in-home care Archives - Abiding Care

When people have to move from their home, they are leaving behind more than a building. For many of them, their home is their identity – it’s where they feel most comfortable and where they have so many memories. This is why many people don’t want to move. They want to stay in their own environment as long as they can. But as time passes and independent living becomes more difficult, how do loved ones and their families decide what type of care is best and if in-home care is the right solution?

A-Abiding Care understands that making a decision to move into a facility and sell a home is an unalterable one, once completed. Our trained staff can help make the decision easier, providing you with the various options for care. As experienced providers of home care for seniors in Chicago, we can perform a complete assessment of medical conditions, local family support, financial ability for care, and mental status prior to making any formal recommendation for long-term care that involves a move away from home.

During the assessment, A-Abiding Care will consider the following questions, which you can use as a guide as well:

Is the senior able to call for assistance in an emergency situation or is total supervision and assistance needed?
Can the frail senior get up and down out of a chair or bed? Needing assistance in toileting means that care is needed constantly. However, if the person is able to get out of a chair or bed, then the care needed is sporadic and home care should be considered first.
Is the senior able to perform daily activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming and eating without assistance or with minimal assistance, or is total assistance in all areas needed?
Is the senior able to socialize and enjoy recreation or does the senior need an escort and encouragement to attend any activities?
What is the mental status of the senior? It is far easier to care for an alert and mentally sharp but physically frail senior at home than it is to care for a cognitively impaired but physically active senior.

Our experienced team at A-Abiding Care can help you decide between which services you or your loved one needs. Our Chicago home care services include a free in-home assessment that will give you a clearer picture of what is needed and what can be provided. Contact us today to learn more about how A-Abiding Care can provide home care services for you in the Chicago area.

As we mentioned in our last blog post, aging in place in the comfort of home is the preferred choice for many older adults. Luckily, the choices for in-home care are virtually limitless; there are several different models and payment options, depending on the type and amount of care an individual requires. So how do you know what kind of care is right for you or your relative? Let’s take a look at the main models of in-home care to find out:

Private Duty Home Care: Private duty home care services are non-medical services that include assistance like companionship, housekeeping, transportation, personal, dementia, and respite care, and more. Private duty care services are usually paid for directly by the patient or his or her family. Some services may be covered by long-term care insurance, workers’ compensation, or armed services funding. It is important to note, however, that long-term private duty services are not covered by Medicare.
Home Health Care: Home health care is skilled nursing care that is usually required in the home for treatment of an illness or injury – wound care, injections, diabetes or blood pressure monitoring, and other treatments that require nursing skills. Home health care can also provide physical respiratory or speech therapy. Some home health services may be covered under Medicare, providing that specific conditions are met.
Geriatric Care Management: Geriatric care managers handle the details of an individual’s life or estate that fall outside the realm of direct care providers, such as financial and estate management. They can also coordinate care for an individual, mediate family communications, or assist with moving to another living arrangement or closing up of a household. Geriatric care management is traditionally an out-of-pocket expense.
Hospice Care: Hospice care is a special type of in-home care, designed to provide comfort and support for patients who are nearing the end of a terminal illness. Hospice provides a range of services including nursing, mental health, and spiritual advising. Coverage for hospice care is typically offered by most private insurance providers and through Medicare.

Are you wondering where to begin in your home care research for a loved one? Feel free to contact the Chicago home care experts at A-Abiding Care. We can help you create a plan that suits your loved one’s unique care needs.