If you or your loved ones are elderly or disabled, you may struggle to maneuver daily life without a little help. While moving into a residential community that offers around-the-clock services is an option, it’s not the best option for everyone. There are some home health care services that may allow you to safely remain in your home at least for a bit longer, if not permanently.
Every home health care agency will have their own categories of care, and some services may overlap between categories. Most agencies will customize a care plan to ensure every client receives the care they need from well-trained, compassionate caregivers.
Let’s look at some of the basic home health care services available to give you an idea of what’s available today.
Personal Care
Personal care services include any type of care that centers on care of a person’s body. That may include but isn’t limited to:
- Getting dressed and undressed
- Bathing/showering
- Toileting
- Medication reminders
If your loved one needs assistance with any tasks related to body care but can otherwise function independently, they may need some level of personal care.
Home Assistance
Home assistance is similar to personal care but focuses on successful completion of tasks around the home. That may include but isn’t limited to:
- Meal preparation
- Feeding assistance
- Housekeeping
- Laundry
Home assistance professionals won’t do a thorough deep clean or function as a full-time housekeeper. Their role is to help with basic household chores like dusting, washing and folding laundry, and washing dishes.
They may also perform some personal care tasks if they relate to care of the home. For example, someone who needs help with meal planning and cooking may also need feeding assistance. Personal care attendants may also help with feeding if meals are already prepared.
Instrumental Tasks
A caregiver providing only instrumental tasks will make short visits to assist with personal services, including but not limited to the following:
- Checking the mail
- Opening the mail
- Writing checks or paying bills
- Supervising home deliveries
- Supervising home services (HVAC tune-ups, etc.)
These instrumental tasks are often bundled in with personal or home care services. A general caregiver with experience can help with cooking, light cleaning, checking the mail, and other routine tasks during a single visit.
Transfer & Mobility Services
Transfer and mobility services often fall under the umbrella of home assistance or personal care. The focus is helping people with limited mobility safely maneuver their home environments. That includes transitioning between wheelchairs, couches, chairs, and beds as well as assistance walking with or without supportive devices like walkers and canes.
Medical Assistance
Patients may need help with medication or assessment by a licensed nurse. These services are often provided less often then personal and home care services because they involve medical professionals entering the home for routine or basic medical services that a general caregiver isn’t authorized to provide.
Transportation
Transportation services are often bundled with other types of care but are also available as a standalone service. They’re designed to get people to and from medical appointments or personal designations. For instance, you may arrange for transport to the grocery store, social functions, or visitations with family members.
Where do your needs fit in this catalog of home health care services? If you aren’t sure, contact us to discuss your current situation. We can help you customize a plan that meets your needs.
