Ella Home Care

Call Now: 717-963-7280

  • About
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Why Choose Home Care?
    • Respite Care
    • Request an Assessment
  • Our Caregivers
  • Employment
    • Apply Today
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook

July 17, 2017 by Kirk Brechbiel

Ways to Tell You Have a Quality Caregiver

When you trust your loved one’s care with anyone but yourself, you want to feel confident that the person has the values and principals of a top-quality caregiver. Simply put, you want them to care for your loved one like they were their own mother or father. It can be hard to fully assess the true qualities of a potential caregiver in your first few interactions with them. However, there are several key signs you can look for that are positive indicators that you have found a quality caregiver. Take a look!

They are responsive.

A quality caregiver makes communicating easy. This means that you can easily reach them to convey a message at any time, whether that’s related to your loved one’s health or the caregiver’s work schedule. Most importantly, they stay in constant communication with you when working so that if you have a question or are just checking in, you get your answer in a timely manner. This responsiveness demonstrates their attentiveness to your loved one as well.

They are reliable.

Another trait of a quality caregiver is that they are reliable and consistent. Habits of calling off work or arriving late are causes for concern. Both you and your loved one deserve a caregiver upon which you can rely. If you can’t rely on them to do something as straightforward as show up on time, how can you rely on them to give medications on time, keep proper records or follow any other special orders?

They are proactive.

A quality caregiver is also proactive. This means they actively seek ways to make improvements to your loved ones quality of life by introducing new activities or recommending safety precautions around the house. You know a caregiver is invested in their job when they go above and beyond what is expected out of their compassion for another person.

They are trustworthy.

Knowing if a caregiver is truly trustworthy often takes time. You must watch what they do in various scenarios to full assess their integrity. Do their words and actions align? Are they forthcoming if there’s an issue or incident? Does anything seem odd or off with your loved one or their home? If you need clarification because something doesn’t add up, ask the caregiver directly! Allow them to prove their trustworthiness with an honest response.

They form real relationships.

A caregiver who is truly committed will develop a true friendship with your loved one that is much deeper than just taking care of their basic needs. A quality caregiver will take an active interest in their life experiences, hobbies and family. This is fulfilling for everyone! The caregiver enjoys their job; the loved one feels physically and emotionally cared for; and the family feels peace of mind and joy from this relationship.

They have recommendations.

A quality caregiver should have no issue providing you with a list of references who will sing their praises. Be sure to follow-up and speak with these references! Ask them for stories and examples of situations where the caregiver demonstrated compassion. If they are employed through a home care agency, also ask the employer to provide a character reference. If everyone shares the same impression of the caregiver, you can feel confident they will provide your loved one with top-quality care.

Do you have experience working with a quality caregiver? How did they demonstrate integrity and compassion? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Filed Under: Blog, Caregiver Tagged With: aging, camp hill, caregiver, central pennsylvania, compassion, elderly, ella home care, harrisburg, health, home care, lemoyne, love, pennsylvania, personal care, quality, reliable, senior living

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

Download Our Brochure

ella_home_care_brochure-thumbnail

Contact Us

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

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

Email: info@ellahc.com

Copyright ©2021 · Ella Home care, All Rights Reserved