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December 10, 2018 by Kirk Brechbiel

Ella Home Care Offers Fulfilling Career Opportunities for Caregivers

At Ella Home Care, we take great pride in creating fulfilling career opportunities for our caregivers. After all, you are the face of the company and you fill a very important role providing personal care to aging adults. Even if you think you know what it takes to be a personal caregiver, there are some unique qualities of being a personal caregiver for Ella Home Care. Learn what they are!

Competitive Pay

We ensure that our caregivers are well compensated for their time and talents. We know that in order to retain top-quality caregivers we need to offer competitive pay. You will find that our compensation is among the top in Central PA, combined with the ability to grow within our organization.

Referral Bonus

We value loyalty which is why we offer a referral bonus for helping spread the word about Ella Home Care. We want caregivers who enjoy their job and believe in our company enough to want to tell everyone about us, which is why we show our appreciation for your referrals.

Very Supportive Staff

You are never left on your own. The staff at Ella Home Care is always available to you to answer questions and provide advice. When you’re met with an unfamiliar situation and need someone to talk to, we are never more than a phone call away.

Paid Time Off

We believe everyone deserves paid time off, especially caregivers. Eligible employees can earn Paid Time Off (PTO) each month to be used for vacations, personal days and more.

Short and Long Shifts to fit your schedule

Additionally, we offer the choice of short or long shifts. Some caregivers prefer long shifts and others need shorter, but more frequent shifts. We offer both! Maybe you even want a blend of the two and we are happy to provide you with this option.

Healthcare Screening Reimbursements

We will reimburse new employees for healthcare screenings that are required for hire like PPD tests.  Current employees also received reimbursements annually for health screenings including PPD tests.

Continuing Education

Our industry is constantly changing which is why we invest in continuing education for all of our professional caregivers. This is both for your safety and the safety of those in your care. We make sure you know all the latest best practices and policies to keep us running at the highest standard possible.

Work Near Home

No one enjoys a long commute, after all this means more time away from your family. At Ella Home Care, we try to match our caregivers with clients who live near them. Not only is this more convenient for you, it also helps to eliminate delays that could be caused by traffic or weather – so it’s also a convenience for our clients as well!

As you can see, working for Ella Home Care is not just a job, it’s a fulfilling career that provides immediate and long-term benefits. If you’re interested in learning more about joining the Ella Home Care team, contact us today!

Filed Under: Blog, Caregiver Tagged With: benefits, care giving, career, caregiver, central pa, compassionate, competitive, ella home care, employment, flexible, fulfilling, full time, in-home caregiver, job, jobs, part time, pay, pennsylvania, professional caregiver, quality, salary, schedule, wage

August 7, 2018 by Kirk Brechbiel

How Can I Pay for a Professional Caregiver?

Whether it’s for you or for an aging loved one, at some point in your life you may have to face the tough question of, “How can I pay for a professional caregiver?” Depending on various factors of your situation, any number of answers could help you afford a professional caregiver.

The most important thing you can do is educate yourself on the options that exist, so that you can make an informed decision to reduce high costs and frustration people often experience when arranging for care of an aging loved one. Here’s a look at seven different options that might help you, in whole or in part, pay for a professional caregiver.

Personal Funds or Retirement Savings

It is never too early to begin saving for care that you or a loved one may need many years down the road. Personal funds and retirement savings can be used to cover the cost of a professional caregiver. Every person’s financial situation is different, but this could be a very wise investment especially if it affords you the privilege of remaining in your home longer.

Family Assistance

For those who do not have the personal funds to cover the cost of a professional caregiver, other family members may be able to help provide some funds to defray the cost. This is a very generous and selfless thing to do; when it comes down to helping a member of your family, people gladly rise to the occasion! We would not advise to rely upon this as your sole means for affording professional care; however, it can be helpful to bridge a financial gap.

Reverse Mortgages

You may wish to speak to a bank or professional mortgage company about whether a reverse mortgage is the right fit for you and your family. A reverse mortgage is a loan for seniors age 62 and older and is a type of home equity loan that’s reserved for older homeowners and does not require monthly mortgage payments. Instead, the loan is repaid after the borrower moves out or dies. By deferring your monthly mortgage payment, you will have more funds to put toward other essentials like a professional caregiver.

Veteran’s Assistance including the Aid & Attendance Benefit

Veterans and survivors may be eligible for additional financial assistance if they comply with the requirements of the Aid and Attendance Benefit. Requirements include being eligible for a VA pension and needing the aid and attendance of another person to care for you. Be sure to do your research and speak directly with someone who is experienced working with Veterans’ Assistance.

