It can be hard to admit when you may need help caring for your senior loved one. Following that realization, it can be equally as challenging to determine what type of help you actually need for them.
The good news is that there are many options out there to assist you, provide respite and peace-of-mind, and ease your burden.
At Blue Water Homecare, we offer a variety of services (At Home Care, Dementia and Parkinson’s Care) to help your loved one age safely and comfortably in place.
“In addition to at-home care, you might find the terms home health and hospice care pop up when researching what might best suit your family,” says Blue Water founder and COO, Jennifer Prescott, RN, MSN, CDP. “Each type of service fulfills a different need, and it’s important to get started off on the right foot with your care to make it an easier transition for everyone involved.”
Here is a helpful guide for each:
Home Health Care
Home health care typically refers to healthcare provided by a nurse, physical, occupational and speech therapist that can be received at home after or during an illness, injury or chronic health condition.
Home health services might include:
- Wound care for sores or surgical sites
- Administering intravenous or nutrition therapy
- Physical, occupational or speech Therapy
At-Home Care
At-home care, such as what Blue Water provides, is non-medical but still supports the overall health and well-being of your loved one by tending to their other basic needs around the house.
Services that our skilled and experienced team of at-home caregivers might assist with include:
- Grocery shopping, meal preparation/planning and feeding
- Safe bathroom help and personal hygiene care
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Medication reminders or escorts to doctor’s appointments
Hospice Care
Hospice care, or end-of-life/palliative care, is what is needed when your loved one is nearing the end of their journey from a terminal illness.
Hospice caregivers assist with ensuring that your loved one’s and family’s emotional, spiritual, and physical needs are met (by reducing any pain and suffering they might be experiencing). The goal in hospice care is to provide the best quality of life possible for the remainder of their life.
Hospice care services might include:
- Hospice and Palliative Care physician and nurse practitioners
- Nursing care and medication administration to control and alleviate pain
- Providing and setting up any medical equipment needed for at-home care such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, or oxygen tanks
- Counseling and bereavement services to help family members cope with grief and loss
At any point in time while seeking care for your loved one, you may need a combination of any of these services. Any caregiver should also always work in close conjunction with your physician, medical team, or rehabilitation specialist to include any special directives from them.
Blue Water is here to educate you on what types of care are available to help your loved one comfortably and safely age in place and give you some welcome respite and a peace of mind. Please contact us here for a complimentary consultation anytime.