Debunking Myths About Senior Home Care

Senior home care services are invaluable to older adults and their families. Professional in-home caregivers provide meaningful companionship and socialization, helping seniors age in place safely and comfortably. Families are assured that their senior loved one is receiving dedicated and compassionate care from a qualified responsible professional.

Misconceptions about in-home personal care do exist and may prevent the elderly and their families from considering this service. Here are four common senior home care myths and facts you need to know.

Myth: Senior home care is low-quality compared to nursing home care.

Fact: Visiting Angels Newton/Canton’s certified HHA and CNA caregivers undergo comprehensive background checks. They have the opportunity to participate in robust training on topics that include fall prevention, home safety, dementia care, and internal policies and procedures.

Visiting Angels’ caregivers are fully focused on their senior client’s needs — whether those requests include personal care assistance, light household tasks, or companionship. A Visiting Angels caregiver will get to know a senior loved one, making it easier to identify changes or concerns and update the family.

In contrast, nursing home staff typically care for several residents during each shift and may not have time to provide meaningful companionship to each resident. Living in a nursing home is also associated with a greater risk of contracting colds, flu, COVID-19, gastrointestinal viruses, and other contagious illnesses when compared to one-on-one personal care in the home.

Myth: Aging in place isn’t safe.

Fact: Visiting Angels Newton/Canton offers a comprehensive Fall Prevention Program, which includes a home safety walk-through and fall risk assessment. Our case managers will identify tripping hazards, poorly lit areas, and bathroom/kitchen risks and suggest modifications.

Our well-trained caregivers help seniors with mobility concerns navigate their home safely and reduce the risk of accidents or injuries. Caregivers also keep seniors safe by helping them with light housekeeping duties, transportation, errands, and meal preparation.

Myth: In-home care is only for people who are very sick.

Fact: Home care is for any older adult who wants to remain independent and stay at home as long as possible. Professional in-home caregivers can provide the full spectrum of non-medical, supportive senior care — including assisting seniors who need companionship to prevent social isolation and managing unique personal care needs. They often serve as the hands and feet of their client to help them accomplish what they want to do.

Myth: Home care means giving up independence.

Fact: The thought of losing independence is scary for anyone. But hiring an in-home caregiver doesn’t mean an older adult is losing independence — in fact, it means the opposite. Professional home care enables seniors to maintain independence and provides them with the assistance they need to continue living safely at home.

Visiting Angels’ caregivers pride themselves on helping seniors maximize their abilities and providing them a sense of purpose and control over their care. Although a caregiver may make recommendations to enhance quality of life, seniors and their families have the final say on the home care plan.

Questions?

Hopefully, we have debunked some of the myths about home care services. If you are planning for a loved one’s future care or have an immediate need for in-home care, contact Visiting Angels Newton/Canton for an in-home, no-cost, no-obligation assessment. Our case managers will discuss your loved one’s specific situation, answer your home care questions, recommend a plan to provide the level of care that will meet your senior’s needs — and dispel any myths you may have heard about home care..

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton
Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA has been providing superior quality at-home care services for seniors and adults with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our private duty care, respite home care, companion care, live-in and 24/7 home care, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, transitional aid, and at-home living assistance in Needham, Dedham, Brookline, Watertown, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Stoughton, Canton, Jamaica Plain, 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 ten best places to work in Massachusetts in 2021 based on diversity and inclusion. Our dedicated and well-trained caregivers love their HHA and CNA caregiver jobs.

How a Qualified Home Caregiver Works to Help Your Senior

A qualified home caregiver, who has been screened, hired, trained, and supported by a high-quality home care agency such as Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, provides professional at-home care assistance to seniors. These experienced, dedicated professionals will get to know and understand your senior loved one to deliver compassionate and attentive care that meets your expectations.

