home care agency Archives - Ella Home Care

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.

November 13, 2019 by Kirk Brechbiel

5 Things Ella Home Care is Grateful for in 2019

As we approach Thanksgiving, many of us start to turn our minds toward the many things for which we can be grateful for in the current year. 2019 has brought change and growth for Ella Home Care, as well as one more year of doing what we love to do – help others! This alone makes us want to pause for a moment to reflect on the many reasons to smile and give thanks this year, and every year.

Join us as we offer five reasons we are feeling grateful heading into the holidays. We would love for you to join us in reflecting on some of your own feelings of gratitude this year, and helping to make this the season of grateful hearts!

Grateful for new office space

Last year, Ella Home Care made the move to our new and expanded location at 839 Market Street in Lemoyne. As the business has continued to grow and evolve, it was the right decision to look for space that could grow with us. We are grateful to have found exactly that! From this new location, we are better able to serve our clients and caregivers with additional space and a dedicated area to provide ongoing training and education for our caregivers.

Grateful for a great core of staff and caregivers

It so often goes without saying (but really it needs said!) how much we appreciate and rely on our caregivers to be the face and the heart of Ella Home Care. Without them we wouldn’t have a business, and we wouldn’t be able to serve as many aging adults as we do now. We are grateful for every hour, every task, and every sacrifice they make to serve others.

Grateful for the wisdom we gain while serving our aging neighbors

If there is one thing you can never have too much of, it’s wisdom. We are grateful that this career allows us to gain wisdom and expand our perspectives each and every day. Our aging neighbors are a great source of wisdom. Though we are honored to be able to care for them, it’s really a mutually beneficial relationship. The love and wisdom shared is reciprocated 10-fold.

Grateful for the connections we make and relationships we build with our clients and caregivers

Just about every aspect of what we do comes back to relationships. It takes a relationship built on trust, love, and understanding to care for another person especially in a time of need. Our caregivers exemplify this every day. Ella Home Care is grateful for the connections we make through our clients and caregivers, and to be witness to the ways in which new relationships bloom daily.

Grateful for another fulfilling year of doing what we love

One more thing that has us feeling extremely grateful this season is for another year to do what we love – provide top quality care and comfort to our aging neighbors. We don’t take for granted that every year is a blessing. We intend to continue to grow and expand into 2020 and beyond, embracing every success along with every challenge and change that comes our way.

As we approach the end of 2019, what has you feeling grateful? Let’s keep the gratitude flowing by finding something to be thankful for each day!

November 5, 2019 by Kirk Brechbiel

How Senior Adults Can Stay Healthy this Flu Season

For many, the winter season is the best season of all. It brings with it the holidays, snowy settings, and fun family traditions. Unfortunately, this time of year is also when we see a lot more illnesses floating around, especially among our aging adult population. Germs can spread rapidly with everyone spending more time indoors and at social gatherings. So what can you do to protect yourself from catching the flu bug this season? Take a look at our top tips for how senior adults can stay healthy during the winter months.

Get the Flu Vaccine

One very important line of defense against the flu is to start with a flu shot. Especially for our senior adults, this can greatly reduce your chances of contracting the flu. More than just the inconvenience of being sick, the flu poses a substantially greater risk to our aging population who can suffer severe side effects and a very long recovery time compared to younger generations. Flu shots are widely available and most commonly free.

Maintain Good Hygiene Practices

This flu season, make it a commitment to stay ahead of germs by practicing smart hygiene. This means thoroughly washing your hands after using the restroom or when out in public spaces, and washing your hands every time before you touch food, your mouth, or eyes. This is a very simple yet highly effective step for reducing flu germs, and any other germs, from calling your home their home.

Stay Active

Staying active in the winter is not always easy, but it is worth it. Getting in a little bit of physical activity every day has been proven to boost your immune system which wards off illnesses like the flu. In the dark, winter months, staying active can also boost your emotional wellness. Getting out of your home, seeing friends and neighbors, and stretching or moving your body is good for the mind, body, and soul.

See the Doctor – Only When Necessary

When you come down with a common winter illness, the best thing to do is to rest and give yourself time to get over the illness at home. For something that appears common, non-life-threatening, and is showing signs of improving, you don’t need to rush to the doctor to confirm the obvious. The doctor’s office is frequented by sick people, so every time you come in for an appointment you’re also exposing yourself to additional germs. If symptoms worsen or become severe, absolutely see a doctor, but otherwise try to avoid public places where germs tend to follow, like a doctor’s office.

Avoid Crowds and Limit Travel

Another smart tip to limit your exposure to the flu this season, especially for our aging population, is to avoid large crowds and limit travel. Again, these public spaces tend to be where large amount of germs reside. By exposing yourself to them, you’re also exposing yourself to these germs. Limit your risk by sticking to smaller, more personal spaces and using good hygiene to get rid of any germs that may have come home with you.

Focus on Hydration and Nutrition

Finally, focus on drinking lots of water and fueling your body with good nutrition. This will help give your body the resources it needs to produce a healthy immune system and put up a strong line of defense against germs. Increase your intake of Vitamin C to further boost your immune system, and incorporate some herbal teas into your diet to soothe dry throats while offering additional hydration.

The bottom line to staying healthy this flu season is to be proactive and smart with your health habits. If you haven’t already gotten flu shot, the best time to do that is now. Also, stock up on supplies like tissues antimicrobial wipes, and hand sanitizer so it’s quick and convenient to keep hands and surfaces clean. With a little planning ahead you can save yourself from the negative impact of coming down with, and spreading the flu this season.

The Pros and Cons of Hiring an In-Home Caregiver

5 Traits of an Exceptional Professional Caregiver

4 Myths About In-Home Care – Debunked

5 Things Ella Home Care is Grateful for in 2019

How Senior Adults Can Stay Healthy this Flu Season

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