivers or do they outsource to an agency.
• How do they screen caregivers, for example background checks, references, etc.
• What qualifications and training do their caregivers have.
• Do they provide ongoing training for their caregivers to keep their skills and qualifications up to date.

Care Plan and Assessment:

• Will there be an initial assessment to determine the level of care needed.
• Can the care plan be customized to suit your loved one’s needs.
• How often are care plans reviewed and adjusted.

Caregiver Matching and Consistency:

• Will you have the opportunity to meet and approve the caregiver before they start providing care.
• How do they match caregivers with clients, and can you request a change if needed.
• Is there consistency in caregiver assignments, or will different caregivers be rotated.

Supervision and Communication:

• How do they supervise the care provided by their caregivers.
• Who should you contact in case of questions or concerns, and how responsive are they to communications.
• Do they provide regular updates on the care provided.

Cost and Payment:

• What is their pricing structure, for example hourly rates, packages, etc.
• Are there additional fees for weekends, holidays, or specific services.
• Do they accept insurance or offer payment plans.
• Are you tied into any type of contract

Availability and Flexibility:

• How quickly can services be arranged.
• Are their services available 24/7 year-round.
• Can care schedules be adjusted if needed.

Emergency Protocols:

• What procedures are in place for handling emergencies.
• How do they communicate with family members in case of an emergency.

Client Rights and Responsibilities:

• What are the rights and responsibilities of clients and caregivers.
• How are complaints or grievances handled?

Closing thoughts…

This is an extensive list of questions which should be able to assist you in gathering the necessary information in order to shortlist some suitable home care companies. Having all the information at hand will empower you and of help you make an informed decision that you are happy with.

If you are considering using the services of a Home Care Company, why not consider Selectacare? For over 40 years, our family run business has been providing high quality, client-focused home care services in Toronto and across the GTA. Please do not hesitate to get in contact with us today.

It is not surprising that aging family members want to stay in their own homes and live independently for as long as they can. Familiarity, comfort, and security are all huge factors in providing quality of life, maintaining happiness and good mental health. But what happens if an elderly family member gets ill and then needs care and support in their home? Who is going to do that?

Often a family member or friend will step in to help with home elder care, but after a while the commitment of being a caregiver can become too much. In situations like this, for older adults that still want to remain living in their own home other options will need to be considered. This is where perhaps a combination of both caregiving and using the services of a home care company can help.

Below we look at some of the top reasons why a home care company that offers elder care services should be considered, and the benefits to be had…

Help maintain independence

Alleviating some of the stress of being a caregiver by allowing external home care services to help, means that aging family members can still maintain their independence and remain in at home. Receiving home care in the comfort and familiarity of their own environment, can contribute to an elderly person’s well-being. It also allows them to continue enjoying their own daily routines.

Help with personal care

Elderly people often feel to embarrassed to ask family caregivers for help in maintaining their own personal hygiene and care and would prefer someone else to assist them. Carers from a senior care company are fully trained and experienced in providing this type of care. They can respectfully assist with toileting, oral hygiene, bathing, dressing, and grooming tasks, always helping to maintain the dignity of the elderly person.

Help with mobility

Aging family members with mobility issues will require assistance in getting out of bed, walking around, sitting down, and getting out of chairs, navigating stairways, and reaching for objects, for example. This level of mobility support can sometimes be physically too much for a family caregiver to provide. Carers from home care companies are fully trained in lifting and handling activities and the best techniques to employ to avoid injury to both the elderly person and them.

Help with mental health and well-being

Overseeing an elderly loved one’s mental health and well-being can be all consuming, leaving family caregivers little time to look after their own needs. In-home caregivers can share this task and reduce the burden on family members. They can help in medication management, ensuing that daily routines are adhered to, and even accompany clients to medical appointments outside the home. Carers from home care companies can also provide much needed companionship, which of course can benefit your loved one’s mental health.

Help with meals

Ensuring that your elderly family member has regular and nutritious meals will help both their well-being and mental health. Family caregivers simply may not have enough time to shop for groceries, create healthy meals and drinks, and oversee mealtimes. Home carers from senior care agencies can work closely with family caregivers to plan out the right type of meals and drinks for a loved one. They can assist in shopping for groceries, prepare and cook meals, and sit with your loved one to make each eating experience and enjoyable one.

