The Caring Corner®
The Caring Corner – Challenge of Choosing
At Acorn we are privileged to meet some of the finest direct care workers in the industry. The following post was written by one such person, Eugenie Drew.
Personally I work as an in-home caregiver and in some instances have been assigned to community-based care. If it were my mom when she was not able to care for herself, because of my thoughts about institutional care, I’d opt to care for her in my home. If I had the option to choose for anyone I honestly believe my recommendation would be in-home care. Simply because in my view it is the best option there is. It affords the individual familiarity, especially if they are confused by dementia or Alzheimer’s. The client has one-on-one care and is not rushed through the day. When we rush individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s it makes them even more resentful. It puts them in a place of discomfort. A place of further confusion! Having been exposed to both community-based organizations and in-home healthcare, I believe I am in a position to compare the options best-suited for your family members and or loved ones.
Observation about community-based care: they work on their own time, so at five in the morning they begin to wake residents to get them ready for the day without any consideration for the clients. Understand that some of these residents do not go to sleep until midnight–and even later–because they are wanderers, based on their condition. They do not have the time to bathe the residents on a daily basis. They just use a wipe, if they feel like it and get them dressed. After which they have to sit up in their rooms or in the television room and watch television while given their medications from that time until breakfast is ready. Some of the employees at these facilities, because they are rushing from room to room, are very frustrated and would at times take out their frustration on the residents if he or she does not readily cooperate. One of the things I do like about community-based care, though, is the level of activity some of them offer. Other than that, my personal view is to take care of your loved ones yourself or, if you do not have the time, get in-home care for your loved ones.
In comparison to the community-based approach with in-home care, if a client does not readily co-operate, you can always walk away and come back because time is not a factor. The same level of activities that the community care offers can be done in-home as well. When selecting a caregiver be sure that your loved ones are comfortable with the individual. Do your due diligence as in researching the In-Home-Care Organization. Choose one that performs background checks. Seek out an agency that would provide you with a short biography on the caregiver. One who is professional from the time the communication is started. Keep in mind that you want to give your loved ones the best care and the kind of care you would want for yourself. This is a decision that we all have to make at some point in our lives.
Another thing to be taken into consideration is the fact that our loved ones, especially those diagnosed with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s, have a very challenging time to give up control of their lives and/or their homes. This is all the more reason to allow them the benefit of long-term care in the comfort of their own home. Doing this gives your loved ones a sense of respect and safety. They also realize that they can trust you with their decision-making. Keep them involved in their care needs. Get as much information as you can from your loved ones even before they get to the stage where they need help. Remember at the end of the day your goal is to ensure that your loved ones are treated with respect and dignity.
There are some drawbacks when it comes to Medicare as far as what they are willing to cover. Medicare covers skilled nursing in-home care as well as for caregivers covered by a Medicare approved in-home healthcare agency. It is understood that that insurance is one of the most significant barriers for a number of individuals to enjoy the services provided by home care. There is indeed a staggering amount of uninsured individuals in the United States. An estimated forty one million (41,000,000) persons are uninsured, which equates to more than eighty percent (80%) of working families. Sad but true! No insurance should hamper one’s choices for care. The very wealthy will have no worries in this regards since they can not only afford to pay for insurance but can also afford to pay for the services. It is the poorer class who are less likely to afford what I would refer to as the “luxury” of in-home care.
Now more than ever, there is a need for awareness as to the benefits one can derive from in-home care. The quality of time your loved ones enjoy from their caregiver. The quality of care, the quality of love given far exceeds that of the community-based environment. Are there good caregivers in the community-based environment? Yes there are, but there is a “but”, because these caregivers are under pressure to cover a certain amount of residents within a short time span, which then puts them in a position to rush the residents. There is no time to spend with your loved ones, no time to show them love and care.
Are you still confused which option is best for your loved ones? Take into account which of these options provides your loved ones the quality they deserve. Quality time, quality care and quality love! What makes my loved ones trust you more? Are you giving your loved ones the respect they deserve in your choice? Are your loved ones in safe hands? If you are still not sure where to turn after you have read this, please call Acorn….. a professional in-home care registry. We know how to communicate well. How do we know that? We listen to the needs of our clients. Then we make the necessary recommendations based on client’s needs.