Home Caregiver’s Duties

A professional caregiver typically performs the following duties:

• Meal preparation
• Light housekeeping
• Errands and shopping
• Socialization and companionship
• Medication reminders
• Accompany to doctor appointments
• Dressing and laundry
• Walks, exercise routines
• Personal hygiene and bathing assistance
• Assist with all ADLs & transfers

However, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton recognizes that each client is different and will develop a customized home care plan during your initial consultation. The plan acts as a “road map” and outlines the tasks and needs scheduled to be completed each day.

Whether your senior loved one needs daytime assistance, overnight care, personal care, or companionship, Visiting Angels will work closely with you to ensure they receive the comfort and safety they deserve.

What is a Typical Day like for a Caregiver?

When a Visiting Angels’ caregiver arrives at the client’s home, they will greet your senior, assess their needs, consult the plan, and clock in for their shift. The caregiver may also ask about any current or upcoming schedules, appointments, errands, preferences, or needs your loved one may have.

A caregiver in the morning may assist with a daily routine — helping with bathing, dressing, putting on makeup, eating breakfast, and engaging in other daytime tasks. At night, a caregiver may assist with bedtime or be there to offer comfort and support.

Your case manager will constantly assess your loved one’s requirements for companionship and assistance — honoring their preferences and helping to promote independence, engagement, and a sense of self-worth.

For example, suppose your senior is low on groceries and craving a pasta dinner. In that case, your Visiting Angels’ caregiver could arrange a trip to the grocery store for the ingredients and help prepare the evening meal. Or, the caregiver can coordinate activities such as a trip to the doctor’s office, helping with a load of laundry, or setting up a video chat with the grandkids.

Whether your loved one is an active older adult or a person at the end of life, your caregiver will monitor their well-being, including looking out for hazards around the home and changes in their physical or mental health status. If the caregiver has concerns, they will alert your loved one’s case manager, who will communicate with you.

Before your caregiver leaves, they will confirm your loved one is comfortable and safe. Depending on the time of day, they may ensure your senior is settled in for the night or prepared for a fresh start in the morning. Your caregiver will also review the home care plan to verify tasks have been completed and clock out when their shift has ended.

Although there is no “typical” day for a Visiting Angels Newton/Canton caregiver, the goal is to meet your loved one’s individualized needs while providing you with peace of mind.

If you’re interested in our compassionate in-home care services for you or a loved one, contact us today for a free initial 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 to seniors and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our respite home care, elder companion support, live-in and 24-hour assistance, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, transitional aid, in-home care services in Westwood, Norwood, Boston’s (Upper) Back Bay, Brookline, Canton, Dedham, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Natick, Needham, Newton, Roslindale, Stoughton, Watertown, Wellesley, and West Roxbury, and neighboring communities in Massachusetts. The non-medical assistance Visiting Angels Newton/Canton provides can significantly impact your loved one’s happiness and quality of life.

Call us at (617) 795–2727 to book a free in-home consultation with one of our knowledgeable case managers today!

What to Look for in a Caregiver Job in Massachusetts

Being a caregiver is a rewarding job that allows you to care for older adults who need help while supporting and positively impacting your community in Massachusetts. It is challenging to work as an independent caregiver; that’s why most caregivers choose to work for a home care agency. If you are on the hunt for a caregiver job but don’t know what kind of agency to work for, here are some things to remember when applying and interviewing for your next caregiver job.

What to look for and ask your potential employer

1. An agency that sees the value of their employees’ hard work. These agencies offer competitive pay, bonuses, and the opportunity for a raise. They also put effort into recognizing outstanding performance with awards to exemplary employees.

2. An agency that cares for the well-being of its employees. They provide paid sick leave when you get sick and need to take some time off. They offer benefits such as 401K retirement programs and competitive health insurance plans. They are willing to work with their employees to provide them with a flexible work schedule or allow them to work part-time.

3. An agency with supportive management and staff who will encourage and support you throughout your career as a caregiver and be there for you when you have any questions or experience challenges with your clients.

4. An agency that provides on-the-job training to ensure its caregivers will be successful and ensure they understand the role and expectations of the job.

