5 Tips for Senior Care During the Holiday Season

The winter holiday season has finally arrived.  As we look forward to spending time with friends and family, shopping, and enjoying our favorite holiday meals, we also experience some shake-up in our routines. These changes are often more acutely felt by the elderly. Being prepared for the holidays will make your job as a family caregiver easier to manage. It will also ensure your loved one stays comfortable and content through what is often a chaotic time. Below are tips that will help you prepare for a joyful and comfortable holiday season:

Encourage Healthy Eating

Indulging in delicious dishes is one of the most sacred holiday traditions. Not only do these nostalgic flavors bring back marvelous memories, but they also bring the family together in a shared experience that shouldn’t be denied to seniors.

It’s essential to keep an eye on balance throughout the holidays. Holiday meals are special occasions to look forward to, not to stretch out for days on end. In between those rich holiday meals, make sure your loved one has something light and nutritious within reach. They’ll feel better physically and have an easier time sticking to their doctor’s dietary guidelines.

Make Exercising a Holiday Ritual

The cooler winter months often lead us toward a more sedentary lifestyle, even as our calorie intake increases thanks to the holidays. While it’s normal to want to spend more cozy time indoors as the weather cools off, less movement can make us feel more sluggish. It can also trigger a spell of the holiday blues.

Ensure your loved one benefits from exercise by making fun physical activities part of their holiday experience. For example, you could have the whole family bundle up and go for a brisk walk around the neighborhood after each family meal. Or, you can help your loved one get in the holiday spirit by doing a few laps around the mall while window shopping. Spending time in nature and watching the leaves change colors is also a great way to enjoy being active.

Manage Gift-Related Financial Stress

Many seniors love to dote on their children and grandchildren with holiday gifts. Unfortunately, those on a fixed income often feel the financial strain as they struggle with the desire to be generous within their limited means. To minimize stress for all your family members, including seniors, suggest opting for a “Secret Santa” or “white elephant” gift exchange so everyone can experience the joy of giving without going over budget.

Prevent Falls While Visiting Family

The last thing you want is for your loved one’s holiday joy to be marred by a dangerous fall. If they visit other family members this season, take time to practice fall prevention to make the home safe and accessible. This could include removing rugs that present a fall hazard and installing nightlights if the senior stays overnight.

Take a Break

The holidays can be a stressful, chaotic time, especially for those who are constantly on the go. As a family caregiver, it’s crucial to remain aware of your stress levels and take time off from your caregiving duties as needed.

One of the best ways to make your health and well-being a priority during this busy season is to book respite care visits from a professional elder care provider. Being proactive about meeting your own self-care needs will make this time of year much more enjoyable and give you the energy required to provide the quality of care your loved one deserves.

For more information about in-home elder care services, please contact Visiting Angels Newton/Canton at 617-795-2727.

 

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA has been providing high-caliber in-home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our at-home living assistance, companion care, respite support, live-in and 24/7 home care, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, transitional aid, and private duty care services in Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Brookline, Canton, Watertown, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. As a result of our exemplary home care service, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has won the Best of Home Care Leader in Excellence Award; the Best of Home Care Provider of Choice Award; and the Best of Home Care Employer of Choice Award from the national client satisfaction survey firm, Home Care Pulse, for six years. We have been honored to receive the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work award for seven years and one of the 10 best places to work in Massachusetts in 2021 based on diversity and inclusion.  Our dedicated and well-trained caregivers love their CNA jobs and HHA jobs.

Make Thanksgiving Easier for Your Elderly Loved Ones

Thanksgiving is a time for family and celebration. But when a member of your family requires elderly care and support, you might worry about whether they’re up to a big family event.

At Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, our experience as senior care providers has helped us counsel our clients and their families about how they can make holidays, like Thanksgiving, more senior-friendly. We hope the following tips and advice will be helpful to you in making your Thanksgiving Day a more enjoyable and less stressful time for you and family members of all ages.

Choose Senior-Friendly Foods

As a traditional harvest celebration, Thanksgiving is a time for feasting with friends and family. But older adults often have more trouble eating due to dental health, mature taste buds, and chewing strength concerns. If a member of your family requires elderly care, it’s a good idea to build parts of your Thanksgiving dinner around what they can and cannot eat.

