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Archive for the ‘Home Care Agencies’ Category

There are a few common places that many families use to recruit home health aides. The most frequently used sources are:

-Independent Living Centers

-Your doctor’s office

-Nursing Schools

-Physical Therapy Schools

-Vocational Schools (Including Certified Nursing Assistant programs)

-A home health-care agency

-State Department of Developmental Disability or County Vocational Rehabilitation

-Ads in local newspapers/classifieds

-Bulletin boards at schools, community colleges, places of worship, etc.

-Word of mouth

-Craigslist.org

Centers for Independent Living (CILs) often provide training programs for home health aides. CILs assist people with disabilities to live independently and offer information on managing personal assistants and a referral service. As with any other referral service, you should check the references and do an extensive interview on personal assistants. Similar programs are offered in rural areas called programs for rural independent living.

Senior centers can also be valuable resources as many maintain a list of people willing to do attendant work. If you have sough medical attention in the past, your physician, social worker, rehabilitation therapist, or other medical staff may have information on home health aides.

You may also want to contact nursing schools in your area either directly or posting job listings on their bulletin boards. Nursing students are frequently looking to gain experience and will likely view your care needs very seriously.

In the case that you do not find an adequate home health aide, you can always use an agency. The employees provided by the agency are usually more trained. In the event that you PA quits or takes a leave, agencies provide immediate replacements. Agencies provide insurance coverage and benefits to their employees which contributes to a more stable workforce. The downfall of using an agency is that you do not have as much freedom to choose your assistant as hiring independently, and much of the time there are restrictions on the tasks that their HHAs can do. Agencies are often much more expensive than hiring independently.

Many people have been successful using Refugee agencies. You can offer training in English as part of a benefits package. They sometimes offer additional support and training.

Finally, word of mouth is a powerful recruiting method. Ask family members and friends who have sought care in the past. Ask them about their experience with the HHA, but remember to do your own research and background check on the individual.

Compulsive hoarding may have been a well kept family secret, but now the family is concerned over the aging parent’s safety in the home. This is an elder care crisis that is starting to rear its ugly head. Care giver stress over concerns about health code violations, fire safety or a fall that could lead to a death and being buried by trash.

City and county agencies have developed task forces to deal with the compulsive hoarder. The home of a hoarder looks like any other person’s home from the outside. Sooner or later, the accumulation of debris in the house gets to a point where the local government agencies are contacted. The neighbors may have complained about a terrible stench coming for the home or the local utility company has cut off the electricity or water to the home.

For some, their care giver or family member has had to report them. Upon discovery, what is found is often shocking: things piled from floor to ceiling. Doors and windows are blocked. The stove, refrigerator, bathtubs and sinks are unusable because they are covered by piles of clutter.

The hoarder has created a maze in their home, as their nest. They find comfort and solace in having their things around them. They get to point where some tunnel through their belongings to get to one spot in the house to the next. They are no longer able to care for themselves and in many instances have become a danger to themselves.

Symptoms of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and types of mental illness may play a role in the aging senior’s behavior. Studies show that many elderly hoarders have been diagnosed with an anxiety or personality disorder.

More on an elder care crisis. Caregiver stress over compulsive hoarding and safety in the home

Pet Scans of individuals identified with compulsive hoarding behaviors show a low activity level in the midline part of the brain. It is believed that this low level of energy affects the “firing” of connections in the brain. The result is difficulties with making decisions and throwing things away.

Aging seniors that suffer from this disorder are usually intelligent individuals that do will do anything not to make a mistake. They are perfectionists to the extreme. To avoid making a mistake, they will choose not to make a decision. The compulsive hoarder has such high standards and fear of failure, that the smallest task that they perform becomes overwhelming and stressful. They emotionally paralyze themselves with the minutiae of everyday tasks.

Compulsive hoarding is increasing as the population is aging. There has been more studies and research done in the past ten year. There is now more known and discovered than was ever known before. Because individuals of this disorder do not think they have a problem, it goes undiagnosed and untreated. In fact, cases are usually discovered by social service agencies or local government agencies before the mental health professionals are aware of a problem.

There is presently a large and growing diverse group of professionals including local health and fire safety services, health care providers, and social service providers looking into this growing problem. Because of the nature of the hidden disorder community police, legal and judicial services as well as public funding sources have joined forces to learn more about the nuances and problems associated with compulsive hoarding.

Treatment at the present time is still being investigated. It is known that such a strong and emotional attachment is placed on their belongings by the individual. Cleaning the environment and removing the debris is ineffective. The aging senior will just fill up the space with more things.

Some medications are prescribed for some of the other mental disorders the aging senior may have such as anxiety and depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a solution that is being explored. Compulsive hoarders can rationalize everything about the way they live. Unless they see a need to change their living situation, their hoarding will continue.

As the elder care crisis of compulsive hoarding shed’s some light on this disorder, science and research are working to improve the treatment. For now, there will be caregiver stress concerning that aging senior and the safety in the home.

