Determining the appropriate level of care for your elderly loved one is a crucial step in ensuring their well-being and comfort. Assisting Hands Home Care provides free in-home consultations, in which we meet with elderly individuals and their family members to understand their care needs and create the most thorough personalized home care plans. Some factors that we consider in our assessment include:

1. Behavioral and Cognitive Condition: The assessment will delve into your loved one’s cognitive abilities and emotional well-being. It will take into account factors such as memory, reasoning skills, and mood to identify any signs of cognitive decline, dementia, or behavioral issues. Our caregivers are trained, bonded, and licensed to provide Alzheimer’s and Dementia memory care.
2. Personal Care: Personal care includes various activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, grooming, transportation to doctor appointments, etc. Some seniors need meal preparation while some may require further assistance in eating. Our caregivers evaluate your loved one’s ability to perform different tasks independently and see which tasks we can provide support.
3. Mobility Level and Functional Capabilities: Mobility and functional capabilities are crucial for maintaining independence and quality of life. This assessment helps us to develop a care plan for fall prevention risk, mobility aids, accessibility modifications, transportation, etc. If the elderly are bedridden, we will take care of everything from hygiene to meal preparation, emotional support, etc.
4. Hobbies and Social Preferences: Our caregivers will connect with the elderly to understand their hobbies and social lives. We will accompany the elderly to all the events and meetings in their communities, be their plus one in all family gatherings, and friend reunions, and celebrate holidays and birthdays with them with our companionship services.

Financial resources for the elderly and seniors vary in different states. There are government programs like Medicare, Medicaid, etc. that can cover medical care costs for the elderly experiencing illness and need constant medical monitoring and support from registered nurses, etc. However, Medicare does not cover in-home personal care for activities of daily living (ADLs) like grooming, bathing, grocery shopping, meal preparation, etc. Read What Happens if Seniors Have No Money? article to learn more about financial management for senior adults.

1. Put Yourself in Their Shoes: Practice patience and compassion by listening to your loved ones’ sharings, and try to understand why and where the resistance comes from. They are usually fear of loss of independence and integrity. Express your empathy and find the middle ground that would make them feel the most comfortable.
2. Consulting not Commanding: Be gentle with your elderly loved ones. They become more sensitive and worried as they age. Change your tone from giving orders to giving genuine advice. Show them that you have their best interest at heart and you believe that in-home care services will improve their lives for years to come.
3. Ask Questions and Set Consequences: Ask questions to understand their preferences, fears, and desires regarding their care. Clearly communicate the scenarios and consequences, and slowly help them self realize what care they need in their daily lives and how having a caregiver will mitigate all the risks and put away all their current difficulties.
4. Use Respectful Language: It is not what we say, it is how we say it. Choices of words make a significant difference in a conversation. For instance, say, “I am concerned about your safety when you’re alone at home,” rather than, “You can’t stay at home by yourself anymore.”
5. Involve a professional: Sometimes past disputes make it difficult to have a smooth conversation between family members without any arguments. You can contact Assisting Hands Home Care for a free in-home consultation in which our experienced caregivers sit down with you and your elderly loved ones to communicate, understand your seniors’ care requirements, and deliver what our services can do with utmost respect and compassion.