Help with housekeeping

Maintaining a home and keeping it clean and tidy really is a task in itself. Family caregivers may often struggle with this task as they juggle with care duties for their loved one, as well as making time for their own needs. In-home carers can help maintain a clean home and perform light housekeeping duties including doing the laundry and changing beds, dusting, vacuuming, and washing the dishes. Having a clean and hygienic home allows an elderly person retain pride in their home and give great comfort.

Closing thoughts…

Being a caregiver to an elderly family member can sometimes be overwhelming and end up being detrimental to one’s own health and well-being. Home care companies can help in a variety of senior care activities that can alleviate some of the burden and help maintain the independence and comfort of a loved one.

If you have an elderly family member you are caring for and think you need more help, then perhaps its time to contact us at Selectacare. Please feel free to get in contact with us today.

When it comes down to healing from an illness, many options are available to support you in your journey. For caregiving, many models work for patients. The most common one is the traditional approach of family caregiving. The normal method is to have your family help you transition from the hospital to home. But in cases where this is not readily available, professional home care services have met the needs of seniors who are transitioning from a full house of medical care back into residential living.

Both caregiving models have their merits, but understanding the distinctions can significantly impact the quality of a senior’s life. So, let us delve into the differences between home care services and family caregiving, highlighting how utilizing professional services can bring about a transformative improvement in the lives of both the care recipient and their family.

Family Caregiving

Family caregiving is deeply ingrained in societal norms to the point where it is now expected in every space. It reflects a longstanding tradition where relatives are responsible for caring for their ageing or ill loved ones. This approach often stems from a sense of duty, love, and familial bonds.

One of the primary benefits of family caregiving is the emotional connection and trust established between the caregiver and the care recipient. The familial bond provides a unique level of comfort and companionship that may be challenging to replicate with external caregivers. Additionally, family caregivers may better understand the care recipient’s preferences and history. This ensures that the patient has a more personalized care experience.

Nevertheless, family caregiving is not without its drawbacks. It comes with its challenges, especially as busy lifestyles become increasingly prevalent.

Some demands of caregiving include the following…

• Increased stress
• Strain on relationships
• Potential burnout
• Errors with medications due to lack of specialized skills

Home Care Services

On the other side of the coin, we have Home Care services. They aim to bring a level of professionalism and expertise to caregiving that may be challenging for family members to match. These services typically employ trained professionals, including registered nurses, certified nursing assistants, and other healthcare professionals. As a collective, they are equipped to handle various medical and non-medical needs. Researchers say caregivers are likely to be better when they have enhanced knowledge about the disease.

One notable advantage of home care services is the flexibility they offer. Care plans can be tailored to meet needs, ensuring that your recipient receives personalized attention, even as their health condition evolves. This flexibility is particularly beneficial when dealing with seniors with complex medical requirements.

More benefits of home care services include;

• Reduced caregiver burden
• Professional expertise
• Comfort and familiarity
• Comprehensive health monitoring

Moreover, home care services provide relief to family caregivers by sharing the responsibility of care. This can significantly reduce the emotional and physical toll on family members, allowing them to maintain healthier relationships and attend to their personal and professional commitments.

What is the verdict?

The decision between home care services and family caregiving ultimately revolves around achieving the best possible quality of life for the care recipient and their family. While family caregiving offers a unique emotional connection, professional home care services can enhance this experience by providing specialized care. They aim to reduce the caregiver burden.

However, we should emphasize that using home care services does not diminish the importance of family involvement. Rather, it allows families to strike a balance, ensuring their loved ones receive the best care while preserving the relationships and emotional bonds that make family caregiving special.

Collaborating with professional caregivers can lead to a more holistic and supportive caregiving experience, addressing the physical, emotional, and social aspects of the care recipient’s well-being.

Conclusion

Are you stuck between a choice of having your family handle all the support you need after being discharged or hiring professional services? We advise that you weigh the pros and cons of each option. Recognizing the advantages and limitations of both approaches is crucial for making informed decisions that prioritize the overall quality of life for everyone involved. Whether through the warmth of family caregiving or the professionalism of home care services, the goal remains the same – to provide effective care that enhances the well-being of your care recipient.

If you think your loved one would benefit from home care services, please get in contact with us today. We have a flexible approach to providing the best possible care and can provide you with as much or as little care services that you require.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel’s obstruction or rupture reduces the brain’s oxygen and nutrients. This interruption causes brain cells to be deprived of essential resources, leading to their damage or death. A stroke is serious, and patients will of course need help in their recovery, and the road to getting better can be overwhelming and scary to navigate.