Long-Term Care Insurance

There is the option to purchase long-term care insurance. This is usually purchased when a person was working or younger to pay for future help with Activities of Daily Living. The policy most typically pays a daily rate to cover some or all cost of care. If you start planning early, this could be very helpful when it comes time to cover the costs of professional in-home care to assist you with day-to-day activities.

Life Insurance

Depending upon your life insurance policy, you may be able to tap into the policy now with living benefits. These living benefits can help cover the cost of things like an in-home care provider. To understand more about your life insurance options and what your policy covers, be sure to speak directly with your insurance agent to discuss how you might be able to use your living benefits.

Medicaid

Some low income individuals may qualify for Medicaid covered in-home care for a limited time. This varies by state and individuals would have to use a “waiver” home care provider. To learn more about whether or not you qualify for this Medicaid waiver, contact yours state’s Medicaid office to speak to knowledgeable staff about your situation and needs.

Are you concerned about how to pay for the cost of a professional caregiver? Contact us today so we can walk you through the various options that might be available to you!

Filed Under: Blog, Home Care Tagged With: benefits, budget, caregiver, finances, financial assistance, insurance, money, pay, retirement, reverse mortgage, savings, veterans assistance

October 20, 2017 by Kirk Brechbiel

How to Prepare a Family Member for Home Care

Maybe you have an aging parent who recently had an accident or illness that now requires they have more assistance at home? Or maybe you’re just beginning to explore the options for home care so you know the options available to you and your family. No matter where you are on the journey to hiring a professional caregiver, it’s so important that you and your loved ones properly prepare for this transition.

Here are some tips for preparing a family member for an outside professional caregiver to provide then with in-home care. Having clear communication and a plan for how you will transition can help ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible. Take a look!

Start the Conversation Early

If you are currently the primary caregiver for your aging family member, you will likely come to point when you know you need outside help. Don’t put off having the conversation about introducing a professional caregiver. Instead, introduce the idea early so that you have time to warm up to the idea and have multiple discussions before it becomes an urgent matter. This also allows your loved to feel like he or she has a say in the matter and can be a part of the process of finding the right caregiver to meet their needs.

Address Hesitations and Concerns

During your conversations about hiring a professional caregiver, allow your loved one to voice concerns or hesitations. Be sure to address each one. Maybe it’s the concern of privacy, safety or comfort. Maybe it’s the concern of cost or not getting to see you as much. Find a solution to resolve each concern so that unnecessary worries do not add stress to the transition.

Ease Into the Transition

Once you’ve come to an agreement on how often the caregiver will provide assistance and who this caregiver will be, gradually introduce the caregiver into your normal routine. Plan to stay and visit the first few times the caregiver comes over. This will help relax the situation for your loved one. Once they develop a familiarity to one another, you can gradually step out of the situation and allow the caregiver to take over. As your loved one becomes more comfortable with the caregiver, and also needs more assistance, you can increase the caregiver’s hours.

Stay True to Your Commitments

Finally and most importantly, keep your promises to your loved one. If they are concerned about not seeing you as much and you promised to still visit them once a week, keep your word! It’s natural that your loved one may feel tricked if you make promises to qualm their hesitations, but then do not stay true to your commitments. Make sure you are still emotionally available to your loved one whenever they need you. A casual visit or phone conversation to check in and say I love you will go a long way!

Do you need to have a conversation with a loved one about transitioning to a professional caregiver? Share your challenges or tips by leaving a comment below!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: benefits, caregiver, family member, home care, home health agency, home health care, in-home caregiver, loved one, professional, relative, research, spouse

October 10, 2017 by Kirk Brechbiel

What the Latest Research Says About the Benefits of Home Care

Last year, the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA) released the report “Caring for America’s Seniors: The Value of Home Care” and the data it provides make a clear case for the rising benefits of home care.

Though many people may be hesitant about hiring a professional caregiver due to cost or the desire to remain independent, the following statistics will really make you rethink the option to have some form of outside help, and how accessible it is. Here are the highlights from the report.

Nine out of 10 Americans 65 and older want to stay at home as long as possible

It’s clear that the aging American population overwhelming wants to remain in their home as long as they are physically able. This makes in home care so important because it allows individuals to maintain a feeling of independence and to live in the comfort of their home, with some outside assistance.

40% of adults age 65+ require daily assistance, and 70% will at some point

Although aging Americans want to remain in their home, the majority will require assistance to do so; they cannot do it alone. Again, this speaks to the benefit of having a professional caregiver who can provide this assistance without requiring someone to move to an assisted living facility.

