At first glance, finding someone whom you can trust to take good care of your elderly loved one in a professional yet compassionate way is no easy feat. You have to make sure that the person has enough experience looking after the ill and frail as well as handling various domestic tasks.
Luckily, owing to the extraordinary quality of Los Angeles home caregivers’ services, you should have no problem finding a trusted companion and caregiver for your elderly loved one. But first, to make the right choice and find a highly-qualified caregiver, you must first fully understand the concept of in home care.
Home health care provider vs. non-health in home care provider
Since home care entails a diverse variety of services, you can rest assured that paying for home care will be worth your while. But what happens if you need a home health care provider? That’s where things get a bit more complicated.
A home health care provider needs to have a background and training in the field of medicine. In other words, the services they provide are more expensive than those of a non-health in home care provider, that is, a caregiver.
However, most elderly people living alone require home health care providers, for instance nurses, to pay them a short visit every day or once in a while. On the other hand, they need the services of a caregiver for longer stretches of time. Because such services are more affordable, the combination of these two forms of home care works best.
How to find in-home nursing care for an elderly parent?
Bed-ridden patients definitely need round-the-clock assistance. Because of the high cost of round-the-clock nursing care, families usually opt for a live-in caregiver with visits from a nurse.
When it comes to finding a nurse, always ask for referrals from the people you know and people in a similar situation as you. You must have a co-worker or friend who has had a nurse check in on their elderly parent. Just in case, when interviewing the prospective nurse, always ask them to submit their references and qualifications.
Can a caregiver perform some duties of a nurse?
Elderly patients who suffer from, for instance, chronic cardiovascular diseases need to take their medication on regular basis. In this case, a caregiver can be of assistance. Caregivers even take care of patients with diminishing mental capacities without charging extra.
Some of the tasks the ill and frail need assistance with can only be performed by registered nurses. Caregivers cannot perform these unless they have formal medical qualifications. However, they also perform various activities, such as:
- Remind the elderly to take their meds
- Prepare meals in accordance with dietary restrictions
- Make sure the elderly follow doctor’s orders
- Help the elderly maintain their hygiene
- Provide assistance with incontinence issues
They can also take the elderly to doctor’s appointments, in addition to performing their other tasks nurses do not do. These include light housekeeping, companionship and suchlike.
Does Medicare cover home caregivers?
Medicare does not cover the cost of home caregivers. Only in case of medical necessity can patients rely on Medicare to cover some of the costs of home health care providers. The costs of having a caregiver around are a reasonable price to pay for all the services included in home care.
Reach out to us, we have all the answers
Here at A Better Way in Home Care, we can’t wait to introduce you to a professional caregiver who will change your whole family’s life for the better. Most importantly, they will give your elderly loved one the care and assistance they need, enhancing their quality of life to a considerable degree.
Would you like to have someone who can take them to Echo Park? How about someone who will make them lemonade and check on them every once in a while? Or someone to drive them to the doctor’s office and remind them to take their meds? And perhaps you’d prefer someone who can do all that? Rest assured that your loved one will be in good hands. We look forward to hearing from you.
