Most people don’t know how helpful in-home, non-medical services can be until they’ve had the need for this type of help in their lives or that of a loved one. These services are meant to be supportive and complimentary, and enable the individual being served to experience prolonged independence and enhanced quality of life.

Below are some examples of exactly how these specialized services can benefit individuals and organizations:

Client

Clients can be anyone needing assistance with activities of daily living that have become unsafe or too difficult to handle alone. Services range from light housekeeping, cooking, laundry, medication reminders, and transportation to personal care. Personal care might include feeding, bathing, assistance with dressing, incontinence care, and mobility assistance. Any one of these services or a combination could allow the individual to remain in the comfort of their own home safely and for an extended period of time.

Family

By having trained professionals attend to the increasing needs of an aging loved one, the family member’s relationship with the loved one remains intact. The spouse or adult child is spared from becoming the fulltime caregiver, a task which can become quite challenging and overwhelming. By preserving the family’s longstanding relationships with one another, stress is diminished within the family unit, qand resentment and strife is lessened.

Nursing Agencies

In-home, non-medical providers offer a complimentary service to that of the local home health providers. Both types of agencies are accustomed to working together, one attending to the individual’s medical needs and the other focused on the care of the home and the person’s daily and ongoing personal needs. The best in-home, non-medical agencies have earned the respect of the home health agencies and enjoy close working relationships.

Hospice Agencies

In cooperation with hospice agencies, non-medical providers enable the family and individual to experience the highest level of care and the most compassionate support possible while moving through a very difficult and emotionally taxing journey. This professional partnership allows the family the opportunity to focus their complete attention on their loved one.

Assisted Living Facility or Nursing Home

At times, additional one-on-one care might be needed to attend to the senior’s  increasing age related challenges. With the assistance of non-medical personnel, the individual or couple is able to remain in their current living setting and receive the additional assistance during the time of day or night when it is most beneficial. Again, family members are spared the stress of being pulled in several directions at that same time.

Knowing who to reach out to ensures the best results. Here are some suggested guidelines:

  • Ask about the agency’s experience, fees, and services.
  • Inquire about the agency’s employee screening practices.
  • Ask about caregiver dependability and backup coverage when call-outs occur.
  • Is there ongoing caregiver supervision and who provides the supervision?
  • Can someone be reached after hours and on weekends to address questions or concerns?

The more you know about who you are asking to become an important part of your or your family’s life, the greater the chance that the desired outcome will be achieved.

Peter Violette, LCSW   Comfort Keepers