To figure out if you or your loved one would benefit from in-home care, it helps to answer some other questions, such as the following.
Is it difficult for you to brush your teeth or bathe by yourself? What about tidying up around the house, making a meal, or driving to the store or appointments?
If you answered yes to any of these, you’ll want to consider getting an in-home caregiver.
Likewise, if you’re spending all your free time helping a loved one with these or other activities, or if you’re caring for someone with more specific needs—perhaps due to a recent surgery or medical diagnosis—in-home care is a good fit for you.
If you’re still not sure if in-home care is right for you or your loved one, knowing the answers to a few frequently asked questions about home care may help.
What’s the difference between in-home care and home health care?
Simply put, in-home care provides companionship and non-medical assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, meal preparation, housekeeping, and transportation.
Home health care is clinical (or medical) care provided in a home setting. It may include things such as skilled nursing; physical, occupational, or other types of therapy; and/or administration of medication.
Are home care agencies regulated, and if so, what are those regulations?
Yes. The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) regulates home health care providers, including in-home care agencies. All in-home caregivers—also referred to as home health aides—are required to complete training on topics as determined and outlined by DHSS.
When selecting an in-home care agency, it’s equally important to verify that it’s licensed, bonded, and insured. Many agencies also require their caregivers to undergo a background check, drug screening, and physical examination as part of the pre-employment process.
What types of services are provided by in-home care agencies?
Most in-home care agencies offer various levels of care ranging from companionship to more specialized care. Here’s a list of examples of the types of care or services provided by in-home care agencies:
- Companionship
- Light housekeeping
- Laundry
- Meal preparation and clean-up
- Personal care/hygiene
- Dressing assistance
- Help with daily grooming
- Bathing assistance
- Toileting assistance
- Help with ambulation (moving about or walking)
- Transportation to appointments or to the store or for other errands
- Picking up prescriptions
- Medication reminders
- Feeding
- Alzheimer’s or dementia care
Final thoughts
Whether you or your loved one need daily, short-term, occasional, or long-term help, in-home care agencies will work with you to develop a personalized in-home care plan based on your individual needs. The best ones will give you a free, no-obligation in-home consultation and assessment. They will also let you know their estimated/approximate cost up front and help you determine what payment options are available to you or your loved one.
This article was provided by HomeWell Care Services Delaware, which is franchised by HomeWell Franchising Inc.
An agency of one of the nation’s leading non-medical in-home care providers, HomeWell Care Services Delaware provides compassionate, in-home personal care to help seniors and homebound adults remain safely in the comfort of wherever they call home. HomeWell’s levels of care range from companionship to more specialized non-medical care for advanced health conditions, with care plans customized for each client.
For more information about HomeWell Care Services Delaware, go to homewellcares.com/locations and visit the Georgetown or Smyrna website under Delaware.