5. An agency that values its staff and invests in them by offering their staff training courses to further their knowledge and skill set.

The basic requirements of a caregiver

Finding your dream job is one thing. Getting hired for it is another, so you must ensure that you meet and exceed home care agency’s basic requirements. The best home care agencies strive to provide the best care to their clients by choosing the best caregivers to work for them. These agencies will likely require a minimum of one year of experience as a caregiver, including either caring for an elder in your family or having experience as a professional caregiver. Most agencies will require you to be either an HHA or CNA-certified caregiver.

Other conditions may include passing a background check, a TB test, the ability to speak, read and write English, and having good references. Good home care agencies will also choose compassionate employees dedicated to their job as a caregiver. Read this article to learn more about what home care agencies look for in caregivers.

Join our team today!

If you are looking for a rewarding job where you can provide comfort and assistance to seniors, have the support of a caring and experienced office staff, and have room to grow and develop your skills as a professional caregiver, we are the agency for you!

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has been providing home care services to seniors in Brookline, Boston’s (Upper) Back Bay, Canton, Dedham, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Stoughton, Watertown, Wellesley, Westwood, and West Roxbury, and neighboring communities in Massachusetts since 2004. We genuinely value our caregivers and provide them with the training and support needed to succeed in their careers. This could be the perfect fit for you!

If a caregiver job at Visiting Angels Newton/Canton is something you are interested in pursuing, we would love to meet you! Click this link to apply for a caregiver job today or call us at (617) 795–2727.

Keeping Your Senior Safe at Home After a Stroke

A stroke is a frightening and life-altering experience for seniors and their families. Depending on the severity of the brain attack, a stroke survivor may face difficulties with mobility, vision, speech, swallowing, emotions, cognitive functioning, and performing everyday tasks. When this occurs, it’s essential to have a home care plan to keep your senior safe.

After discharge from a hospital, a post-stroke plan may include hiring a non-medical in-home personal caregiver to provide long-term assistance with daily tasks such as:

• Bathing
• Grooming
• Dressing
• Toileting
• Light housekeeping
• Meal preparation
• Physical therapy exercises assistance
• Cognitive support (i.e., games, puzzles, etc.)

Personal care providers are different than home health providers, who typically offer short-term medical care during brief home visits under the supervision of a physician.

How Can Caregivers Help Stroke Survivors Stay Safe at Home?

Visiting Angels’ professional caregivers use stroke-specific training to understand signs and symptoms while providing non-medical, comfort-focused dedicated support. Caregivers can contribute to senior safety by:

• Reducing the risk of falling
  After a stroke, seniors may experience weakness and paralysis in their arms or legs. These mobility limitations — especially when combined with extreme fatigue during recovery — can increase the chances of a fall or household accident.
  
  Visiting Angels’ caregivers can assist older adults as they move around the home, navigate stairs or the bathroom, and get into and out of bed. A Fall Prevention Program helps caregivers and care coordinators identify areas of concern in the home and recommend modifications to reduce fall risk.
• Assisting with household tasks
  Stroke survivors may have physical or cognitive issues that prevent them from driving or managing tasks such as laundry, cooking, shopping, or housekeeping. Visiting Angels’ caregivers can provide or arrange transportation to appointments, run errands, prepare meals, and handle light household duties.
• Giving reminders for medication, exercise, and appointments
  Your loved one’s post-stroke care may involve taking medications, performing physical or occupational therapy exercises at home, and/or attending medical appointments critical to recovery and long-term health. Although Visiting Angels’ caregivers cannot provide medical care, they can remind seniors when it’s time to take medication, exercise, or prepare for home health or in-person medical visits.
• Following dietary recommendations
  Difficulties in eating and swallowing can happen following a stroke. To avoid choking and other complications, a senior may have to temporarily or permanently follow a special diet. Due to medication interactions, seniors may also need to avoid or limit certain foods.
  
  A Visiting Angels’ caregiver can prepare foods per a prescribed diet and support older adults during mealtimes, so they receive the necessary nutrition. An in-home caregiver can also remind seniors of speech therapy appointments and encourage them to practice prescribed speech and swallowing exercises.
• Watching for signs of a second stroke
  Nearly 1 in 4 strokes occur in people who have had a previous stroke, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Statistics show that stroke patients who arrive at the emergency room within three hours of their first symptom have less disability three months into recovery than those who received delayed care.
  
  Visiting Angels’ caregivers can identify signs of a second stroke and call dial 911 for help if necessary — which could save a loved one’s life. A caregiver can also direct paramedics to a senior’s emergency medical file that contains vital health and medical information for paramedics and hospital staff.

Reduce Hospital Readmission

When a loved one has suffered a stroke, professional senior care services can help significantly. In-home professional caregivers will support stroke survivors and reduce stress for family caregivers. Visiting Angels provides a “Ready, Set, Go Home” program that helps seniors successfully transition home after hospitalization through a customized approach that begins at the hospital. The program also includes home visits to promote a safe recovery by lowering the risk of hospital readmissions related to falls and other accidents.

If your loved one needs in-home care following a stroke, Visiting Angels’ case managers are available to discuss the care required, set up a free in-home consultation, and work on a care plan with you.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning home care agency 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, senior companion support, in-home respite care, personal care, live-in and 24-hour home care, dementia, and Alzheimer’s care, transitional aid, and in-home elder care services in Brookline, Watertown, Stoughton, Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Canton, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities in Massachusetts. The non-medical assistance provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton home care can significantly impact your loved one’s happiness and quality of life.

Do You Need an In-Home Personal Caregiver or a Home Care Nurse?

Many seniors are choosing to age in place at home instead of moving to an assisted living or nursing facility. To maintain a good quality of life, some seniors may need additional assistance with their medical or personal care and daily household tasks. Deciding whether a “home care nurse” or an “in-home personal caregiver” is required is a crucial first step.

What Does an In-Home Caregiver Do?

An in-home personal caregiver provides non-medical assistance for adults needing personal care, including daily tasks. Professional in-home caregivers help older adults maintain their independence, continue living at home, and age safely and comfortably.

Caregiver tasks may include:

• Assistance with grooming, bathing, toileting, and dressing
• Meal preparation
• Light housekeeping
• Errands and shopping
• Medication reminders
• Assistance with mobility and transfers
• Transportation
• Companionship and socialization

In-home caregivers may also have additional training in cognitive health that enables them to handle seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia effectively.

What Does a Home Care Nurse Do?

A home care nurse is either a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN) who offers nursing-level medical care to individuals in their home. Home care nurses provide treatments that may include:

• Wound care
• Respiratory therapy
• Tracheotomy care
• Diabetes management
• Ostomy care
• Injections
• Infusions
• Medication administration
• Post-surgical care

Other medical providers — such as registered dietitians and physical, speech, and occupational therapists — may also offer specialized healthcare and rehabilitation services in the home.

Which Type of Care is Right for You?

The first step is determining whether your loved one’s needs are medical or non-medical.

If your loved one needs in-home medical support, discuss their situation with a doctor. In-home care provided by nurses is typically recommended by a physician and paid via insurance. Care is limited to the individual’s physician-documented medical needs.

In-home nurses often provide care for the short term (during the time of a patient’s illness or injury). Some patients with chronic or progressive conditions may need in-home medical assistance indefinitely. The duration of visits is also limited to the time it takes to provide the recommended care. Examples include a one-hour visit for a monthly infusion or a 15-minute visit to change a dressing and administer medication.

If your loved one needs non-medical personal assistance, a professional home care provider from a reputable home care agency such as Visiting Angels Newton/Canton might be the right choice. Clients and their families can select the required hours and tasks, even if those requests are for respite care only.

