professional Archives - Ella Home Care

August 9, 2019 by Kirk Brechbiel

A Perfect Match: How Ella Home Care Finds the Best Caregiver for You

At Ella Home Care, we go much deeper than simply matching an available caregiver with a new client. We have a careful process for how we assess the needs of a client, as well as their personality, interests and hobbies so that we can provide them with a caregiver who is as close to a “perfect match” as possible. Are you curious to know more about our process? Read on to learn the steps we take to find the best caregiver for every situation.

We take time to really get to know you.

First, a member of our team comes out to the home for an assessment. The assessment is like a meet-and-great where we get to know each other and determine what services will be needed to keep that person living independently in his or her place of residence. We also ask the person what kind of personality and traits he or she would like in a caregiver. For some, a strong and outgoing personality is a good fit, while others may be better suited for a quiet personality.

We consider the areas of expertise needed.

Next we take inventory of what is expected of a caregiver. If a lot of hands-on tasks are involved, like bathing and transfers, we look to our experienced staff who are accustom to providing those services like our CNA’s on staff or other skilled caregivers. We also make sure our caregivers of physically capable of providing such care and can do so safely.

We take into account pets, interests, and hobbies.

If the person has any pets, we make sure our caregiver is not allergic to or has issues working around animals. We also try to match someone with a pet with a caregivers who also loves pets. This commonality can help to create a bond right from the beginning. We also try to identify interests and hobbies and when possible match a caregiver who has a shared interest or hobby. Many times, a client will request someone who is a good cook, someone who likes the outdoors, or someone who likes conversation and we do our best to accommodate this.

We make sure everyone feels comfortable and prepared.

Once we have obtained all the necessary information to make an informed decision, we carefully review our roster of available caregivers to see who may be the best fit. If the client wishes to meet their caregiver in advance of their first day, we are happy to arrange this. In fact, we recommend that the client and caregiver meet prior to the start of their working relationship to ease into the transition and to make things more comfortable. This also allows the caregiver to see the home in which they will be working, allowing them to prepare anything they may wish to bring with them to help them in caring for the client.

Could you or someone you know benefit from the care and assistance of an in-home caregiver? Contact Ella Home Care today so we can help you find the right option to meet your needs!

August 3, 2019 by Kirk Brechbiel

How an In-Home Caregiver Can Help Even When You’re Not at Home

Just as the title would imply, an in-home professional caregiver most commonly provides care for aging loved ones who wish to stay in their home as long as possible. However, there may be situations that arise that call for this person to receive care outside their home for a period of time. For example, an injury or procedure could require a short hospital stay or a few days or weeks in a rehabilitation facility.

During this time, a professional caregiver serves just as important of a role as ever by continuing to care for this person in their new location. The doctors and nurses on-site will care for their major medical needs, while the professional caregiver is there to assist with their daily hygiene, dressing, and eating. And they are there to provide a lot more than that! Here are four benefits of having an in-home caregiver care for a loved one even when they’re not in their home.

A Familiar Face

When your loved one is in the hospital or in short-term care at a rehabilitation facility, their caregiver will provide them with something familiar. When you’re out of your home environment, it can be lonely, unsettling and even scary, especially for older adults. With a professional caregiver, that person has something that feels safe, familiar and normal.

Continuity of Care

A very important role a professional caregiver plays is providing continuity of care. When someone is in any type of short-term care, they will likely be working with many different nurses and doctors in a short period of time. This can make it challenging to be sure your loved one is receiving consistent care tailored to their needs and expectations. With a professional caregiver, you know you will have one thing that remain constant throughout it all.

Personalized Attention

More than just the physical care of your loved one, you want to be sure they are being cared for emotionally and mentally. A professional caregiver is available to listen, talk, and simply spend time with a person. This personalized attention can greatly enhance the healing and recovery process.

Your Eyes and Ears

Most importantly, when you cannot be with your loved one, you will have the professional caregiver there to help be your eyes and ears for all that is going on. As doctors or nurses stop by ask questions and do their assessments, the caregiver can provide you with updates. They can also alert you of any concerns or requests they have. This gives you both the peace of mind and certainty that your loved one is receiving the top quality care.

Could you or someone you know benefit from having a professional caregiver? Contact Ella Home Care today so we can tell you more about our process and determine if this is the right fit you!

May 4, 2018 by Kirk Brechbiel

Struggling Over Hiring a Professional Caregiver? Read This First!

Hiring a professional caregiver to care full or part time for an aging loved one can come with some obstacles to overcome. Mostly these obstacles have to do with adjusting to the new dynamic of having someone else care for someone you love.

If you’re new on this journey, the following information should help put you at ease and give you confidence that hiring a professional caregiver to help with the very important task of caring for a senior adult can be one of the best decisions you ever make.

When’s the right time to hire a professional caregiver?

The answer is simple – it’s sooner than you think. By the time most people come to the conclusion that they need a professional caregiver to help their situation, they are usually pretty stressed out and in over their head. Or worse yet, there’s been an accident that could have been avoided if a caregiver had been there.

Finding the right caregiver and adjusting to this new relationship takes time, likely more than you think. Even if your aging loved one is showing no signs of needing an in-home caregiver just yet, it’s worth exploring the options for when they do. Reach out to your local businesses, ask for recommendations and ask questions. You’ll be glad you started the process early!

How can you trust someone with such an important job?

This is a fair question. Trusting someone to care for your loved one the way you would can be a challenge. You can and should do everything you can to learn about your potential caregivers. Interview them, ask questions and get to know their personal style. The fact is they are not you, and will never care for your loved one exactly as you would. However, their way can be equally as good – or even better if you consider that by them caring for your senior parent, this reduces the burden on you.

Trust takes time. You should allow the caregiver to adjust to their new environment and learn the routine. Don’t judge things based on the first few weeks. It’s a learning experience for everyone. All parties need a little grace to adjust to the new dynamic – that includes you, the caregiver and the person for whom they are caring. If something bothers you, speak up! If you have a question, ask it! This is the only way you will build trust and form a relationship with the caregiver.

What’s the real cost?

One of the first thoughts that might come to mind when considering a professional caregiver is “What is this going to cost?” or “Can we afford this?” This is a natural mindset to have, but it’s so important to shift this mindset a bit. Rather, ask yourself “What is proper care for my loved one worth to me?” and “What’s the value of my peace of mind?” Yours answers to these two questions will really change the way you look at the cost of a professional caregiver.

Quality care does not come cheap. Nor should it! It’s an investment in the health and wellbeing of someone you love deeply. Families who choose to hire a professional caregiver may have to readjust financially to make it possible, but it’s a small sacrifice to be able to fully enjoy time with your loved one again. Simply put, a professional caregiver allows parents and their children to maintain this relationship without the added stress and burden of caregiving.

Are you or someone you know facing the challenge of finding the right caregiver to care for an aging loved one? We can help answer your questions! Reach out to Ella Home Care today.

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!

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.

A Perfect Match: How Ella Home Care Finds the Best Caregiver for You

How an In-Home Caregiver Can Help Even When You’re Not at Home

Struggling Over Hiring a Professional Caregiver? Read This First!

How to Prepare a Family Member for Home Care

What the Latest Research Says About the Benefits of Home Care

Our Promise To You

Download Our Brochure

Contact Us