As you lay in the hospital bed, your mind might be filled with worry about what the future holds for you, especially right after discharge and in the long run at home. The doctors and nurses usually express that with proper care and support, you can make a successful recovery from your stroke. They will often introduce patients to home care services that will enable them to heal in the comfort of their homes. You might not know yet, but these services are crucial in your healing journey. Let’s find out more…

What are Home Care Services?

Once you are discharged from the hospital, you may still receive healthcare services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy. You may also choose to receive homecare services from a local home care services company. These qualified caregivers bring with them a lot of experience to help you through the recovery process; it’s like having a supportive extended family right by your side. Caregivers will be able to assist in…

Helping you manage your care appointments:

In-home caregivers can help you manage and transport you to your appointments at hospital, the doctor’s office, support group meetings etc. By doing so they can alleviate the worry and stress, allowing you to concentrate on your recovery.

Helping you to rehabilitate:

Caregivers from a home care services company will proactively encourage you to adhere to any exercises and routines that have been given to assist you in your recovery. They can supervise and assist you undertake these activities, whilst providing support at the same time.

Helping with your personal care:

After a stroke you may need assistance in many aspects of your personal care, such as bathing, grooming and dressing. Caregivers are trained to provide these kinds of personal services empathically and with care. They understand how important it is for you to preserve your dignity during this challenging period.

Helping you with household tasks:

Maintaining normality in daily tasks around your home may be impossible after your stroke. Caregivers can help with this by undertaking tasks such as laundry, grocery shopping and preparing meals. Knowing that you have support in your home at this difficult time will help you recover quicker.

Keeping you company:

Companionship is key in the recovery process when you may be at your lowest point. Caregivers can provide the company you need to combat both loneliness and inactivity. They will listen and talk to you about your experiences and feelings, help boost your confidence and encourage you to get better.

Providing support to your family caregivers:

Stroke recovery can take time and require a lot of care and support. Having additional home care services can take the pressure and burden off any family caregivers you may have. Professional caregivers can work around your family members to provide in-home care and support when needed.

Conclusion:

Home care services help stroke patients maintain their independence in their own homes and are beneficial in the recovery process. Caregivers can assist in so many ways to alleviate the stress and worries of everyday life, allowing patients to concentrate on getting better and achieving normality. Having a home care service can also prevent family members being overwhelmed, with professional caregivers stepping in to take over some of the support.

If your loved one has suffered a stroke and you believe they would benefit from having some home care services, please get in contact with us today. Our home care service company offers a range of services which can be tailormade to your own individual requirements.

If you would like to find out more information on Stroke, please visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada which provides a wide resource of information on stroke and heart disease.

As our loved ones age, the thought of providing them with the best healthcare in their senior years starts becoming a more serious consideration. At times like this, we cannot help but consider the usefulness of senior home care services to help ensure the happiness of our loved ones while bringing about longevity.

But are these home care services really worth it? Well, we’re going to let you decide that yourself as we consider some of the benefits of opting for senior homecare services to care for your loved ones.

Instant Care and Support

If you take a moment to look around, you may start to notice an increase in older adults in your neighborhood or community. As the years go by, there will be an increase in this number, and with that growing population of senior citizens, there’s also a growing need for assistance and support.

It’s common knowledge that family and friends are usually the first to jump in and give their care and assistance to their senior loved ones. But when they’re not available or when they need that extra support, professional caregivers and senior home care services are always there to step in.

Retirement Aid

Senior home care services also ensure that their quality of living isn’t reduced even during retirement. As our loved ones grow older, doing daily mundane things becomes more difficult, and sustaining a good living is practically impossible.

Also, with senior citizens outliving their retirement savings while being on a limited income, they are clearly in need of extra care. They are also fiercely independent and often want to live the rest of their days at home.

This is a reality for many families and the need for proper home care becomes paramount. This is where senior home care services come in, filling up that void. These services see the greatest need in the activities of daily living like grooming, mobility assistance, nutrition, and medication management.

These services also help solve the problem of loneliness during the senior years, providing them with a sense of companionship.

Customized Services

Senior home care services understand that it’s not a case of “one size fits all.” These services are incredibly flexible. They understand that every situation is unique and every situation has its own set of needs and they will customize their services to offer exactly what your loved ones need.

It never feels like just another job, but every caregiver approaches the job from the perspective of providing as much love and care as possible. This is one of the main reasons why lots of families opt for senior home care services.

