caregiving Archives - Ella Home Care

October 11, 2021 by Kirk Brechbiel

Tips for Preventing Isolation in the Winter Months

The winter months can be hard on anyone, but especially our senior adults who already face the challenge of feeling isolated daily. The colder weather and wintery conditions create new challenges for staying connected in person, getting outside, and keeping spirits high. In order to stave off the “winter blues” it’s important to have a game plan and take proactive measures going into this season. Keep reading for our best tips for helping anyone, but senior adults in particular, feeling positive and connected during the winter months.

Develop an action plan now.

Before the dead of winter sets in, put a plan in place for events and activities that you can look forward to. When you leave your social schedule to chance, it’s far more likely that days and weeks will pass without much outside activity. While you have the energy and motivation to stay busy and connected during the winter months, commit to social engagements that you can put on your calendar well in advance. Whether it’s for you or a loved one, you’ll see these coming up on your calendar and they will offer a bright spot to look forward to. Even if you don’t feel like sticking with your obligation when the time arises, this will provide the encouragement you need to break away from dull habits and try something new. Speaking of which…

Try something new.

Beyond just meeting up with friends for coffee or a card game, look at the winter months as an opportunity to try something new and different. Explore a hobby you’ve always wanted to try or volunteer your time toward something productive. There is a lot you can still do from the comfort of home thanks to technology that enables us to be connected from afar. Make it a goal to end the winter season having gained a new skill, friend, or pastime.

Find people to hold you accountable.

Let friends and family members know now that you need their help during the winter months to check in regularly and to provide encouragement. As the season changes, the days get shorter, and the temps drop, it can be tempting to revert to daily habits that are comfortable yet stagnant. While it may feel good to “stay in” in the moment, the effort you put forth to see other people and partake in activities will always leave you feeling far more fulfilled. The best thing you can do is to ask a friend or family member to hold you accountable for the obligations you place on your schedule that help you stay connected and get out of the house every so often. A phone call or text to check-in will go a long way!

Be receptive to help.

And finally, know when you need help and be open to receiving it. If you ask someone to visit you regularly, check-in or encourage you with opportunities for events and activities throughout the winter, make every effort to say “yes” as often as possible. What may seem uncomfortable or like extra effort at the moment will be the nudge you need to keep you out of a slump and to avoid the winter blues. Plus, saying “yes” to social offers will always give you more opportunities to make memories you’ll cherish for years to come.

With the change of any season comes a new set of challenges as well as opportunities for joy and growth. We hope this advice will help you and your loved ones more into winter confidently with a plan to seek joyful moments of connectivity.

October 6, 2021 by Kirk Brechbiel

The Pros and Cons of Hiring an In-Home Caregiver

With any important decision we face, it’s important to examine the pros and cons are careful as possible. This is true of deciding whether you or a loved one could benefit from the assistance of a professional caregiver coming to your home. While there are the obvious pros and cons you might imagine right off the bat, keep reading as we dive a little deeper into the challenges and benefits you’ll want to weigh when making this important decision.

Pro: The convenience and comfort of aging in your home.

As the saying goes, there’s no place like home. Often as we age, we value more and more the comfort and convenience of our homes and everything that goes with it – the familiarity, the memories, and having things just the way we like it. With the assistance of a professional caregiver, senior adults can age safely and comfortably in their homes longer than they could on their own without additional assistance as the need arises.

Con: Safety proofing the home and becoming comfortable with someone else assisting.

On the flip side, aging in your current home may yield safety concerns that need to be addressed along the way. This could include stairs, hallways that are too narrow for a wheelchair or walker, or kitchen hazards. Most of these concerns can be addressed with some effort and creativity. There may be bigger concerns that require some functioning of the house to accommodate. It’s wise to be aware of these potential concerns early. Take a walk through the home and identify areas that could become a hazard and then map out a plan for how you will address them as needed.

Pro: Family or friends are alleviated from the role of a caregiver.

Family and friends deserve to be exactly that – family and friends. Caring for one another from time to time is necessary and expected, but no one thrives as someone else’s full-time caregiver. This causes an imbalance and stress on the relationship that results in less-than-ideal outcomes. But with the help of a professional caregiver to alleviate this burden, family and friends can continue to visit or live together as they please, on their own terms. For this reason and many others, the help of a professional caregiver is invaluable.

Con: The added expense of hiring a professional caregiver.

Certainly, there is a cost associated with hiring a professional caregiver. Because of the conveniences and one-on-one care of being cared for in your home, it may come at a higher cost than moving to a continuing care retirement community, though that is not always the case. What’s most important to keep in mind is the value of peace of mind and the safety and well-being of someone you love. What is this worth to you? In many instances, families can prioritize and provide for a professional caregiver as the need arises.

Pro: Qualified care that can increase and adjust to changing needs.

One of the biggest benefits of having a professional caregiver is their ability to adapt to the changing needs of the person for which they care. This can change rapidly or slowly over time. Whether this is mental, physical, or emotional – it’s expected that an aging person’s needs will change and a professional caregiver offers the experience and expertise to adjust their course of care in real-time and make recommendations that are in everyone’s best interests.

Con: Some needs exceed the role of a professional caregiver.

It’s important to be aware that the abilities of professional caregivers only go so far. In some instances, a person’s needs are best met in a continuing care facility that is better equipped to care for them physically and mentally. Their home may not be an ideal living situation, or they may need round-the-clock medical care best suited for a professional team of doctors and nurses. A professional caregiver may still be able to care for a person up until they reach this point but will be quick to inform the family with the needs of their loved one exceed the services that can be provided in the home.

