Understanding Different Types of home Care
By Cheri Platte, Managing Director, Circle of Care Home Care
No matter if your recovering from a medical procedure that requires short term care, need assistance with daily activities of living, or in need of 24 hour monitoring, having a basic understanding of the difference between each type of care, and the level of care they provide, can help you decide the best fit for your family.
There are options for non-medical custodial home care, home health care with more specific medical needs, care related to the management or treatment of serious medical conditions, or even care for those with a terminal illness or disease. Here’s a brief overview to understanding the different types of home care.
Home Care:
Home care is flexible and offers many benefits to the client and their families. There is no physician’s referral required, so you’re free to develop a care plan that suits your needs, lifestyle, and budget.
Choosing to access home care services is the perfect fit for many people. In-home caregivers help with activities of daily living (ADLs), which alleviates some of the pressure on those who have chosen to age in place, and the family members who help care for their parents who require extra support.
Home care services can be a few hours a day to help with household tasks and light personal care, to 24/7 live in care. It can also provide family caregivers a much needed break (referred to as respite care) to attend to their own health matters. Home care services may include:
- Light housework
- Hygiene maintenance
- Medication reminders
- Meal preparation
- Help dressing/undressing
- Companionship
- Transportation to events and appointments
Consider home care if you are looking for quality respite care for you and your family so you can focus on what’s most important, enjoying your time together.
Home Health: In-Home Medical Assistance
The ability to receive the medical care you need from the comfort of your own home is both pragmatic and entirely attainable. With home health care, you have access to a variety of medical professionals who coordinate your care while maintaining independence and dignity.
Besides being a less expensive alternative to a skilled care facility, there are a number of reasons you may require in-home health care and likely even more reasons you would prefer to receive it in your own home such as maintaining lifestyle and independence. Examples include:
- Activities of daily living (ADL’s)
- Medication and wound care
- Health care monitoring
- Skilled/registered nurses with remote guidance from physicians
- Physical and occupational therapists
- Licensed dietitians
Many medical services can be administered at home, allowing you to focus on recovery, rehabilitation, or simply enjoying your freedom while taking care of your medical needs.
Palliative Care Health: Improving Quality of Life
A comprehensive care that combines aspects of home care and home health care to provide you with the best possible quality of life while you are facing more serious medical condition, illnesses or disease.
Palliative care includes:
- Activities of daily living (ADL’s)
- Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL)s
- Curative care to address the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual support
- Symptom management provides important comfort measures and pain management that help to achieve and maintain a higher quality of life
The aim is to provide a stress-free environment, reduce pain and other physical symptoms, and of course, lessening the burden of ADLs that still need to be taken care of while you focus on your health.
Hospice Care Health: Collaborative and Comforting
Hospice Care is a special kind of compassionate companionship that provides both comfort care, or the emotional, physical and spiritual support, and symptom management, or the relief from pain and side effects that are often associated individuals realizing the final stages of life, terminal illness or disease.
Hospice care is an all-encompassing service provided by professionals who are able to comfort the client and, in most cases, their family too. There will typically be involvement and input from medical professionals, spiritual advisors, as well as the consideration of the client’s and family’s wishes.
Ultimately, the goal of hospice care providers is to alleviate the fear, stress, and discomfort of their client. Relief is provided for not only the physical symptoms that afflict many people with life-limiting illnesses and conditions but also the mental struggles that often arise during this time.
- Activities of daily living (ADL’s)
- Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL)s
- Symtom management
- End of life planning
Hospice offers the opportunity to move through this final chapter in life with dignity, comfort, and compassionate care in a familiar place.
Final Thoughts
No matter what type of home care you may need, there are a number of services options. Circle of Care Home Care can tailor a flexible home care plan that fits your family needs, and we can help you navigate the complexity of Medicare, self insure and self pay options so you only pay for what you need. Contact us to learn more.
Cheri Platte
Managing Director
CIRCLE OF CARE, LLC
Cheri Platte has been a home care expert and professional consultant for family caregivers, and a compassionate advocate for the elderly, for over 20 years. As the Managing Director for Circle of Care, her focus is on the development of resources that support families who care for their loved ones and to provide individual home care solutions.
Her mission is to educate the public on the benefits of home care and home health, assist families in developing individual care plans, and help them plan for the advanced stages of aging. Circle of Care has a staff of over 100 caregivers who are skilled, compassionate and for over 20 years have served the community on a word-of-mouth referral basis. They are trusted by families, doctors, nurses, social workers, hospitals, nursing homes and senior communities. When not helping families in need, Cheri spends time volunteering at various organizations as well as spending time with her family and friends.