In home health care can help cancer patients stay in the comfort of their own home while they receive care. The home offers an atmosphere of comfort and security. While hospital stays can contribute to feelings of isolation and loneliness, staying at home allows patients to stay connected with family and friends. It has both advantages and disadvantages to the patient and caregivers. Sometimes, in-home care can create new challenges for those involved. It may also bring about changes to relationships or require family members cope with aspects of patient care they would not have seen otherwise. It is important that patients and caregivers prepare for these obstacles.

Care services within the home may be administered by doctors, nurses, home health aides, or even family members. If you are considering this type of care, you should ask your doctor about the patient’s specific needs and if they can be met by home care. Get information about the types of home care services the patient will require and discuss these with the people who will be administering care.

Use of a home health care agency is usually necessary when the person has advanced medical needs. Research agencies in your area to find the one that best fits your needs. Most agencies provide home health care aides that can assist with personal care, meal preparation, homemaking, and general health management. Services may also include visits by nurses or social workers and access to medical equipment.

It may also be helpful to hire independent home health care providers, rather than an agency. For people paying out of pocket, using independent home health care providers is usually less expensive than hiring an agency. However, you will have to coordinate payment and scheduling yourself.

There are many public and private sources that help patients pay for home care. It may be helpful to look into benefits provided the government, like Medicare or Medicaid. Some private health or long-term care insurance policies cover the costs of certain home care services. Other organizations, like the American Cancer Society, offer free services to cancer patients and their families.

Most of us will have to manage the care of an aging loved one at some point in our lifetime. A loved one can need additional care because of a medical condition or complication, a decline in cognitive functioning, or increasing isolation and depression. The responsibilities and challenges can be overwhelming for a caregiver. Navigating the options for senior care and coordinating their care can be equally challenging.

The Options:

Assisted Living & Skilled Nursing Facilities: Studies show the process of aging is a much better experience when you are able to age in place and remain in the home environment. For this reason, assisted living or skilled nursing facilities may not be the best option for your loved one. In addition to the trauma associated with moving someone from the home to an assisted care environment, one must also consider the high cost of care as these facilities can range from $3,000 to more than $10,000 per month.

In-Home Care: While this solution would allow a loved one to remain in their home, the fact is that home health care can still be very isolating. Studies have shown that seniors who feel lonely are twice as likely to develop dementia as well as have a significant increase in heart disease and depression. Not only is in-home care socially isolating, but the cost of home care can be very prohibitive for many families.

In-home care agencies often have a high rate of staff turnover. It places a burden on the family to orient and supervise new caregivers, not to mention the difficulties everyone may have adjusting to frequently changing staff. Because the caregivers work without direct supervision it can be difficult for the agencies to ensure the quality of care. The family may feel they need to carefully watch over them as well.

Adult Day Care Services: Seniors who attend adult day centers have varied opportunities to meet and to be with friends, enjoy nutritious meals including special diets, assistance with personal care, and support with their health and medical needs such as health monitoring and medication administration.

Adult Day Care centers have professional qualified staff including registered and licensed nurses, social workers, dieticians, and activity specialists that are able to handle such issues as physical impairment, depression, Alzheimer’s and dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s Disease as well as chronic conditions that demand constant monitoring such as diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis.

Additional services may include the provision of transportation, podiatry, physical, occupational, and speech therapy services, weekly outings, exercise classes, salon services, and caregiver respite support groups.

Adult day care centers are usually open from 7 am to 6 pm, from Monday to Friday. Some centers are also available during the evenings and on Saturday and/or Sunday or provide in-home care during those times.

The average cost for adult day care is much less than a visit from a home health nurse and about a quarter of the cost of skilled nursing facility. Assistance with funding is available from Long Term Care Insurance and Medicaid. In some areas, funding assistance may also be available from the Veteran’s Administration, nursing home diversion programs, and other entitlement programs.

A checklist for comparing adult day care centers in addition to identifying locations is available on the website of the National Adult Day Services Association (nadsa.org).

Home care in the United States is a diverse and dynamic service industry. Approximately 20,000 providers deliver home care services to 7.6 million individuals who require services because of acute illness, long-term health conditions, permanent disability, or terminal illness. Annual expenditures for home health care are projected to be $48.3 billion in 2007. Home care is a broad term that describes a wide variety of health related services provided in the home setting. Home care is health care brought to your home to maintain or restore your health and well-being.

