The Difference Between Home Health Care Services and Senior Companion Services
At its simplest level, home care simply refers to any services which assist a person to remain comfortable and safe in their own home while receiving no special medical care provided by a licensed home care aide. In some cases, home care services may also offer peace of mind to elderly or children who live too far from extended family members to regularly schedule frequent visits. The services may be required for routine care, as well as for crisis situations which require immediate attention to prevent serious injury or loss of life. While home care may be offered by any person with experience in providing such personal care, there are several types of home care aides who can provide help to people in many different situations.
One of the most common forms of home care services involves companionship. Many seniors are independent but may have periods where they require assistance to carry out simple tasks, or to go out in public. For these seniors, companionship may mean having someone to walk them to the grocery store, take them to the doctor, visit with friends, or to visit with family members who do not live with them. During these periods, the companion may also be given medications or required to remain in the senior's home to receive necessary medical care, or to perform other tasks needed to maintain a safe and functional existence. Abney and Baker is an award-winning home care services and support that help you continue living happily with your seniors.
Another type of companion is that which provides assistance with daily activities. Many seniors fall behind in weight or other physical aspects and need extra help to make it through the day. For these seniors, home care services may involve walking errands, cooking and stocking the refrigerator, or even taking medications as prescribed by a physician. For some, companionship may come in the form of a professional who provides speech therapy, physical therapy, or tutoring. For many seniors who are unable to care for themselves on their own, this type of extra help may be invaluable in maintaining independence. Check out more info about this business and how it operates.
One more important type of companion for seniors is that which provides assistance with physical therapy. This service can take the form of massages, electrical stimulation, physical therapy, hydrotherapy, or any number of other methods. Many physical therapy tasks provided by home care services are similar to those that would be performed in a hospital, but the degree of support differs significantly from that of a hospital environment. Many seniors require specialized training in order to perform tasks beyond the scope of a regular massage or electric shock; however, if they live with a caregiver, they may be trained in other areas such as speech therapy, wound care, physical therapy, and nutrition.
Additionally, home health care services include assistance with daily meal preparation, dressing, and hygiene. Many seniors need assistance with bathing, eating, and other personal hygiene tasks, and if a caregiver is not available to assist them on a consistent basis, serious issues can occur. This is especially true if a senior falls ill and requires intensive medical attention.
In summary, home care services and senior companion services refer to a wide variety of tasks and duties that a family member or loved one may be required to complete on a daily basis. These tasks are usually not very different from those that would be required of a live-in caretaker, but are often much more extensive. Regardless, of whether these tasks are performed by a family member, a live-in caregiver, or a hired aide, having the right care providers present at home can make a big difference. In many cases, elderly loved ones require a number of different types of care that home care services may not be able to provide. Check out this post for more details related to this article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caregiver.