Consider making dishes that are easy to chew and gentle on those with dentures. Also, try to cut back on salt in favor of other seasonings. And if your loved one has a Thanksgiving favorite that they might have difficulty chewing — such as turkey — you can help by cutting their food into manageable pieces.

Make Traveling Easier

If you need to travel long distances with an elderly loved one this Thanksgiving, take steps to make sure their ride is a comfortable one.

Seniors are often more sensitive to cold, so consider bringing a blanket if you’re driving and the weather is a little frosty. You might want to make sure they are comfortable by offering a support cushion to help with their posture.

Also, make sure you’ve packed any medications that your loved one might need while away from home.

Schedule Professional Senior Care

With the current hiring crunch, there are more caregiver jobs than certified caregivers in many places. Nonetheless, most eldercare agencies try to keep caregivers available throughout the year, including over holidays like Thanksgiving. If you think that your loved one would benefit from having an elderly care provider with them during the holidays, speak with their agency about scheduling in-home companion care. Having a professional caregiver around for Thanksgiving can help you ensure your loved one is looked after, giving you the chance to spend your day enjoying your time with the whole family.

“Professional elderly care can be a big help over the holidays,” says Larry Meigs, President, and CEO of Visiting Angels. “As elderly care providers, it’s important to us that your family — and your loved one — can get the most out of your Thanksgiving.”

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA has been providing high-caliber home care services for senior adults and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our in-home care, companion support, respite care, live-in and 24/7 assistance, transitional aid, dementia and Alzheimer’s home care, and personal care services in Stoughton, Canton, Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Brookline, Watertown, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities.

Finding the Right Home Care Agency and Caregiver: 15 Questions to Ask

 It is so important to research and consider options carefully when looking into a home care agency to assist your loved one. Some agencies may not provide adequate screening or training of their caregivers. Also, finding a compatible caregiver for a client is crucial and should be a priority to the home care agencies you consider.

Here are 15 questions to ask when contacting home care agencies.

1. How do you recruit caregivers, and what are your hiring requirements?

In-home caregiver jobs have different requirements. Most highly regarded home care agencies require CNA or HHA certifications. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, for example, hires CNAs and HHAs with experience in caregiving, and the caregivers typically have a strong employment history in caring for seniors.

2. What types of screening and background checks are performed on caregivers before you hire them?

You want to ensure that the agency has checked the caregivers’ background through legitimate records and databases, not through an unverifiable source.

3. Is your agency bonded and insured, and does your agency meet all state and local requirements?

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton is bonded and insured. It not only meets Massachusetts state requirements but is also an award-winning home care agency. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has won the Best Home Care Provider and Best of Home Care Employer awards from Home Care Pulse, an independent satisfaction and quality assurance company, for the past six years.

4. What kind of health-related training, if any, do your in-home caregivers have?

It’s essential to ensure that the caregiver or home health aide you choose is appropriately trained for your needs. For example, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton provides an orientation class for new caregivers, Visiting Angels University, an online educational program, and a partner program with a local community college. Caregivers are taught how to assist clients with transfers through Hoyer lifts and gait belts, provide comfort to seniors with dementia, and other crucial skills to help ensure clients are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.

5. Does your agency provide specialized and continuing education for caregivers?

A good agency will have caregivers trained to handle specific needs, such as dementia care, through specialized education. Some agencies may have advanced training programs available, such as Visiting Angels’ Palliative Care Training.

6. How are your training programs developed?

Reputable agencies like Visiting Angels often provide training that has been developed with nationally recognized experts, such as their Dementia Care Professionals of America (DCPA), which is an Alzheimer’s Foundation of America-sponsored formal training and qualification program for caregivers.

7. What competencies will the caregiver have (e.g., lifting and transfers, homemaking skills, personal care skills including bathing, dressing, toileting, behavioral management training, cognitive support)?

