Home Care Services: What type of services can a Home Care Agency Provide?

October 6, 2010

5 Star Home Care quality homecare for Seniors – call 404-719-4118.  Serving all areas in Metro Atlanta including Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cobb County, and  Gwinett County.

Home Care may be the right option for you and your family, many different services are offered in the comfort of your own home. Each client’s care needs are unique. Providing effective care in different circumstances demands different caregiver experience, skills, training, and even personality characteristics. Home Care services  should be tailored to match the right caregiver to the situation.

General Care & Living Assistance

Caregivers will provide assistance for the “activities of daily living” (sometimes known as ADLs). Assistance with these types of needs gives family members the ability to spend quality time with loved ones when they are together. Activities of daily living include:

  • Personal care – bathing, grooming, dressing, meal-time assistance, medication reminders, toileting and incontinence care.
  • Companionship and recreation – attending events, visits with friends, lunch and dinner outings, shopping and exploring hobbies and interests.
  • Transportation and mobility – attending doctor’s appointments, errands to grocery, drug or other stores, light exercise and walking outdoors.
  • Household tasks – light cleaning, changing of linens and making of beds, assistance with pets, and laundry.

24-Hour, Live-In Assistance

For our clients whose circumstances require 24-hour, live-in care, we typically provide our most experienced caregivers. There are two different options for live-in care.

  • The first option is the most common whereby a caregiver spends 24-hours in your household with a full 8 hour overnight sleeping break and intermittent breaks throughout the day. The caregiver is available on an emergency basis during their sleeping break.
  • The second option provides “awake and alert” care around the clock whereby a caregiver is available at all hours (with the exception of standard breaks). This care is typically handled in shifts of two (sometimes three) caregivers for clients that need frequent and constant attention throughout all hours of the day.

Alzheimer’s & Dementia

Care for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia requires a special understanding of these diseases to ensure safe and effective care. Our caregivers have Alzheimer’s and dementia care experience and training to ensure their preparation for the demands these circumstances place on both the individual receiving care and their family. 5 Star Home Care follows guidelines set forth by the Alzheimer’s Association and creates a Plan of Care that incorporates their training and recommendations for care.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease robs an otherwise healthy individual of the motor skills to perform their normal activities of daily living. Our care focuses on helping our clients maintain as much independence as possible in their normal daily routines by assisting with these tasks. Maximizing mobility and mental stimulation assists in keeping one’s quality of life intact to the greatest extent possible given the limits of the disease’s progression. If desired, our caregivers can work with client’s physical or occupational therapists to facilitate the exercises and movement that improves overall well being. Of equal importance, respite care for a family caregiver can restore energy with the rest required to meet the mental and physical challenges caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s.

Post Hospitalization/Surgery Recovery

It’s very common for seniors to have challenges with the activities of daily living that stem from surgery or other hospital stays. Many times these clients are used to taking care of themselves and view caregiving as an intrusion into their private lives. Our caregivers understand these frustrations and work diligently to provide the right care that maintains a client’s independence and mobility, while respecting their privacy and need for control over their environment. Assistance with meal preparation, bathing, grooming and transportation to frequent doctor visits helps ensure a speedy recovery to a more normal life after surgery.

Hospice-Related Care

Our clients often need to supplement the hospice care covered by Medicare with care from 5 Star Home Care in the remaining months of a loved one’s life. This more frequent care which can be performed on an hourly or 24-hour basis if necessary, provides family members with the comfort of knowing someone is present at all times with their loved one.