On average, adults 60 and older live 280 miles away from their nearest adult child

In some instances, a family member can care for an aging loved one. However, as children move further and further away from their parents, on average, this makes that less feasible. Instead, a professional caregiver can be found in virtually any location and can commute daily to assist someone with their day-to-day tasks and to provide companionship.

$25 billion a year in hospital costs is saved thanks to home care

Yes, hiring a professional caregiver comes at a cost, but there are also cost-savings associated with in home care. A combined $25 billion a year in hospital costs is saved thanks to home care. This means having a caregiver onsite increases safety, ensures medication is taken on time and helps to maintain hygiene, among many other things.

25% fewer doctor visits occur when home care is in place

With the assistance of a caregiver, doctor visits substantially decrease. The less an aging adult needs to visit the doctor, the less they need to worry about how they will get there and if they will be exposed to additional illnesses while there. All around, the more we can prevent necessary trips to the doctor’s office the better! A caregiver is proven to help with exactly this, adding just one more benefit to using in home care.

Be sure to take a look at this full report. It offers a lot of valuable information to consider when it comes to hiring a professional caregiver!

Do you agree with these benefits of home care? Are there other benefits that were not mentioned in the report? Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: benefits, caregiver, home care, home health agency, home health care, in-home caregiver, professional, research

July 10, 2017 by Kirk Brechbiel

How Everyone Benefits from Home Care

It’s a question you almost always put off answering until it’s something you need to decide right now. Who will care for Mom or Dad when they’re older? It may start off as a gradual process where children or other family members step in to provide various degrees of home care. As these visits become more frequent, stress, tension and worry may also increase. Finally you find yourself in a situation where you know something needs to change. Your loved one deserves the best possible care and you shouldn’t have to bear the burden of that.

This is where professional home care can help re-balance the roles of family and caregivers. Take a look at the following reasons why everyone benefits from the decision to use professional home care.

For the Loved One

Maintain dignity – The one being cared for will benefit from the ability to maintain his or her dignity, even while mental and physical capabilities decline. They are able to stay in the comfort of their home, safer and longer than they could without outside care. The one-on-one care also ensures they have the complete attention of the caregiver and receive personalized assistance and companionship.

Preserve quality of life – With the assistance of professional home care, the loved one will enjoy a great quality of life. They will have someone to assist them in their favorite activities, whether that’s a walk outside or playing a board game. They will also have someone to keep them mentally and emotionally engaged. A professional caregiver can also increase quality of life by being present to prevent or quickly address a fall or injury.

Professional and compassionate care – Professional caregivers chose their career in home care because of their professional approach to care and their compassion for helping others. Especially if thrown into the role suddenly, a family member may not be as prepared for or passionate about providing long-term care for a loved one. Calling upon a professional to assist with home care preserves the family roles of children and parents.

Stability and consistency – A family member serving as a caregiver is a kind and self-less act. However, it’s completely understandable that there will come a point where that person needs a break. It’s not a lack of love, it’s a lack of endurance. Providing care to an aging loved one is taxing both physically and emotionally. A professional caregiver provides stability and consistency to the loved one. There’s a routine they can count on and there will never be a lapse in care.

For their Family

Reduced stress and worry – Foremost, the family will benefit from less stress and worry about the loved one’s quality of care and arranging schedules to make sure someone is checking in regularly. There’s peace of mind in knowing that a loved one is receiving professional and compassionate care that goes beyond just meeting physical needs, but also mental and emotional needs as well.

More time to focus on your relationship – Possibly the greatest benefit is the re-balance in the relationship between the loved one and family members. When children are solely responsible for taking care of their aging parents, it can feel like a job. With professional home care covering the day-to-day responsibilities, the family has more time to focus their visits on making memories and deepening the relationship.

An affordable solution – According to the National Association of Home Care, the average cost of care from a skilled nursing facility is $544 dollars per day, while the average cost of home health care per visit is $132 dollars. Home care is a lot more affordable than you might think! Besides, a solution that allows a family to fully enjoy their time with one another, without added stress or worry, is an invaluable investment.

What do you feel would be the greatest benefit of having home care for a loved one? Share your thoughts or personal experience by leaving a comment below!

Filed Under: Blog, Home Care Tagged With: aging, benefits, camp hill, central pennsylvania, compassion, elderly, ella home care, harrisburg, health, home care, lemoyne, pennsylvania, personal care, quality, senior living

Our Promise To You

  • All calls answered by a live person
  • Engaged & well trained home care professionals
  • 24/7 access to your loved one’s care plan through our online portal
  • We will listen more than we talk
  • We will work one-on-one to develop your care plan

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Ella Home Care
Address:
839 Market Street
Lemoyne, PA 17043

Phone: (717) 379-1793
Fax: (717) 695-2892

Email: info@ellahc.com

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