Not every situation will require a caregiver with all of these skills, but it is important to know what a caregiver can do. Be sure to share your loved one’s requirements and ask the agencies you are contacting if they have caregivers available with the skillsets needed to provide the appropriate support to them.

8. How do you assess what the caregiver is capable of doing?

Not every caregiver is a match for every client’s needs. A good agency will conduct an initial assessment to determine the client’s requirements and evaluate each caregiver’s skills, strengths, and personality to provide a good match.

9. What is your policy on providing a substitute caregiver if a regular caregiver cannot provide the contracted services?

Emergencies happen, but you need to know that your care needs will still be met. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton and other quality agencies have policies to ensure that clients are not left without a caregiver.

10. If there is dissatisfaction with a particular caregiver, can they be replaced “without cause”?

Home care is very personal, and sometimes the right match between caregiver and client doesn’t happen right away. An agency like Visiting Angels Newton/Canton will work with you to find a different caregiver to make sure your loved one is cared for, and you have peace of mind.

11. Does the agency provide a supervisor to evaluate the quality of home care regularly? How frequently? Does supervision occur over the telephone, through progress reports, or in person at the older adult’s home?

A combination of monitoring, such as telephone and in-home visits, is recommended to ensure the best level of care. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton assigns a case manager to each client and their family. The case manager supports the client and their family every step of the way. The office and on-call staff are also available to assist and support clients and their families twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

12. How long has the home care agency been in business?

A national franchise should have a high level of agencies with a long track record — at Visiting Angels, 60% of all franchises have been in business five or more years, which is more than 10% higher than the national average. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has been in business for over seventeen years.

13. How does the agency stay abreast of new techniques and research in home care?

Franchise agencies usually have a strong network of ongoing skills training to draw on. Still, every agency should participate in local network and education opportunities to ensure they are providing the most current care modalities. The Visiting Angels Newton/Canton staff and owners participate in ongoing training and franchise conferences regularly.

14. What hours can the caregivers work? When are they available?

You need to be able to schedule help when you need it, and a good agency will work to provide care. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton offers hourly care, 24-hour home care and live-in services, temporary or long-term care, weekend and holiday care, as well as respite for family caregivers.

15. Can we meet the caregiver before the person starts work?

Meeting and approving the proposed caregiver before hiring helps to reassure you and prepare your loved one. Caregivers and clients build a special bond and feel like part of the family if there is a good match.

Starting up home care for a senior loved one can be daunting. Too often, families don’t know what questions to ask, so they choose an agency that may not be the right fit. It’s so important to ask questions and be confident that the agency you choose can stand by you when you need them. We hope these questions will help you feel more confident in your choices.

If you’re interested in more information about how in-home care can help your senior loved ones in Newton, MA, and surrounding communities, contact Visiting Angels Newton/Canton at 617–795–2727.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning home care agency providing high-caliber home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over seventeen years. Countless families have benefited from our home care assistance, senior companion support, respite for family caregivers, 24-hour and live-in home care, dementia, and Alzheimer’s care, transitional aid, and home health care services in Dedham, Needham, Natick, Wellesley, Stoughton, Brookline, Canton, Watertown, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. The non-medical assistance provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton home care can make a significant impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life.

If you are interested in more information about how in-home care can help your senior loved ones, contact us today at 617–795–2727 to schedule a free in-home consultation.

Balancing Senior Care with Working from Home

Many schools, offices, and businesses have adjusted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making working from home the “new normal” for millions of Americans. Senior centers, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities have also adjusted their policies and availability in many states, leaving numerous older adults without necessary supervision, recreation, and social interaction opportunities.

As a result, many family caregivers of older adults have found themselves in the unexpected position of balancing working from home with increased eldercare responsibilities. Navigating these new and sometimes unchartered waters can feel overwhelming.

Finding Work-Life Balance During COVID-19

Here are nine tips to help family caregivers manage their new senior care roles while working productively from home:

1. Create a workspace
Dedicate a space in your home as your “office.” Although having a private room with a door is ideal, placing a desk in a quiet corner of your home is also adequate. Make sure your desk is large enough to hold your laptop and other equipment while allowing you to work comfortably. If you are expected to participate in videoconferencing, consider the lighting and background when selecting your workspace.

