5 Misconceptions about Home Care Services
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As we get older, it is a natural part of life to need extra assistance from family members. Home care services exist to support families and help everyone’s mental, physical, and emotional health. It is understandable for seniors and families to be hesitant if you are newly looking into these services. Below, you will find five common misconceptions about home care services and the actual realities and benefits they provide.
- A home care agency cannot provide the same level of care as a nursing home.
At a nursing facility, every nursing assistant might be responsible for 5 to 10 individuals at one time! Their attention and time are divided among various people, meaning no one receives the specialized personal care they deserve. At Arcadia Home Care, our support workers provide the care your loved ones need in the form of respite care, part-time home care, or live-in care. Choosing any of these options will provide more specialized, personal, and involved care than a nursing home could offer. When there is a 1-to-1 relationship, the caregiver can focus, pay more attention, and interact with your loved one, tailoring care to their specific needs. - Home care services are a replacement for family and friends.
This common misconception is far from the truth. In fact, by bringing on board a caregiver to your roster of support, family and friends can utilize their time more effectively with their loved ones. A caregiver can help reduce stress and allow family and friends to take a break and recharge. Taking care of loved ones with conditions that require attention can cause family caregivers to feel overworked and stressed. Offloading some tasks is a responsible and positive action for both yourself and your loved one. Family caregivers can be present and provide their time and help more effectively when balanced mentally, physically, and emotionally. - Home care services are only needed after my parent or loved one has a bad accident.
Having a caregiver present significantly decreases the likelihood of accidents, debilitating conditions, and serious injuries, increasing safety and quality of life through prevention. When your loved one has a cognitive disorder, a trained caregiver can remind them to take their medications, be conscious of things like stoves being left on, doors being closed and locked, wandering at night, and other risks associated with chronic diseases. Unfortunately, many family members don’t consider hiring an aide until the situation has gone from manageable to hazardous or life-threatening. - Seniors lose their independence.
As people age, their desire to be independent remains, if not increases. By having a caregiver present, your loved one will not lose their independence but instead increase their autonomy by preventing major accidents and enhancing safety and quality of life. Your loved ones might not be as vigilant as they once were. However, asking for and receiving help is not a sign of weakness but rather a way to maintain what they can still do for themselves. At Arcadia Home Care, we believe it is essential to match your loved ones with a caregiver through our assessment process to ensure optimal care. - Home care workers tend to abuse seniors.
Unfortunately, when abuse happens, it creates a bad reputation for all caregivers, including the honest and caring ones. This won’t happen if you ask the home care agency about their process in screening applicants and whether they conduct background checks. When interviewing the caregiver you intend to hire, ask your own set of questions about the training and certification they received, their personal mandate, as well as feedback from the families they have worked with.
If you don’t know which agency to partner with for your senior loved one, you can trust Arcadia Home Care. We have provided care to families for over 16 years and have countless positive reviews highlighting our commitment to clients. Our caregivers go through a detailed vetting process and have shown their willingness to provide the highest care standards of integrity, quality, and reliability. Book a free consultation with us and learn more about how we can help you and your family. Call (416) 977 0050 ext. 1 to schedule a complimentary in-home consultation with one of our Care Managers.
