Home Care Archives - Ella Home Care

September 7, 2021 by Kirk Brechbiel

Inspiration for Everyday Kindness

Every day is a new opportunity to choose kindness in our words, thoughts, and actions. It’s a truly wonderful gift if you stop to think about it. What greater impact can we have on the world than each taking responsibility for accepting and spreading kindness? When these many little actions are amplified by entire communities, the impact can be huge! Keep reading for some everyday inspiration for how you can actively create and spread kindness to those you interact with today.

Speak Positive Words

The mindset we carry around with us each day greatly impacts the words we say and the actions we take. Foremost, start by intentionally choosing a positive mindset. This can take some practice, but once you get started it becomes easier and easier – and enjoyable! The positivity and joy you carry in your mind will transfer to your words, and words are among the most powerful tool we have. In your day to day intentionally seek ways to speak positive words to yourself and others – out loud. Compliment your neighbor for his or her flowers, tell a stranger to like the color of their shirt, or wish the cashier a good day. These are small acts, but your words will have a lasting impact on others and inspire them to also spread kindness.

Show Patience

Life can feel like one big test of patience! The next time you feel impatient with a situation, take just a few seconds to take a breath and gather your thoughts. Put your words and actions into perspective. Though you may feel frustrated and be tempted to say something unkind – don’t. Actively choose to extend more patience to that person or situation and look for something kind you can say instead. Encourage someone who is struggling, relate to how they may feel, or find a way to add humor to lighten the mood. Life can be tough – and we’re all in this together! Keep that in mind and choose patience over frustration.

Lend a Listening Ear

We all simply want to be heard. Yet so often we feel there is no one around to truly listen to our thoughts and feelings. How can you be the listening ear someone else needs in a day? The opportunities to do so may surprise you! Be open-minded to someone who just might need to feel heard today. Your smile and nodding of your head, while they share what’s weighing on their mind, can completely change the mood of the day for someone who is struggling to feel important. Best of all, it’s easy and accessible to all of us! We can all use our gifts of listening to spread positivity.

Give in Your Unique Way

Giving is essentially limitless. The ways in which we can choose to give to someone else are by no means limited to monetary or materials resources. We can give our time, share a skill, speak kind words, inspire a smile. Each and every person has unique gifts, and when you know what gifts you have you can better share them with other people. Start each new day by asking yourself, “What do I feel like I can share with someone else today?” – and be thoughtful and creative with your answer!

We hope this gives you the inspiration you need to seize the day and spread kindness! Which idea is your favorite? Do you have something else to add to this list? Share your thoughts (or words of affirmation!) by leaving a comment.

September 10, 2020 by Kirk Brechbiel

Professional Home Care Customized to Your Needs

At Ella Home Care, we take great pride in meeting the needs of our clients – and this looks different for everyone. A big benefit of working with Ella Home Care is that we carefully customize our plan for in-home care for every client. This is why every engagement first starts with an in-depth assessment conducted by our staff. Once we know your needs, we identify how we can meet them. Take a look at the most common areas of care we provide.

Personal Care

Personal care is at the core of what we do. This includes all essential services to meet basic hygiene needs. We can assist with bathing, grooming, dressing, and feeding, as well as transfers, to help clients move around their homes safely. While we do not administer medication, we can provide medication reminders so that doses are followed correctly.

Light Housekeeping

In addition to caring for our clients, we can also care for their living spaces. We can help dust, vacuum, change linens, launder clothes, and organize closets or other areas of the house. It is often a huge relief for families to know that their loved one is able to safely and comfortably age at home while living in a clean and organized space.

Sleep-Over Services

If needed, we can also provide sleep-over services where our caregivers can remain awake overnight while the client sleeps to ensure safety and to offer medication reminders, if needed. In the morning we can also prepare breakfast and make sure the client’s needs are met to prepare them for the day.

Errands and Transportation

Another valuable service we provide is errands and transportation. We can take clients to doctors’ appointments, grocery shopping, to the hair salon, to attend church services, and much more. We also enjoy taking our clients to places and experience they can enjoy like the movies or a restaurant. This allows loved ones to continue to enjoy all their favorite activities without the worry of driving and parking.