Growth Trends in the industry

Seniors are one of the fastest growing population groups in the United States. The senior population has grown about twice as fast as the overall population since the early 1980s. The growth is also expected to continue early in the second decade of the new century when baby boomers turn 65. Seniors aged 85 and over are the fastest growing segment of the overall senior population. Consequently, the demand for Non Medical Home Care services is also growing. It is listed as one of the fastest growing occupations by the U.S. Labor Department. According to AARP, as Americans age, most will remain in their own homes. Nearly 7 out of 10 older Americans own their own residence and most have no plans to move.
As a result, fewer seniors are getting the help they need with simple daily functioning. For example, in 1990, 80 percent of seniors needing help to prepare their meals reported that someone was available to help them; by 2001, that had dropped to just 60 percent, according to the National Council on Aging. Overall, from 1988 to 2001 there was a significant decrease in the number of seniors who reported that they had spouses, relatives, friends or neighbors to provide personal care or assistance. Today, an ever-increasing senior population has fewer resources available to help them with the daily tasks of living. At the same time, older adults have longer life expectancies than ever before.
Leading Psychologists believe by seniors remaining in their own homes, they can retain an important sense of independence. It is also psychologically beneficial for older seniors to remain in familiar surroundings. While their well-meaning children may wish to put them in a retirement home, the fact is that forced relocation can cause some seniors to feel disoriented, depressed and confused.

Remaining as independent as possible can boost a senior’s overall sense of well-being. Staying in their own home is, in most cases, far more preferable (as well as less costly) than relocating to an assisted living facility. It gives them a sense of empowerment, and allows them to retain close friendships with neighbors.

The Business Opportunity

Until recently, however, few choices were available to healthy seniors who wished to remain in their homes. Most health businesses only offered Medical Home Care. This can be extremely costly, since most professionals must be registered nurses or nurses’ assistants. In addition, they may balk at performing light housekeeping tasks. Finally, they rarely have the opportunity to build long relationships with their clients. Often a different professional appears every week, which is disorienting to seniors and prevents establishing a bond with their caregiver.
Your business, Non-medical Home Care, in contrast, is designed to help the older adult with the tasks of everyday living. Non-medical caregivers do not assist with medical procedures, and since they are not registered nurses or medical personnel, their hourly rate is not as high. They also offer the opportunity for steady companionship, as they are generally assigned to specific clients on a long-term basis, enabling a friendship to grow.

These caregivers can help seniors maintain their independence by taking over the daily tasks that become increasingly difficult with age. They can take the client grocery shopping or to the bank, prepare meals, do light housekeeping and provide daily conversation and companionship. Non-medical caregivers represent a rapidly growing trend to allow people needing help to remain in their home or in the community.

Getting Started!

Barriers to entering the Non Medical Home Care business are relatively low. While potential profits are medium to high. Your success depends upon many variables: your marketing efforts, your start up budget, the demographics of your area, just to name a few critical attributes. In most states no formal training is required to provide Non Medical Home Care services. It is important to check with your state-licensing agency concerning the appropriate license for the services you will offer. Not all Non-Medical Home Care agencies can perform personal care services without a licensed.

As with all business, as the business owner, you must have exception drive and motivation. In addition, your customers will expect your business to be punctual and trustworthy. Whether you plan to provide the services yourself or hire employees, these are key business characteristics that cannot be overlooked.

The start up cost for your home care business depends on how you define your business scope. The cost can range from low to medium-high. Some business owners have started their Non Medical Home Care business with as little as a thousand dollars to as much as five hundred thousand dollars.

If you are interested in starting a Non Medical Home Care business you have two options. You can choose to start your business on your own or your join forces with a Non Medical Home Care franchise.

If you choose to start your home care business on your own there is a diverse amount of information available online and in bookstores that can help you achieve your goal of establishing a profitable home care business. You can find general business startup information ranging from how to raise capital, how to establish your business plan, to Home Care Guides specific to the Home Care industry. These guides can provide you with the critical information you need to get started.

There are pro’s and con’s to each start up option. The benefits to starting on your own are lower cost, ease of entry, and no franchise fees. The downside is you won’t have the on-going guidance of the franchisor to steer you around problems and pitfalls.

If you decided go the franchise route you will benefit from the well-established plans of the franchisor. Many of the mistakes and pitfalls that you may face by starting on your own will already have mitigating solutions. The downside is that you can expect a higher start-up cost in addition to a recurring royalty cost of 4 to 10 percent. Furthermore, the market area where you would like to operate your business may not be available.

In the end, Non-Medical Home Care is an option that allows the senior to remain in the home without feeling overwhelmed. The senior receives the assistance and companionship required, the family enjoys peace of mind that a beloved parent, aunt or uncle is not struggling with the simple tasks of everyday living and you get the opportunity to start one of the fastest growing business that will continue to grow well into the future. It is a “win-win” situation for all.

The healing touch provided by massage can be beneficial for many conditions, but is especially useful in senior care or if your loved one has limited mobility or is in a wheelchair. Lack of movement causes the circulation to diminish and nerve function to decline. As a result, muscles atrophy and shorten, resulting in tight joints that can’t straighten normally. Prolonged contraction of muscles due to inactivity can be helped with massage and gentle stretching. Massage also calms the central nervous system and reduces muscle tension, which eases chronic pain and improves sleep patterns.

Other benefits of massage for seniors and those with limited mobility: