Home health care is a service received by approximately 12 million elderly and disabled individuals each year. These services provide a wide range of assistance from light housekeeping to necessary medical care. Their help is always valuable, but it is even more beneficial to family caregivers during busy times, such as the holiday season.
Make Travel Possible
Many elderly or disabled individuals cannot travel long distances. Family caregivers often sacrifice seeing long-distance relatives or friends because of their responsibility to the loved one in their care. The assistance of home care providers now makes it unnecessary for people to choose one person over another.
Temporary live-in care or a full-time health aide for daytime or evening visits enable people to feel confident that loved one is safe and has a companion while they are away. They can enjoy their visit and return to their position as a caregiver feeling refreshed and with new stories to share.
Time for Preparations
Many holiday tasks like decorating, baking cookies, and addressing holiday cards become burdensome when someone is already busy with the needs of their family member. Time is freed up by home health providers because they offer transportation to medical visits, help with daily personal care and assist with some meal preparations.
When families hire a home health aide they are rewarded with more free time for the types of things that make the holiday season enjoyable. The patient is also rewarded because their family now has the time and energy to attend events with them or to put up decorations in their own home so they are truly able to celebrate the season.
Reduce Holiday Blues
Depression is a serious problem for seniors. It is one that many experiences all year long, but it is amplified during the winter and over the winter holidays. Many elderly individuals feel the pain of loss as they recall the holiday's celebrations of the past. Families often worry about their loved ones being alone for too many hours during this time of the year.
Having a health care aide visit for just a few hours each week is a great option for individuals that are not ill enough to require full-time medical assistance. The presence of the home care provider relieves some of their seasonal loneliness and makes it possible to monitor their wellbeing so they family has advance notice of a new health or emotional concern.
Enjoy the Events
Many schedules are filled with extra religious services, holiday parties, and local community events during the holiday season. Home health services do the hard work so that family and friends have the freedom to use their time with their loved one to attend special events together instead of just completing chores.
Keep Them Home
Elderly and ill patients are especially susceptible to the health concerns that arise in the winter. The flu, colds, and other respiratory conditions are dangerous to anyone with a weakened immune system. There are additional risks when flu season occurs alongside the physical strains of keeping a busy holiday schedule.
A home health provider monitors the well-being of their clients. They make certain that all health needs are met and offer additional medical care when an illness strikes. Their assistance makes it possible for many elderly and disabled individuals to remain at home rather than being forced to stay at a hospital until their health improves.
At-home care also reduces the amount of time spent at a clinic or in a doctor's office for routine care and checkups, which in turn, reduces the amount of exposure the patient has to contagions and could reduce the risk of becoming ill.
Home health services are used on an as-needed basis. The service works with the client and the family to determine the times and tasks the provider will offer. At
Alliance Home Care VNA we pair professional caregivers with the skills and talents each client needs to ensure the highest level of care every day. Contact us to learn more about what is available.
