Have You Thought About Home Care

Home Care in New York: Have You Thought About It?

Thinking about home care may give you a sense of foreboding, but it is best to prepare for the possibility. According to LongTermCare.gov, “In 2000, almost 10 million people needed some form of long-term care in the United States.” The numbers could have increased by then.

 

What are the features of home care?

There is a range of services and support that is included in home care , most of which are designed to meet your personal care needs. It provides assistance with whatever personal tasks you might need done in your daily life. When you have mobility issues, long-term care can prove beneficial. It is, however, different from medical care, although some providers extend their services to cover certain areas of health care.

 

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

As the name suggests, this part of long-term care covers some of the activities involved in your daily living, which includes : Personal Care, Chore service, & Care management. Services delivered may differ from one company to another, but you can always expect care providers to assist you in bathing, dressing, eating, using the toilet, moving to and from a bed or chair, and caring for incontinence.

 

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)

 

IADLs refer to assistance with everyday tasks that are not part of personal care. What they do is to ensure that you will be able to live independently.

 

  • Transportation to health-related appointments
  • Social day care
  • Home-delivered/congregate meals
  • Social and environmental support
  • Housekeeping
  • Shopping for clothing or groceries
  • Managing your money
  • Helping you use a telephone, other forms of communication, and technology, whenever applicable
  • Respond to emergency alerts

Health Care Needs

 

When you’re 60 and sick, access to health care becomes a priority, and it is a fact that the older you get, the more medical attention you might need. Consider yourself lucky if you don’t, but consider it a consolation that someone will take care of your health needs when you have long-term care.

 

  • Audiology/hearing aids
  • Dental Care
  • Durable medical equipment, medical/surgical supplies, prosthetics, orthotics and oxygen
  • Health promotion services
  • Home health care
  • Nursing home care
  • Optometry/eyeglasses
  • Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)
  • Rehabilitation Therapy

Beyond Expectations

 

The list is not exhaustive, but the best service provider is sure to go beyond your expectations. In terms of home health care, for example, some cover

 

  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Home health aides
  • Nursing care
  • Speech therapy and medical social services
  • You may also be entitled to nutritional counseling