Miscellaneous Services

Our miscellaneous services are really where we can shine and help loved ones age safely and gracefully in their homes. We can help with everything from reading the mail, pet walking, answering the phone, mending clothes, cooking together, and even playing games or doing puzzles. We like to get to know each client, what they enjoy, and their hobbies. Then, we accommodate them the best way we can to build a relationship and add joy to their lives.

Could you or someone you know benefit from Ella Home Care’s professional caregiving services? We know that every client is unique, and our in-depth assessment process allows us to custom tailor our services to meet your specific needs. Click here to learn more about our assessment process or to schedule a complimentary in-home assessment today.

September 8, 2020 by Kirk Brechbiel

Professional Home Care Customized to Your Needs

Figuring out how to pay for senior care can be a major issue for many families. Retirement savings, the sale of the family home, private health insurance, veteran’s benefits, and long-term care insurance are all potential sources of funding to pay for this type of care. And the ability to pay for care can sometimes be the determining factor for the type of care you ultimately select for a loved one.

The average monthly cost of assisted living in the U.S. is roughly $4,000 a month, or about $48,000 per year, according to Genworth’s latest Cost of Care Survey. The same survey found that long-term, in-home care is typically more expensive for people needing 24/7 care. But in many instances, around the clock care is not needed for those wishing you remain in their home. So the cost of care, whether assisted living or in-home care, greatly depends upon a person’s health and the level of assistance that is needed.

Beyond cost alone, there are other critical factors you should consider when choosing the right living situation for you or an aging loved one. Let’s take a look at what those are.

Listening to Your Loved One

Foremost, the desires of your aging friend or family member should be discussed. You can’t assume that you know where they wish to live as they age, or how they’d like to receive care. For some, they wish to age in their home as long as possible. For others, they may wish to move into an assisted living community even before they need additional care. If their desires match their level of need and budget for care, then this makes the decision easy. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Have conversations early with your loved one so you are always on the same page, and you can revisit the conversation when it comes time to make a decision.

Socialization

Assisted living and home care offer two different kinds of socialization. Assisted living communities often coordinate meals and activities to bring their community together. With home care, your loved one will have their caregiver to bond with, play games, cook, and do other activities with. A professional caregiver can also provide transportation to go to the movies or to a restaurant. In both cases, the socialization provided is better than no socialization at all.

Personalization

Next, you’ll want to consider how personalized and consistent you want your loved ones care to be. In assisted living, your loved one might be cared for by any number of different individuals depending on their shift. With in-home care, you will typically have the same caregiver(s) caring for you as long as possible. You will also know exactly when they will be in the home and providing care.

Level of Care

Assisted living versus in-home care can provide very similar care to a certain level. If someone should need 24/7 monitoring and care, as well as help administering medicine or shots, among other things, then an assisted living community is best suited to provide these levels of care. But if your loved one needs care more in the form of general assistance and companionship, the comfort and convenience of in-home care may be a better fit.

Flexibility

Finally, keep flexibility in mind. It’s very likely that the level of care you require will change over time. So start with the decision that makes the most sense for your current situation. Then, should anything change, know that you have options to also change your level of care and where your loved one will reside.

Most importantly, be sure to do your research and understand your options. Speaking to your local assisted living communities and home care agencies will give you the most accurate information for cost and the level of services they provide. You’ll want to interview your options, just like you would for a job. After all, the care of your loved one is among the most important jobs in your life! If you would like to know more about Ella Home Care’s in-home caregiving services, please contact us today for a no-cost assessment.

July 7, 2020 by Kirk Brechbiel

4 Myths About In-Home Care – Debunked

There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding care for senior adults. Everything from cost and quality of care, to concerns over socialization and much more. Take a look as we dive deeper into four common myths about professional in-home care and the truths you should know.

Myth: Professional in-home care is always more expensive than assisted living communities.

Fact: Sure, there are instances when this may be true, but there are also instances in which it will not. It’s important to not believe the “always” myth about the cost of professional in-home care when compared to assisted living costs. Many factors will play into what your unique situation will cost, including level of care needed, length of care, and if the one being cared for has advanced needs. In many cases, the cost of allowing a loved one to remain in their home with the assistance of a professional caregiver visiting several days a week can be more cost-effective than moving them into an assisted living community permanently. Furthermore, what is the cost of your loved ones happiness and quality of life? If their wish is to remain in their home as long as possible, it’s hard to put a price tag on that.