Are you or someone you know considering hiring a professional caregiver or working with an in-home caregiver service to care for you or a loved one? If you have questions that remain unanswered, we’re here to help! Contact Ella Home Care today to learn more about this important life decision.

July 12, 2020 by Kirk Brechbiel

5 Traits of an Exceptional Professional Caregiver

At Ella Home Care, we seek and hire only exceptional professional caregivers to join our team. What makes them exceptional? We found there are a few traits that these individual have in common. Keep reading to see if these describe you. If so, you might just have a future career as a professional caregiver!

Commitment

Commitment is important in anything we do, but especially when we are caring for senior adults. These individuals count on consistency and reliability. They need to know you are going to show up for them when they expect you to do so. Additionally, as they build a relationship and friendship with you, it can be difficult when that is taken away suddenly. A committed caregiver gives our clients the peace of mind that they will be cared for properly, and will develop a lifelong friendship they can count on.

Honesty

The next important trait of an exceptional caregiver is honesty. Communication is a critical component of professional caregiving so we need to know you will communicate openly and honestly both with Ella Home Care and the person for which you are caring. If you see a concern, speak up. If you need help, tell someone. You have a critical role of caring for someone else’s life and honesty greatly impacts that quality of life.

Compassion

When caring for our senior population, you will likely be met with situations where you will need to show compassion. We always want our clients to maintain their dignity even as they age, which is why we need compassionate caregivers who will help care for their personal needs when they no longer can. And mostly importantly, an exceptional caregiver shows love and kindness when doing so.

Positivity

You’ll be met with challenges as a caregiver, and it’s important to keep a positive attitude to help you overcome them. Maybe it’s an accident or illness, maybe it’s just been a real tiring day, or maybe there’s a time when you don’t see eye-to-eye with someone. We want caregivers who respond with positivity and who are team players when it comes to problem solving.

Energy

Caregiving is not running a marathon, but some days it can feel like it mentally, emotionally, and physically. An exceptional caregiver doesn’t give up, but rather maintains their energy to keep caring for someone even when you feel tired or depleted. We also want high energy caregivers who are inspired to go above and beyond for someone by seeking new activities or starting new conversations.

If these traits align with your own traits and you have a heart for caring for senior adults, we would love to talk to you. Reach out to Ella Home Care today to explore our career opportunities.

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.

January 13, 2020 by Kirk Brechbiel

How to Start a Career as a Personal Caregiver

A career as a personal caregiver can be extremely rewarding and fulfilling. With passion and skill, you can excel in such a career while finding your true calling to help other people improve the quality of their lives.

To become a personal caregiver, there are several important things to consider, and steps to complete in order to ensure you are ready to fill this important role. Take a look as we outline how to start a career as a personal caregiver.

Talk to someone in the field.

First and foremost, you should speak to someone who works as a personal caregiver. They will be able to provide you with helpful insight as to what their day to day responsibilities include. They can also open your eyes to things you may not have considered, both the benefits and the challenges. In doing so, you will be able to set realistic expectations for your career as a personal caregiver.

Gain first-hand experience through volunteering.

Next, you can inquirer with your local hospitals or hospice organizations to see if they accept volunteers in any capacity. Through volunteering your time, you will gain first-hand experience in caring for others. You can also ask local home care agencies if they might allow you to job shadow one of their personal caregivers for a period of time. Again, seeing the job in action will show you things you simply cannot learn from a book or online.

Understand Pennsylvania’s and each Home Care Agency’s employment requirements for caregivers.

Once you’re certain this is the career path you wish to pursue, it’s important to understand the intricacies of Pennsylvania’s and Home Care Agency’s requirements for caregivers. Basic requirements include submitting to a criminal background check, having a valid driver’s license and your own vehicle, having certain health screenings performed, and showing competency in many of the tasks you will perform as a caregiver. You will want to speak with someone at a local home care agency who would also be able to walk you through employment requirements.

Consider additional education and training.

You may also wish to consider additional training which is beyond what the Commonwealth requires, such as your CPR certification, or even earning your Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) degree. Why? This will help you stand out in your career field as qualified and committed. Additionally, it will help you provide the best care to your patients.

Search for open positions for personal caregivers in your area.

Now you’re ready to join the job search! In addition to browsing listings on the well-known job search sites, be sure to do your own research by asking people you know about the home health agencies who have good reputations and who they might recommend. It’s important that agencies and their caregivers align with their mission to serve others, as this ensures a successful and enjoyable work environment for all.

Make a list of pros and cons for each offer, and accept the job that is the right fit for you.

Once you have narrowed down your search, conducted interviews, and have received one or more offers, you’re ready to make a final decision as to where you wish to start your career as a personal caregiver. If considering more than one option, make a list of pros and cons for each. Really think through what’s most important to you. Location? Work hours? Benefits? Starting salary? It’s expected you may need to compromise on some items on your career “wish list.” Focus on your must-haves, and be flexible with the rest.

Are you interested in becoming a personal caregiver? We would love to provide you with more information and help you take the first step on this journey. Contact us today to learn more!

Tips for Preventing Isolation in the Winter Months

The Pros and Cons of Hiring an In-Home Caregiver

5 Traits of an Exceptional Professional Caregiver

4 Myths About In-Home Care – Debunked

How to Start a Career as a Personal Caregiver

Our Promise To You

Download Our Brochure

Contact Us