Visiting Angels offers numerous types of care arrangements, including:

• 24/7 care
• Live-in care
• Overnight care
• Weekday care
• Weekend care
• Evening care
• Holiday care
• Respite care
• Temporary care
• Long-term care
• Long-distance care

Schedule a free home care consultation with Visiting Angels Newton/Canton to learn more about available services and how an in-home personal caregiver might be able to assist your loved one.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton

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

 

How to Reduce the Risk of Rehospitalization for Seniors

Nobody enjoys being admitted to the hospital. Whether it’s an overnight visit or an extended stay, the time away from the comforts of home can negatively affect a senior’s physical and mental health.

Readmittance soon after discharge from the hospital is difficult for seniors and their loved ones.

Unfortunately, this scenario is a sad and familiar reality for many individuals over 65. Roughly 20% of seniors on Medicare end up back in the hospital within 30 days of their last visit due to preventable factors such as:

• Medication issues
• Not following diet recommendations
• Falls and accidents
• Missed medical appointments
• Certain diseases such as heart issues, diabetes, stroke

Reduce hospital readmission risks by learning what questions to ask and understanding why professional in-home care can be vital for seniors after a stint in the hospital.

Questions to Ask During a Hospital Discharge

The hospital discharge practice often feels onerous, and seniors and their caregivers may leave confused. A smooth process — and getting clear instructions — can help reduce the odds of hospital readmission.

Here are some questions to ask before your senior loved one leaves the facility:

What do I need to know about their condition before discharge?
Make sure you get all information about your loved one’s condition from the hospital staff. Understand what they have been diagnosed with and what kind of care they received in the facility. Learn which symptoms will require follow-up from a medical professional.

Are there any changes to medication?
Medication errors are one of the main reasons seniors get readmitted to the hospital. Ask the hospital staff to provide you with a list of prescribed medications. Make sure you understand the dosages and recommended times. Also, confirm which medications your loved one should no longer take.

What upcoming appointments are needed?
Get a list of upcoming medical appointments and mark them on your calendar. Follow-up appointments will help a doctor confirm recovery is on track and prevent a return trip to the hospital. If possible, try to attend these appointments with your loved one.

What additional support is recommended?
Many seniors need non-medical support — such as help with mobility, bathing or dressing, and other household tasks — following a hospital stay. Ask hospital staff what kind of in-home care support your loved one requires. Also, find out what tasks they should do on their own. Not being able to do these tasks could be a sign of worsening health.

Can the hospital provide written, step-by-step discharge instructions?
Make sure to get clear, easy-to-understand, documented instructions from the hospital before discharge. If you can’t comprehend the instructions, review them with the staff. Make copies so both you and your loved one have the same information and, if necessary, rewrite them so they can be easily followed.

In-Home Care Program for Seniors After a Hospital Stay

Many family caregivers underestimate the support needed for seniors to continue on their road to recovery. As a result, the care at home may end with a return to the hospital or an emergency room.

With proper support and planning, you can reduce the risk of re-hospitalization. Consider enrolling in the Visiting Angels Newton/Canton’s From Hospital/Rehab to Home Program for extra assistance. This specialized service helps seniors transition from a hospital to a home setting safely and effectively, enabling your loved one to recover comfortably in familiar surroundings.

Experienced caregivers will provide seniors with:

• 24/7 in-home care
• Monitoring and reporting changes in condition
• Medication reminders
• Arranging and attending medical appointments
• Preparation of nutritious meals to meet dietary requirements
• Assistance with activities of daily living

Schedule a free care consultation to discuss your loved one’s needs during and following a hospital stay.

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 companion care, personal home care, live-in and 24/7 home care, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, fall prevention, respite support, transitional aid, and at home care services in Wellesley, Natick, Dedham, Needham, Newton, Watertown, Brookline, Stoughton, Canton, Jamaica Plain, 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 ten best places to work in Massachusetts in 2021 based on diversity and inclusion. Our dedicated and well-trained caregivers love their HHA jobs and CNA jobs.