When it’s time to consider home care services, the first step is assessing the needs of the person receiving care. These assessments are crucial for determining how much support seniors need and exactly what services will suit them the best. Professional caregivers need to know as much as possible if they are going to offer the help that seniors and families truly need. If families haven’t gone through an assessment before, the process can feel intimidating at the start, but it doesn’t have to be.
Consultations
The initial consultation might happen over the phone or in person. Someone from the home care service gathers basic information about the senior’s current health, mobility, and daily needs for assistance. They also share information about the services they offer and how they can help families. Seniors and family caregivers might have questions, too, and this is a good time to ask them.
In-Home Visits
If the consultation happens over the phone instead of in person, the next step is an in-home visit. At this point, an elder care provider comes to the house and assesses the living environment in person. The care professional can gain a better understanding of the senior’s needs, especially around mobility and physical needs. There might be some recommendations to help seniors feel safer at home or to improve their quality of life, too.
Putting a Plan Together
At this point, everyone has a lot of information that allows them to put a basic plan together. Home care providers outline the level of care the senior needs, including the types of services needed and how often professional caregivers will be stopping by. All of this is customizable and might change depending on all sorts of variables. Seniors might need help with personal care tasks, companionship, or housekeeping tasks. Some need help every day, while others need help once a week. The actual plan involves matching needs and services as necessary.
Building Relationships
Over time, professional caregivers get to know the seniors they’re assisting even more. They build relationships and trust, allowing them to understand more about how they can help the aging adults in their care. Family caregivers also learn to trust in the assistance their seniors are getting regularly.
Monitoring and Adjusting
No plan is perfect and plans often have to change as needs change. Home care providers constantly monitor how well the care plan is working and talk with seniors and family caregivers about how they can make adjustments. This ensures that the care plan remains functional and helps seniors as much as possible.
A home care assessment can sound scary at first like it is a test that seniors have to pass. That isn’t the case at all. At its core, an assessment is about making sure that professional caregivers understand the senior’s needs and have services available to meet those needs. A proper plan sets expectations and keeps everyone on the same page, even as seniors experience changes that require more or less help.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Squirrel Hill PA, please contact the caring staff at Extended Family Care Pittsburgh today. Call 412-241-7292
Extended Family Care Pittsburgh is a Trusted Home Care Agency in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania including Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Mercer County, Washington County, North Hills, South Hills, Fox Chapel, Monroeville, Murrysville, Oakland, Plum Boro, and Squirrel Hill.
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