When it comes to 24-hour home care services, people often misunderstand how it works. It does vary from one agency to the next, but 24-hour home care aides do not sleep when your dad is sleeping. His assigned caregiver is awake and ready to help him. Here are six of the biggest misconceptions people have about this level of care.
Your Dad Has Support to Be Independent
Too many people believe that home care services are there to take over. The goal is to promote independence. Your dad is encouraged to do as much as he can without help, but when he needs a helping hand to complete something, his caregiver is right there.
For example, your dad can fold laundry, but the stairs to the laundry room are dangerous. His caregiver can wash and dry the clothes and carry them upstairs for him to fold.
You Don’t Need Additional Insurance
Some families believe that they must take out additional insurance policies to cover the caregivers who are working in the family home. It’s stressful to think about what happens if your dad’s weight strains a caregiver’s back and lands that caregiver on short-term disability.
Talk to the agency’s advisor and ensure that they carry workplace liability insurance for their caregivers. If they don’t, you want to know exactly what you could be held liable for per the contract’s terms.
A Spare Bedroom Isn’t Necessary
The caregivers sent by a 24-hour home care agency are not homeless and looking for a place to live. They work in shifts, and when one aide’s shift ends, the next arrives to take over. You are not obligated to free up a bedroom for the caregiver to live in.
If a Caregiver Fails to Arrive, Your Dad Isn’t Alone
Another common misconception is that your dad could be left all alone if a caregiver fails to show up for his or her shift. If a caregiver cannot get the car started or wakes up feeling sick, the home care agency is alerted and sends a substitute to cover the absent caregiver’s shift.
Caregivers Work in Shifts
Caregivers work in shifts. Your dad won’t have one caregiver to cover the entire day and night. It will vary from one agency to the next and often comes down to a caregiver’s preference. Some caregivers work 12-hour shifts, so your dad would have two caregivers per day. Others work six- or eight-hour shifts, so your dad will work with several caregivers each day.
Care Plans Are Not Difficult to Change
Your dad’s care needs may change. He might start to recover from an illness and need less help than he did. He might develop a chronic health condition and need additional services. You can adjust schedules and services as needed.
Sit down with your family and get a list of everyone’s questions. When you call a home care specialist about 24-hour home care, you can get answers to every question at once. You’ll learn more about how that agency schedules 24-hour home care and finish up the call scheduling the services your dad needs.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering 24-Hour Home Care in Oxford, PA please contact the caring staff at Harmony Companion Home Care today. (610) 910-6015
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