Less Costly

The cost of senior home care services is usually lower than alternative options. For instance, if you compare the cost of nursing homes to home care services, you’ll notice a significant difference in their costs. You also have the option of choosing more or less services, depending on your needs and how much help your loved ones might require.

Improved Socialization

About 27% of individuals aged 60 and above opt for independent living, seeking comfort and an improved quality of life. But when seniors live all alone and can’t get out of the house often, they might feel very lonely, idle, and isolated. One of the most effective ways to combat these feelings is by hiring a dedicated senior home care service.

Caregivers can visit your loved ones as often as you want giving them something to look forward to every day or week. Staying isolated is very dangerous to a person’s mental and physical well-being. Hence, improving their level of socialization can do them a lot of good, and improve their overall well-being.

Reduces Stress

Having a caregiver take care of your elderly loved ones isn’t only beneficial to them, but to you as well. Not only will they have all the care and attention they need, but you will also be reducing the strain and burden on yourself as some of the responsibility of caring for your loved one and looking after them constantly is now placed on someone else.

Now you have more time to focus on other things and don’t have to worry as much about their care. Home healthcare agencies provide loving, compassionate, and helpful services to seniors.
These and more are the benefits you can get from hiring the right healthcare services. If you think you can benefit from these services, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today. Our dedicated team of caregivers is always ready to provide your loved ones with the much-needed help and assistance that you may require.

Do you have a senior loved one that needs care and attention? Understandably, it can feel a bit overwhelming just thinking of how to take care of them while balancing it with our time. Also, with the way things are in the healthcare sector, entrusting our loved ones to the system can be a bit risky as the environment isn’t always the best place to leave a senior.

This is where exploring senior home care services is very important. But with so many options out there to choose from, it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed. In Canada there are more than 2000 assisted living homes, with over 600 in Ontario alone. That’s why it’s important to know what to look out for when choosing the right senior home care services. Below are 5 tips needed to find the right senior home care services for your loved ones.

Ask the Right Questions

The first thing you want to do when you identify the service you may be looking to employ is to ask them the right questions. Are they offering comprehensive care options? This is perhaps the singular most important question to ask.

This is because seniors often have a diverse set of healthcare and social service needs, so you need to look for a healthcare provider that provides a comprehensive range of healthcare professionals and also offers a wide range of services and advocacy.

Choice of Caring Professionals

Each person is unique and will require a personalized and custom approach to care, so it’s important that your senior home care service provider offers you a direct opportunity to interview, select, and hire the best kind of professionals that they may have to offer.

You don’t want just anyone to be in charge of taking care of your loved ones. They need to be the right professional that can meet your current needs. Also, the senior home care service you are looking to hire should be able to provide you with more than one healthcare professional to interview so that you can match their personalities with your loved one.

Inclusivity

Before settling for a particular senior home care service, you want to ensure that the service delivery options and outcomes actively involve and engage the family and the senior in their own care. This is because when family and seniors are included in the decision-making process, the delivery of healthcare outcomes is much better.

You want to ensure that they keep you involved and fully communicate with you. Ensure that you are allowed to actively take part in any decision-making process if not, then that may be a red flag telling you to move on to the next service.

Effective Communication

The healthcare service must also be very effective when it comes to communication. Because caring is often a team effort, effective communication between seniors, friends, family, and also healthcare professional teams is crucial for delivering quality care outcomes. You want to make sure that you’re very comfortable with the in-home service that you’re using.

Communication is key when delivering any kind of healthcare service and cannot be overemphasized. So if you’re not comfortable with a particular senior home care service, you may need to move on to one that you are more comfortable with. Be sure that you can freely speak your mind when you’re working with a care provider.

There are also lots of software tools out there that are available to in-home care services that can help with communication which can be incredibly helpful especially when you have different shifts coming on and there’s a need to be in constant communication with the caregiver. These tools are very helpful especially if you’re a working professional. So you may want to consider these before proceeding to hire a particular homecare service.

Coordinated Care

Do they have a coordinated care system? Before settling for a particular homecare service, ensure that they have very effective senior advocate care plans, care team, and care outcomes. They should offer effective tools, and resources to support you with the planning, budgeting, payment, and delivery of care for your loved one.

There are many things you may want to look out for before choosing a dedicated senior home care service, but the 5 tips listed in this article are some of the primary things you need to consider. If you need a committed agency dedicated to caring for your loved ones, don’t hesitate to contact us today!