When we’re younger, all those “someday” life events seem so far away. Then, one day we wake up staring at those somedays straight in the eye. The somedays can feel like a mirage. Is it really happening? Is what you’re seeing real? Are we overreacting? Maybe it’s just a fluke and tomorrow will be better.
Deciding when it’s time hire in-home healthcare services for aging parents, family members or spouses is one of life’s biggest stressors. It’s stressful for many reasons, such as being in denial that in-home care is necessary because they don’t need it or we can do it, loss of independence, stubbornness, worrying about money, trusting a stranger in the home, and that’s just naming a few.
If you’re here, something has happened to force you into looking at caregiving services today or you realize that someday is coming sooner than later. You’re in the right place either way.
The best advice we give those who just aren’t sure:
Start with nine hours a week so resources and a rhythm are already in place when in-home care becomes required.
Take Mary and Bill’s story (names changed for privacy), for example…
Mary and Bill had been happily married for 25 years. A second marriage; they were a blended family with adult children. Bill was a retired nurse. Mary, 15 years younger than Bill, works full-time. She contacted us after Bill had a hospital stay related to an ongoing health issue that required him to receive dialysis at home overnight.
The couple had managed well together at home while Mary’s job was fully remote during the pandemic. However, when her employer required staff to return to the office, Mary was worried about what that would look like for Bill. He was gradually declining, but mostly with little things, such as not feeling like making his own lunch.
Mary was feeling spread too thin, working all day while caring for Bill simultaneously. That was the point she decided to reach out to our Focus HealthCare Solutions team for information about in-home care options. The couple started with nine hours per week of care, which were enough to cover Mary’s mandatory work meetings that required her full attention.
The arrangement worked great, and Mary was so relieved to be able to support her husband in the mornings and complete his dialysis routine, knowing that when Bill’s in-home care giver arrived, she could switch gears and concentrate on work. Mary was able to take a big sigh of relief. Bill enjoyed a long stretch out of the hospital while he began the process of getting on the organ transplant list.
After several months, Bill’s illness did progress, and he needed more attention throughout the day than Mary could provide and still manage her job. Our team increased in-home care services to nine hours a day Monday through Friday, using caregivers already familiar with Bill and Mary.
Sadly, Bill passed away that winter from his illness, but he was able to remain at home for most of that time.
What would their experience have looked like if Mary had waited until she was at the end of her rope to hire in-home healthcare for Bill?
Being Proactive with In-Home Caregiving Services Avoids Pressure, Stress and Uncertainty
It’s Hard to Find In-Home Healthcare Providers You Trust When You’re Under Pressure
Ideally, you have time to get referrals, meet with in-home care coordinators, make sure caregivers are compatible with you and your loved one and are qualified to perform the services required. An unexpected event or hospital stay can rob you of the time you need to do your research, and you end up making a rush decision on a very important matter.
By having an in-home care provider in place, you already have a resource and can work with people you trust if the need for more hours or services arises.
Being Proactive by Starting with a Few Hours of Caregiving Weekly Reduces Stress
There are so many emotions involved with deciding when it’s time to hire in-home caregiving services, on the part of both the one making the decision and the one receiving the care.
By taking a proactive approach with a few hours a week, a professional in-home caregiver can objectively assess the situation and determine the right level of care needed. Focus HealthCare Solutions’ staff looks at our clients’ health over time, always with the question “what can we do now?” in mind. This allows in-home healthcare services to adjust to need for better outcomes in the future, as with Bill and Mary.
Just as important, you can view easing into in-home care as a preventative measure. By having the right level and amount of care always in place, falls and other care-related issues can be avoided and we can help clients remain in their homes for a longer period rather than move to an assisted living facility—a place many fear going.
Starting with a Little In-Home Care Alleviates Uncertainty… the What Ifs
Life is full of uncertainty; the best you can do is be as prepared as possible for anything. In Bill and Mary’s case, imagine if she had a health emergency requiring a hospital stay. Who would’ve taken care of Bill in her absence? Even something less serious than a hospital visit, like a broken bone, would make it difficult or impossible for Mary to take care of Bill.
That’s an extreme example of the effect of life’s uncertainties on a loved one’s care. But even personal or work events (planned and last minute) take time and leave you with limited hours for care.
With in-home care in place, your caregiver has your back no matter what life brings.
If it’s time to talk about in-home care options, we’re here. Schedule a free consultation.