2. Establish a routine
Create a routine for yourself, and your senior loved one to help both of you know what to expect each day. Establish a predictable schedule for your loved one, including set times for waking up, eating meals, taking medicine, exercising, and other activities to help them feel comforted and secure. A routine will also help you establish set work hours around your loved one’s schedule.

3. Create needed boundaries
Older adults who left the workforce before telecommuting was a common practice may not understand the concept of working from home. It’s important to let your older loved one know that there will be times when you cannot be disturbed, such as when you are in your home office or on a phone call. It would be best to let them know when it is okay to interrupt, such as when they need assistance using the toilet or do not feel well.

4. Minimize the potential for interruptions
Before settling down to work, make sure your senior loved one is safe, comfortable, and has everything needed. As your work permits, check in to make sure they are doing well. It may also help to let them know when you will be back to check on them again. If your loved one lives in another household, it would be ideal to check in with a phone call before you begin working. During your call, let your loved one know when you will be available again and what emergencies warrant an immediate interruption.

5. Expect the unexpected
Times will arise when you need to step away from your work to assist your loved one. Having realistic expectations for yourself and your loved one will help to prevent frustration.

6. Share your situation
It is a good idea to inform your boss and co-workers that you are serving as a caregiver for your elderly family member. Many workers are juggling childcare and eldercare responsibilities during the pandemic, so there is a good chance that your boss and co-workers will be understanding.

7. Ask for what you need
One of the benefits of telecommuting is increased flexibility. If your senior’s needs conflict with your work hours, consider asking your boss if you can adjust your schedule or makeup missed time later in the day. However, it is crucial to make sure your adjusted work schedule still enables you to complete your assignments and fulfill your job responsibilities.

8. Take time for yourself
Balancing work and caregiving responsibilities can feel overwhelming, so it’s essential to take time for yourself. Try to take a walk, watch a movie, read a book, meditate, or do yoga at home to help you relax and recharge.

9. Get help
If you feel exhausted, stressed, or overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to ask for home care assistance. Consider asking your family members for support. If that is not an option, hiring a home health aide may be beneficial to properly care for your senior loved one while you manage your work responsibilities.

Despite the pandemic, elderly in-home caregivers remain resolute in delivering safe and compassionate personal care that is essential to the health and well-being of older adults. If you are struggling and need assistance, respite care services are also available to provide a break for as long as you want. The home-care professionals at Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can help you find the work-life balance you need while caring for your senior family member. Contact us at 617–795–2727 for a free in-home consultation.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning home care agency that has been providing high-caliber home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over seventeen years. Countless families have benefited from our in-home senior care, respite care, dementia, and Alzheimer’s care, senior companion support, live-in and 24x7 home care, transitional aid, and private duty care services in Brookline, Newton, Watertown, Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Canton, Jamaica Plain, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. The non-medical assistance provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton home care can make a significant impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life.

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton follows all CDC and Massachusetts safety guidelines and precautions. We will require all of our employees to be vaccinated or in the process of receiving vaccination by October 1, 2021 — except those with special religious or health reasons. Those who cannot be vaccinated will have regular testing and will follow rigorous safety protocols. We are committed to the health and safety of our clients and employees.

How to be Proactive in Caring for Your Elderly Parent

It is not uncommon for families and friends to live a great deal of distance from each other, including their elderly parents.

Whether you have relocated for work or your loved one has retired to an adult community, you likely do not get to spend as much time with your parent as you would like. A visit every few months and a daily phone call can show your loved one that you care, but you may be missing crucial signs that they need more in-home living assistance than you realize.

A small dent in their car, a refrigerator full of spoiled food, or a bruise from a fall they are too proud to admit could all be warning signs of underlying problems that you cannot see over the phone or via Zoom.

Face-to-face interaction tends to remove the veil that is masking independence. That is why most home health care providers are hired at or around the holidays. But in many cases, underlying issues don’t begin during the holidays. That’s just when most people become aware that their loved ones require support.

