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

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

April 23, 2018 by Kirk Brechbiel

4 Ways to Reduce Caregiver Turnover

When you find a great caregiver for an aging loved one, you want to keep them as long as possible! It can take a while to get familiar with someone else caring for a senior friend or family member, so once you reach that level of comfort it can be devastating to have a caregiver move to a different job.

Take a look at four tips for reducing caregiver turnover so you can enjoy the peace of mind knowing your loved one is being cared for by someone you all know and trust.

  1. Invest in really getting to know the caregiver.

When a caregiver is new, you will both feel like strangers to one another. These first few weeks are the most important for showing an interest in getting to know them beyond their role as your loved one’s caregiver.

Ask them about their personal life, their passions and interests and what called them into a career as a caregiver. As you have these discussions, you will learn a lot about each other! They will open up and feel comfortable asking you questions and for advice related to caring for your loved one. Also, by creating an open channel for communication, you help make their job more reasonable and enjoyable – all reasons to encourage them to stay with you long-term.

  1. Value their advice.

As your loved one’s caregiver, they will spend a lot of time in their home and notice things that may be of concern. Ask for their advice! Be sure to check in with your caregiver frequently to assess your loved one’s mental and physical health, the safety of their home and any other changes they may have noticed. Your caregiver is your eyes and ears when you cannot be there. Be sure to make use of this resource!

  1. Make them feel appreciated.

There will be many times when your caregiver will step in and address hard situations. They may be there when your loved one falls or becomes ill. This is just as stressful and scary for your caregiver as it is for you. Be sure to find time to speak with them in a calm environment to see how they are feeling. Then, be sure to express your appreciation for them being there to help your loved one in a time of need. It’s why they are there and they will be happy to hear you notice this!

Also, make note of their birthday and be sure to acknowledge them for National Caregiver Appreciation month in November and for the holidays. Yes, it’s a few more reminders to add to your list; however, what they do day-in and day-out for your loved one and your entire family is invaluable!

  1. Be attentive to early signs that they are discontent or looking for a new job.

If your caregiver feels unappreciated or discontent, they will likely start to show signs early on. This can show up in a variety of different ways including calling off work, shirking on responsibilities or seeming distant or short in your conversations with them.

When you feel you have noted these signs, have an open conversation with your caregiver. This should not be confrontational, but rather from a place of love and concern. If they are able to open up to you, you will have the opportunity to make changes or improvements to their work situation that may encourage them to re-engage their job instead of leaving you.

Have you experienced caregiver turnover? How did this impact your family? Please share your story or advice for reducing caregiver turnover!

Filed Under: Blog, Caregiver Tagged With: aging, care, caregiver, elderly, ella home care, help, professional care, quality, senior citizen

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