Selecting A Home Care Provider: Why Choose Us?

There is a growing public demand for health care services available to the public in their own homes. The reasons have to do with tradition, advances in technology, and cost- effectiveness.

Modern technology has developed to the point where many services available in the hospital can be provided at home. There is significant evidence home care is less costly than other forms of care and that it is the most satisfying form of health care available to the American public. It is an idea whose time has come.

So…why use a home care provider to care for your loved ones?

You get a home care provider at home

There really is, “no place like home.” It’s hard to imagine healing or feeling well in a place where schedules are dictated to you, strangers and shift changes are the norm and turnover of the neighbors is routine. Or where your comfort items, pets or visitors are limited – never mind the constant assault by fluorescent lights.

And yet, that is the nature of the situation when seniors are forced out of their homes and into assisted living or nursing home facilities in the name of “better care.” The question becomes, “better for whom?”

The reality is that home care accommodates virtually all of the same facets of care that assisted living and nursing homes provide. From companionship and meal preparation, to medication reminders, daily grooming and toileting.

Home care services work especially well as an augmentation to skilled nursing care. That means even injured or ill clients can enjoy the comforts of their home while receiving all aspects of professional care required.

Many home care agencies offer professional caregiver services from both licensed home care aides as well as certified nurse assistants (CNAs) for more comprehensive service options.

Home care keeps families together

Often, moving an individual from their home to a more formal care facility results in the splitting up of families. It could require an out-of-town move, one spouse may be left behind, the transfer may remove an individual from the household of extended family members or – as is the case for many seniors – it can mean leaving behind beloved, four-legged friends who have served as long-term companions.

In our experience, the need for connection with family and loved ones at any given time is directly proportional to the level of supportive services the individual requires.

Receiving care in the home, from licensed, compassionate home health aides will allow families to stay connected and engaged.

It facilitates independence and a greater sense of self-worth

While the impetus for moving a loved one into a professional care institution may be well-founded, the clients themselves often have a much different interpretation of the upheaval.

Being moved out of the home they love, forced to whittle a lifetime’s worth of furnishings and possessions into a single room (or less) and having to relinquish control over daily decisions often sends seniors into a spiral of depression and into the belief that they aren’t needed, wanted or necessary.

Multiple studies show the majority of seniors prefer to age-in-place and that, when they’re allowed to do so, they have much less risk of loneliness and depression. Seniors who age in place and have help brought to them tend to get more exercise and remain more alert and engaged.

Ultimately, aging in place and bringing care directly to the client, gives individuals the awareness that they are valued and provides them with a greater sense of self-worth.

Home care providers cost less than assisted living or nursing home care

In many cases, home care services require approximately half of the costs associated with assisted living or nursing home options. This is because clients pay only for the services needed and because nobody has to foot the costs associated with the immense administrative and structural infrastructure required to run assisted live-in care institutions.

According to Genworth Financial, the average monthly cost for a daily, home health care aide is about $3,432 per month. Compare that with the $5,779 spent monthly for a shared room in a nursing home, and you can see that home health care is markedly more affordable.

That’s especially true when you factor in the invaluable benefits of comfort, quality of life, social and family networking, etc. Both of these numbers are national averages. If you are in the DC metro area, the cost of a facility can be between $6,000 – $10,000 a month depending on which facility you choose and the “add-ons.” Home care in the area is also more than the study’s average, but still less than a facility.

There are many different ways to pay for home care services, ranging from Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance plans, and other creative financing options. If paying with Medicare or Medicaid, you will have to make sure the home care agency is certified to provide these services.

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Seniors retain an active role in their own care and well-being

As mentioned above, seniors who are sent elsewhere to live often give up their sense of autonomy. This can result in a defeatist attitude, letting others take care of everything for them, regardless of how they feel or what they want.

When care is brought into the home, seniors retain more autonomy. With acute memory care as the exception, caregivers will always provide and discuss various options with their clients, and they consider clients as primary agents in their care plan.

Therefore, home caregivers go with the flow of their clients’ wishes. Schedules and menus can be changed. The senior’s holidays and rituals can be observed precisely as they like, and individuals get to maintain a continuous feeling of authority over their own lives.

A home care provider offers personalized care

Even the most well-meaning of institutions can’t provide 100% personalized care approaches for each of their patients. It’s impossible in a community setting where multiple adults require care from a single, individual caregiver.

Home health care is 100% personalized to meet our clients’ needs at any given time. We tailor meals, activities, schedules, and services to meet each individual’s preferences and interests.

As a result of this one-on-one attention, our caregivers have the time to notice all the little things that may warrant a shift in care. This can be as simple as a food type left behind on a plate indicating a needed menu change, to a behavioral or mental lapse that might signal an adverse reaction to medication or the beginning signs of dementia.

On a small scale, personalized home care improves the quality of life. On a macro level, personalized and attentive care saves lives, and it certainly reduces the incidences of hospital admissions and readmissions.

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Home care providers answer a calling

Nursing homes advertise for “help wanted” and the low-paying positions available are often filled with anyone who is desperate for a job and answers the ad. This paradigm is entirely different in the world of home health care.

Our compassionate caregivers have a calling. In most cases, they come to us asking if we’re hiring because they are innately drawn to – and are talented at – helping others.

From home care aides to certified nurse assistants – all of our staff come backed by exemplary education and training, clear criminal background and DMV checks, and an unrivaled desire to improve the quality of life and care for their clients.

Those who age-in-place live longer

The studies show over and over again that not only does aging in place improve quality of life, but it also enhances longevity. Long-term care insurance providers meticulously track mortality rates in various care settings.

As an article at lifecarefunding.com states, “…individuals living in institutional care (regardless of age) will have significantly shorter life expectancies than their contemporaries living independently.” This is especially true for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s, who typically have a life expectancy of one year or less when moved from their homes to a nursing home.

As we like to put it, not only do our caregivers add years to our clients’ lives, we “add more life to their years.”

Be prepared for the future

Perhaps one of the most comforting things about establishing a home health care plan is that you are always prepared for the future. The types of services and care required by each client are evaluated on a case-by-case, and day-by-day basis.

Any observed changes or areas of concern will be discussed with the client and/or the family. When a different level or type of care is needed, it can be provided instantly, without any dramatic changes required on behalf of the client. We’re always prepared to offer the next level of care.

Establishing a home care plan sooner rather than later eliminates the risk of a crisis that demands to make life-altering decisions in a moment’s notice. With a home care team in place, your loved one is surrounded by professionals who can always provide educated and experienced advice and recommendations.
This ranges from modifications that make the home more accessible, to establishing when it might be wise to bring a CNA or other skilled professional into the picture.

Aging in place with a home care provider is the way to go

After decades of home care experience, we’ve repeatedly seen why home care is the best choice for many families.

Our friendly and compassionate staff of care providers looks forward to showing you how easy it is to age gracefully when you have the right resources at your disposal. WHether you’re in need of light housekeeping, errands and transportation or personal care and companionship, we have a home care provider for you.

Our locally owned and operated company is passionate about helping seniors and others in need.

If you or your loved one wishes to remain independent in their own home, you can contact Georgetown Home Care to discuss your care needs.  In-home care is our specialty, and we can help.

Request a complimentary assessment to determine care needs.