Don’t underestimate the value and versatility of Private Duty Home Care. With a persistent assumption of being cost-prohibitive, Private Duty often gets dismissed as an option without considering all the benefits. While Private Duty is key to aging at home for the long term, its ability to save the day in short-term situations may be its most overlooked benefit.
Sometimes the best answers lie in short-term solutions. With more than half the U.S. labor force engaged in caregiving responsibilities outside of work, people trying to balance work with caregiving need options. Maybe your aging loved one isn’t ready for full-time at-home care, but there are other situations when private duty home care is an absolute lifesaver.
5 Short-Term Solutions Provided by Private Duty
- Hospitalization help
- Skilled nursing companion
- Transportation
- Socialization
- Behavioral challenges
1. Being alone at the hospital can be scary.
For a senior who just experienced a medical incident, the hospital can be an overwhelming place. If family lives far away, it can be a while before anyone can be at the bedside to provide comfort. Save yourself hours of time and stress; set up an account with your preferred Private Duty Home Care agency and keep their number on speed dial.
From personal comfort to pet care, a private duty caregiver is there to make a hospitalization a little bit less overwhelming – for the patient and family. For the senior living alone, having someone stop by the house and take care of the fur babies can be more concerning than their own health! Additionally, a private caregiver can connect the senior to their out-of-town family by phone or video chat, helping everyone feel closer together during a difficult time.
2. Settle nursing home nerves with a friendly face.
It happens fast – a medical incident, short hospitalization, and then a trip to the local skilled nursing facility for rehab. For seniors, this is a life-changing series of events. The change in environment, lack of privacy, and effects of new medications can magnify physical and cognitive decline and result in short-term behavioral changes.
Rehab centers are a fast-paced environment with one focus – getting their patients physically stronger and out the door. The typical daily schedule includes three meals, a therapy session, and … well, that’s it. There is a lot of time left when a private duty caregiver can engage the senior in conversation, take them outside for fresh air, and encourage participation in various activities offered throughout the day.
3. Need a lift? Private Duty can get you to appointments on time.
Seniors often have a hard time getting to doctors’ appointments. In fact, transportation is the leading cause of missed appointments. Private duty caregivers keep seniors connected to their medical appointments and keep them active with visits to the grocery store and other basic errands. In a few short hours, an experienced caregiver will have an older adult up and ready for the day, out the door in time for a medical appointment, and restocked with food for simple meals at home.
Tasks for Private Duty Caregiver
Assist with ADLs
Transport to appointments
Accompany on errands
Prepare meals
Driving can be a real hot-button topic for seniors. For every older person, when to stop driving is an individual conversation. It is a game-changer to have a resource available to keep an aging parent from being isolated at home, even after they can no longer drive. Private duty offers a solution for the busy family caregiver – peace of mind that an aging parent is no longer driving, but still connected to their community.
4. Socialization becomes increasingly important as we get older.
There are so many benefits of socialization for older people. From reduced risk of depression to cognitive improvements, staying social is a key part of healthy aging. Whether connecting to the outside world is virtual or in-person, a private duty caregiver can help set up the schedule needed to keep seniors engaged.
According to John Hopkins Medicine, the risk of developing dementia is 27% higher for those who are socially isolated. The good news is that even for those who are physically limited to their homes, texting, use of email, and video chatting may reduce the risk. A private caregiver is the perfect solution for a tech-challenged senior, supporting both the senior and their family by arranging virtual visits and managing the managing the technology.
5. Short-term solutions help seniors in every stage of their journey.
If you are a family caregiver for an aging parent with dementia, chances are you have experienced challenging behaviors. Depression, anxiety, agitation, aggression, disinhibition, and sleep disturbances are just a few of the common characteristics that someone with dementia can exhibit at any stage in their journey. For the adult child or spouse caring for someone who is exhibiting one of these behaviors, it can be hard to handle alone.
Private Duty Home Care can provide an experienced caregiver for families who need extra support in providing care for someone with dementia. Additionally, for an individual with dementia who lives in a memory care facility, a private caregiver is a thoughtful addition to a plan of care. Often, difficult behaviors like aggression or agitation are short-lived. Having extra support for the individual with dementia – and the facility – can be invaluable as everyone works through challenging behaviors together.
Who Pays for Private Duty Home Care?
Private Duty Home Care is a smart addition to a thoughtful aging plan. From short-term solutions to full-time care at home, Private Duty offers options for a senior to stay safe and connected to their family and community. The best way to learn more about the cost and services provided by a private duty agency is to call a reputable local provider.
Payor Sources for Private Duty
Private pay
Long-term care insurance
Unlike medical services that are paid for by Medicare or other health insurance, Private Duty Home Care is an out-of-pocket expense. When you find yourself in need of a short-term solution, you may find the flexibility of private home care is exactly what you are looking for. Helping a senior age successfully takes a village – keep Private Duty Home Care on your short list of solutions.
Their can-do attitude and flexible schedule are two reasons Private Duty Home Care is a Resource We Love.
Have a senior loved one who could benefit from extra support and companionship? Call Champion Home Health Care: Private Duty, Brevard County, FL at (321) 608 – 3838 to learn how a private caregiver can provide personalized assistance and enriching activities for seniors, wherever they may reside.
