Home Care Guide Provides Solutions for Family Caregivers

She can’t get around like she used to, she isn’t eating properly or sometimes remembering to eat at all, and now she has to have insulin shots every day. You stop by as often as you can, but you can’t be there all the time. Who can help and what can or can’t they do?

Your questions aren’t unique. With the senior population expected to reach 43.8 million by 2036, according to Statistics Canada, which is an increase from 3.3 million in 2009, more and more families will be dealing with these care decisions. That’s why Home Instead Senior Care®, a leading provider of home care, has provided a free resource to help guide you through the sometimes complicated maze of home care decisions.

The Home Care Solution: A Guide to the Best Choices for Seniors and Those Who Care About Them provides family caregivers with answers to a number of caregiving questions including: Who provides home care and what do they do? Are all home care companies the same? What questions do you ask when looking for a home care company? How much does home care cost?

Featured in the guide are important distinctions between home health care and non-medical care, the signs to watch for that could signal when a specific type of home care is warranted, the differences between types of caregivers and what families need to know to protect their loved ones, and the various costs involved including the ways that exist to fund home care.

One of the most common questions families face is the difference between medical (home health) and non-medical (home care) services. Depending on their structure and licenses agencies may be able to only provide on or the other type of care, or both. And the costs associated which each type of care can vary significantly.

To assess which type of care Mom needs, consider whether she just needs help with activities such as assistance with eating, dressing, or bathing; mean preparation and light housekeeping; transportation for errands, shopping or medical appointments; or companionship, to name a few. These services can often be provided by a non-medical care provider. On the other hand, if Mom has suffered a trauma, needs medications administered, needs oxygen or blood draws, or wound care. You may need to consider a home health provider.

Often, the solution may include a combination of the two, wherein a home health provider only provides short-duration visits to address the medical needs, while a home care provider offers additional services such as companionship and general assistance. Combining these two types of services, or using a home care service to supplement your visits, can often give you peace of mind knowing Mom is well cared for.

To get your free copy of The Home Care Solution guide, call 866-996-1087 or download a copy from www.homeinstead.com.