Staying On Top of Your Elderly Parent’s Care

Many people’s fine motor skills will decrease as they age. The changes can happen slowly or rapidly. This could make it hard for a senior to do everyday tasks that they have taken for granted, such as preparing food or dealing with fasteners on clothes.

Here are a few other variations you can’t see over the phone, but all of which could be signs that your loved one needs more care to live safely, comfortably, and happily at home:

• Changes in sleep — more or less
• Changes in eating — skipped meals and lost weight
• Changes in clothing — wrinkled, mismatched, backward, or misbuttoned shirts
• Changes in grooming and personal hygiene — unpleasant body odor, bad breath, strong smell of urine in the house or on the clothing
• A decline in household maintenance — dishes piling up, unopened envelopes, unpaid bills
• Trouble standing up from a seat
• Failing to take their medications at the correct time or forgetting to take their medications
• Dropped pills because they can be difficult for a senior to spot and pick up (and missing doses of prescribed medication can cause even minor health problems to worsen)

Hire Professional Caregivers to Help

Senior home care is an increasingly popular way to help your parents maintain their independence in their own home. The one-on-one caregiver will inevitably build a relationship with your loved one through the actions of going into their home to help with daily tasks — like assistance with hygiene, dressing or toileting, as well as meal preparation, light housekeeping, and grocery shopping.

If your loved one loves to cook but has trouble standing that long or carrying in groceries, a caregiver can help with that, too — driving to the grocery, carrying the bags in, and assisting in the kitchen.

The caregiver can be an additional part of your care team, so you can have peace of mind about your senior loved one’s health from afar.

Even if you live close to your elderly loved one, it may be that a professional caregiver can spot warning signs that an untrained eye might miss, mainly related to dementia. There are small signs that can indicate problems, like little memory lapses or difficulty with numbers.

Being proactive with your elderly loved one’s care now can help keep them safe and continue to live independently in their home. And in doing so, you will have more quality time and peace of mind during the holidays.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning home care agency providing high-caliber home care services to the elderly and adults with disabilities for over seventeen years. Countless families have benefited from our senior companion care, dementia and Alzheimer’s home care, live-in and 24–7 care, transitional aid, respite care services, and in-home care services for seniors in Watertown, Brookline, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Canton, Jamaica Plain, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Norwood, Westwood, Upper Back Bay, Roslindale, and neighboring communities. The non-medical assistance provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton HHA and CNA-certified in-home caregivers can make a significant impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life.

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton follows all CDC and Massachusetts safety guidelines and precautions. We will require all of our employees to be vaccinated or in the process of receiving vaccination by October 1, 2021 — except those with special religious or health reasons. Those who cannot be vaccinated will have regular testing and will follow rigorous safety protocols. We are committed to the health and safety of our clients and employees.

Personal Caregivers Make Assisted Living Care Easy

If your loved one can no longer manage basic daily tasks, you may worry about their safety and comfort at home. This is especially true if you have reason to believe they cannot move easily, are not eating well, or starting to withdraw from others. Many families turn to assisted living communities, which allow seniors to maintain a level of independence while receiving ongoing support with everyday tasks.

Within these communities, your loved one may receive regular meals, participate in communal activities, access laundry and housekeeping services, and receive personal care, including bathing and dressing support.

However, as beneficial as these services can be for your loved one, you may still have concerns about their overall quality of life. This is especially true if you, like so many adult children, live in a different city or state from your elderly parents and cannot visit as often as you’d like.

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton home care agency can help.

Professional Caregivers Enhance Assisted Living Care

As the demand for quality senior care soars, assisted living facilities are often functioning at capacity, catering to the needs of many residents at once. While your loved one may have access to many amenities, it’s natural to wonder if their needs are fully met.

By hiring a one-on-one caregiver from Visiting Angels Newton/Canton who is professionally certified as an HHA or CNA to assist your loved one, you can supplement the care they receive through assisted living, improve their quality of life, and enjoy greater peace of mind yourself.

The benefits of hiring an in-home caregiver from a home care agency for your loved one in assisted living include:

• One-on-one attention for more personalized care

A professional caregiver can ensure your loved one has their care professional’s full and undivided attention, with no other distractions or obligations. Your loved ones can have their needs addressed in the moment and on their schedule.