Myth: I won’t have any oversight over the type of care my loved one is receiving.

Fact: There is a lot of oversight, follow-up and monitoring of in-home professional caregiving. All of our caregivers must pass extensive background searches, clearances, and requirements to be qualified to care for one of our clients. We carefully match our caregivers based upon the type of care required, location, personality, level of experience, and much more. Our caregivers are also supervised by Care Coordinator and other administration staff who monitor the care being given to each client. In addition to the steps we take, when your loved one is being cared for in their home, you can also choose to install cameras for security. This is not commonly allowed of families in assisted living communities.

Myth: My loved one will be lonely or lack socialization.

Fact: An in-home professional caregiver is not only there to care for your loved one’s physical needs, they are every bit there to also care for your loved one’s mental and emotional needs. They are an ear to listen, a smile to brighten the day, and hands to do activities with your loved one. With an in-home caregiver, they are also receiving something not typically found in an assisted living community, and that’s undivided one-on-one attention for the entire time they are there. If your loved one craves extra socialization, we take care to choose the right caregiver whose personality aligns best with that.

Myth: My loved one will be bounced around from caregiver to caregiver.

Fact: At Ella Home Care, we know how important consistency and reliability is especially for aging loved ones. This is why we pride ourselves on hiring caregivers that are committed to being a part of the Ella family for as long as possible. And when a change does have to be made, we quickly find a compatible caregiver and ease them into building a new relationship with your loved one on their terms and comfort level.

Is there another myth you’d like to have us shed some light on? Ask us a question in the comments below and we would be happy to provide you with an answer. Or contact us today to have a discussion about professional in-home care for a loved one.

May 5, 2020 by Kirk Brechbiel

How Ella Home Care is Caring for Our Clients During COVID-19

Every industry and individual has been impacted in some way by COVID-19. We have all had to learn to adjust to a new way of living, working, and connecting with one another. While some challenges are minor inconveniences, others are massive and life-changing. For the home care industry, we have had to make significant changes to how we care for our employees and clients at this time to ensure everyone is safe.

At Ella Home Care, we believe that health and well-being comes above anything else. We want to see our clients live the highest quality of life as long as possible. COVID-19 has made it difficult to navigate the balance between social distancing and also being able to help care for our clients. For the most part, this just can’t be done virtually. Here is an update on how Ella Home Care is caring for our clients and staying safe during the pandemic.

Consistent Communication

Clear and consistent communication is invaluable, always and especially as we navigate the changes and challenges of COVID-19. For Ella Home Care, this includes keeping our staff educated and updated on COVID-19 and CDC recommendations. As we implement new policies, we are sure that our caregivers are aware and adhering to them. Additionally, we frequently check in with our caregivers to ensure they and their families are well and taken care of.

Additional Training

Though Ella Home Care historically provided infection control training to our employees, additional training has been provided to combat COVID-19. Frequent reminders are communicated to employees including the importance of hand washing and not working when sick.

Frequent Health Checks

Our employees are required to have their temperature checked prior to the start of each shift. This also includes screening questions recommended by the CDC. If there are any concerns of their health or exposure to COVID-19, we adjust accordingly.

Protective Measures

We supply our caregivers with appropriate personal protective equipment like gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes before they go into any client’s home. We also provide recommendations for their interactions with clients so they and the client are as protected as possible.

Reporting Issues or Concerns

Our caregivers know to report any changes in a client’s condition including if there is suspected exposure to COVID-19. We keep an open line of communication with our caregivers so that this information is documented and we can make adjustments to their care accordingly. Administration staff checks in with our clients as well.

Limiting Contact

Though we love visiting our clients, our administration staff has made the majority of our interactions with caregivers and clients contactless. Additionally, we reorganized schedules to limit the number of caregivers coming to one client without sacrificing care.

Ella Home Care knows the current circumstances is extremely challenging for our clients and caregivers, physically, mentally, and emotionally. We look forward to when we can be together again, face-to-face, and until then we will continue to take every precautionary measure to stay well.

Inspiration for Everyday Kindness

Professional Home Care Customized to Your Needs

Professional Home Care Customized to Your Needs

4 Myths About In-Home Care – Debunked

How Ella Home Care is Caring for Our Clients During COVID-19

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