Home Care: For More Than Just Elder Parent Care

When someone mentions in-home care, most of us think first of providing a safe home environment for an aging parent. And while senior care is a vital part of the services home care agencies such as 5 Star Home Care provides, it reflects only part of the full scope of today’s home care spectrum.

Let’s look at a few ways that a trusted home care provider goes beyond elder parent care.

Respite Care

As our population ages, family caregivers are becoming more common. Providing home care for an ill or disabled loved one, while trying to manage the day-to-day operation of the household can be challenging. That’s why an increasing number of families are turning to in-home care services for help. An experienced home care agency can work with you to develop a schedule that benefits everyone. Home care providers can offer valuable assistance with the activities of daily living which include meal prep, showering, toileting, medication reminders, transferring, light housekeeping, errands, and transportation.This support allows family members to focus on other issues while knowing their loved one is in caring hands.

Post-Surgical Recovery

In today’s healthcare environment, long hospital stays following surgery are increasingly rare. But not every patient discharged from the hospital post-surgery is immediately prepared to re-assume all life’s daily responsibilities. During this transitional period, a licensed and experienced home care aide can be an invaluable asset. Home care aides can perform essential household duties such as shopping, cooking, and preparing meals, as well as provide companionship during recovery. And by coordinating with other health professionals (such as physical or respiratory therapists) who may also be entering the home to work with the patient, a home care aide can help to reduce stress on both patient and family.

Exercises

Some home care aides can assist patients in performing exercises assigned by a physical therapist. A physical therapist can often instruct a home care aide in the best way to assist their patient in performing exercises. But there’s more to recovery than physical assistance. Home care aides also provide valuable comfort, encouragement, and reassurance to patients as they work their way back to full function.

Long-Term Disability

Some patients require more specialized assistance. For example, those suffering long-term health issues such as bone or joint disease, multiple sclerosis, nerve damage, or other debilitating conditions may require special help in performing the daily activities of daily living many take for granted. An experienced aide can help patients move about their homes (with or without the assistance of a device) and can assist in cooking, feeding, toileting, bathing, medication reminders, and transferring.

Memory Disorders

The population of people affected by memory or cognitive problems is growing. But not all of those suffering from these disorders are elderly or otherwise infirm. A home care aide can help those suffering with memory or cognitive deficits to construct a schedule that reinforces the most important routines of daily life. For example, an aide can ensure that patients take prescribed medications on time, can lay out clothing for patients to wear, can post reminders around the house, can check the expiration dates on foods, and can help patients go through and respond to mail.

If you or a loved one wants to preserve the independence of home living, but struggles to meet some of life’s daily demands, a nursing facility need not be the only solution. 5 Star Home Care’s carefully selected staff can provide you or your loved one with professional and compassionate care, all within your own home. All our caregivers are trained, bonded and insured, and are required to pass extensive background checks before working with us—or with you.

5 Star Home Care serves the Philadelphia metro area, including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties. Contact us today, and discover what peace of mind feels like.