• Chance to build a true bond

Since your loved one will see the same home care provider during each visit, they’ll have the opportunity to develop a relationship based on trust, respect, and genuine friendship.

• Direct line of contact for greater peace of mind

In addition to whatever details you receive from your loved one and their community, you’ll have day-by-day insight from their caregiver. This will provide a clearer sense of how they are doing and a greater sense of connection and involvement in their care.

How Senior Home Care Can Complement Your Assisted Living Experience

At Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, our compassionate care professionals offer personalized home care services for seniors — wherever home may be.

Depending on your loved one’s needs and preferences, we can assist with everyday tasks, including:

• Bathing
• Dressing
• Companionship
• Meal preparation
• Errands and groceries
• Medication reminders
• Walking and transferring support

Through our flexible care plans and schedules, we offer seniors the opportunity to age in place at home or to enjoy a higher quality of life within their assisted living community. We also work closely with families to keep them fully informed and involved in their loved one’s care.

If someone you love needs more support to live comfortably and contentedly at home or in assisted living, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can be there in whatever form they need.

If you’re interested in more information about how senior home care services can help your senior loved ones, contact us at 617–795–2727 to schedule a free in-home consultation.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning home care agency that has been providing high-caliber in-home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over seventeen years. Countless families have benefited from our in-home care, senior companion support, respite care, live-in and 24-hour home care, dementia care, Alzheimer home care, transitional aid, and private duty care services in Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Brookline, Canton, Watertown, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. The non-medical assistance provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton home care can make a significant impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life.

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is one of The Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work, one of the 10 Best Places to Work in Massachusetts based on diversity and inclusion, and winner of the Best of Home Care Employer of Choice award from Home Care Pulse.

Interested in working for us?
Apply to be a caregiver on our website or call 617–795–2727.

Person-Centered Caregiving vs. Task-Centered Care

 Your senior loved one may have hearing loss, limited mobility, an inability to manage household chores, or health complications. It makes sense that as you work to arrange care, managing straightforward tasks is top of mind: hearing aids, a walker, help with dishes — check, check, check. These are essential tasks to achieve.

But many older people suffer from loneliness, depression, and isolation, too. Loneliness has been shown to precipitate declining health and can inhibit independence and mobility. That problem is not as easily solved. Loneliness can be an issue even for seniors who are not living alone. As you approach care options, there are multiple paths — primarily, task-centered care vs. person-centered professional caregiving — and it’s essential to consider the strengths, weaknesses, and outcomes in choosing a route for your loved one.

1. What is Task-Centered (or Task Management) Care?

Task-centered care is a social work practice frequently used in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted-living facilities to accomplish measurable, specific goals quickly. A target condition is identified by a medical professional, along with steps to get there. For instance, in a hospital, the target might be discharge, and the steps would be the checklist to get there. A goal is accomplished, and the project is over.

A problem with task-centered care is that the person affected is often not even involved. A study by BMC Geriatrics of the effects of person-centered care notes the many problems with the task-centered model. Care Is “primarily granted and delivered based on physical and functional needs, while psychosocial needs and quality of life requirements (quality of life) have been given less priority [causing a] gap between needs and services, between expectations and experiences, which may lead to expressions of dissatisfaction.”

Furthermore, the study cites other findings that have demonstrated how “a trusting relationship between the older person and professional staff is essential to enable shared decision making to facilitate the older person’s autonomy and sense of being respected.”

The research also finds another major issue with task-centered care, particularly in nursing homes: keeping good staff. Citing many previous reports, the authors note that “when it comes to nursing home services, a growing crisis has been described with high turnover rates and challenges in recruiting and retaining skilled care professionals. In addition, employees have reported experiences of dissatisfaction and frustration with work, citing a stressful and hectic environment, increasing demands for efficiency, not having sufficient time to converse, provide the “little extras” and support in the psychosocial domain.”

But it doesn’t have to be this way, the authors say, and person-centered care is the solution:

“Other studies in aged care have shown positive results from implementing a person-centered approach. For example, a report that implemented person-centered care in rehabilitation treatment resulted in functional improvements and higher satisfaction. Also, […] increased involvement in care resulted in lower costs, higher physical function, and shorter stays in hospital after hip fractures [and] person-centered care of older people with dementia can prevent and reduce agitation and depression.”

2. The Importance of an Interpersonal Connection

While task-centered assistance can provide the absolute bare minimum of care your loved one needs, a professional caregiver offers that interpersonal connection that supplements task-centered aide essentially and exponentially. A professional caregiver offers holistic care to ensure the emotional and social needs of your loved one — needs that may not fall under task-centered care — are also met.

While the above study demonstrates the danger of isolation, it can be helpful to consider real anecdotes, too. For example: In the aftermath of a stroke, an 86-year-old Florida woman, who lived most of the year alone, began receiving regular visits from a physical therapist and a nurse to aid in her recovery. Her family — nearby and closely involved in her care — found peace of mind in having their experience on hand and were thankful for some reprieve.

While her family anticipated a boost in her physical health, they didn’t expect what ended up being the most significant benefit: her absolute joy in having the caregivers regularly visit and the resulting immediate improvement in her mental health. The aging woman recovering from a stroke relished the conversations she’d have during the visits, what they worked on, a funny thing about so-and-so. It was a social side of her that her family hadn’t seen in years. And — despite family members having tried everything to get her to do simple exercises — she eagerly performed these tasks for her caregivers. She wanted to do her best for these new people in her life, in the way that one puts forth even extra energy and effort at the beginning of a friendship or relationship.

She was happy to be forging new connections and not to feel so isolated. Within weeks, she walked with energy around the house and completed tasks she hadn’t handled by herself in years.

Not every instance will play out the same way, of course. That stroke was a wake-up call and her expeditious treatment allowed for a full recovery. But this is far from the only example of professional caregivers making a drastic difference in the lives of those they visit. The regularity of a visitor, the conversation, the company to anticipate, the “new friend” — these things can defeat loneliness and boost the quality (and length) of one’s life.

The National Institutes of Health cites several studies demonstrating the adverse effects of social isolation in older adults — and not just mentally or emotionally. Per the NIH:

“Social relationships are consistently associated with biomarkers of health. Positive indicators of social well-being may be associated with lower levels of interleukin-6 in otherwise healthy people. Interleukin-6 is an inflammatory factor implicated in age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and some forms of cancer. Social isolation constitutes a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality, especially in older adults” and “People who are lonely frequently have elevated systolic blood pressure.”

3. What Can a Professional Caregiver Do Differently?

Many older individuals are adamant about staying in their own homes. But as their health declines and the number of tasks they can no longer manage grows, the situation can become challenging. This is why many families turn to home health aides, who can help with grooming, household chores, exercise, taking medication, etc.

But in a much more universal way, a professional caregiver can help by keeping loneliness and depression at bay and providing bright spots in what tend to be otherwise long and empty days that stretch into weeks and months. At Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, Your loved one is matched with a caregiver they connect with, who they look forward to seeing. Their companion gives them energy, on top of the benefits inherent in being in their own home, which lets them maintain essential self-respect and a sense of agency in being involved in their care plan. In a nursing home or assisted living facility, task management care is the common practice; it’s about checklists, the dedicated interpersonal aspect that seniors need is almost always missing.

A professional caregiver goes beyond a measurable task. They are not shuffled room to room, marking charts and moving right along. Their presence is consistent and long-term; they become a reliable conversation partner, as well as an aid in health, well-being, and day-to-day needs.

Loneliness is a serious health issue, and the companionship of a professional caregiver — someone who is focused on the person, not another list of tasks — can help stave off the isolation that leads to loneliness and depression.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning home care agency that has been providing high-caliber in-home care services for the elderly and people with disabilities for over seventeen years. Countless families have benefited from our at-home care, senior companion support, respite care, live-in and 24-hour assistance, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, transitional aid, and private duty care services in Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Brookline, Canton, Watertown, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. The non-medical assistance provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton home care providers can make a significant impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life.