Seniors We have provided links to informational resources for seniors. These links are meant to make the information-gathering process easier and do not represent an endorsement by or for @home healthcare.

AARP Internet Resources The American Association of Retired Persons site provides a frequently updated database of Internet resources, including links to more than 900 of the best sites for people aged 50+.

The Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center The Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center site will help you find current, comprehensive Alzheimer’s disease (AD) information and resources from the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America strives to provide optimal care and services to individuals confronting dementia, and to their caregivers and families through member organizations dedicated to improving quality of life.

American Cancer Society This nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization provides extensive information on preventing cancer and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

American Heart Association’s Delicious Decisions This AHA Web site provides a healthy selection of nutrition tips, menu suggestions, heart-wise supermarket shopping tips and even advice on healthier dining out.

Caring From a Distance (CFAD) This nonprofit organization offers assistance, resources and support for men and women providing long distance care.

Elder Law Firms.com Elder Law Firms.com is an exclusive legal website dedicated to educating the public on Elder Law and guiding you to legal representation in your area. They also provide news articles from around the nation and an informative resource center geared toward anyone looking for in-depth information on Elder Law.

Family Caregiving 101 Created for people caring for a loved one who is ill or disabled, this site is a great place to find assistance, answers, new ideas and helpful advice for both you and your loved one.

FDA Information for Seniors The FDA has numerous articles, brochures and other publications with information for older people on a wide range of health issues, including arthritis, cancer, health fraud, and nutrition.

The Geriatric Mental Health Foundation The GMHF raises awareness of psychiatric and mental health disorders affecting the elderly and helps to promote healthy aging strategies. This site provides mental health information for older adults and their families, including assistance in finding a geriatric psychiatrist.

Help Guide Helpguide provides over 170 non-commercial articles on the topics of mental health, healthy lifestyles, families and relationships and seniors and aging.

National Cancer Institute The National Cancer Institute (NCI) conducts and supports research and training and disseminates health information regarding the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer, rehabilitation from cancer, and the continuing care of cancer patients and their families.

NIH Senior Health The National Institute of Health’s Senior Health site provides an easy-to-navigate menu of articles about aging and health-related topics for seniors and their families.

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys The NAELA deals with legal issues affecting the elderly and disabled, such as public benefits, probate and estate planning, guardianship/conservatorship, and health and long-term care planning. This site also provides current news on legal topics related to aging, as well as advice on finding an elder law attorney.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is committed to improving end-of-life care and expanding access to hospice care with the goal of profoundly enhancing quality of life for dying people and their loved ones.

Planning for Eldercare This non-commercial, long-term care site provides links to 34 in-depth chapters, totaling over 690 printable pages, from 9 experts and covering all areas of long-term/eldercare planning.

FAQs

1. Are you licensed? Yes. In addition, all @home healthcare caregivers are experienced, bonded, insured, and screened.
2. Can I speak to someone now? Yes. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you can call and talk to a live case manager. Contact us now [link to Contact Us page].
3. Does “live-in care” mean the caregiver moves into the home? No. Live-in does not mean move-in. Each caregiver only brings a small bag for his or her daily needs. All the caregiver requires is a quiet place in the home where they can rest uninterrupted for eight continuous hours. This ensures that our caregivers are fully rested and alert to attend to their clients’ needs throughout the rest of the day. For clients who require 24-hour monitoring or assistance, relief shift or alternative arrangements are available.
4. Do you require a service contract or charge more for an increase in services? There is no service contract for @home healthcare. That means you can use our caregivers only as long as you’re 100% satisfied.
5. Do your caregivers speak English? Yes. All our caregivers speak, read, and write English. We also have many multilingual caregivers. Let us know if you prefer someone who speaks another language in addition to English.
6. Do I get to meet the caregiver in advance? Yes, but you don’t have to. After our geriatric case manager meets you (either in your home or at our office) to assess your case, you have the option to interview prospective caregivers we pre-select to match your needs. However, you are not required to interview them yourself.
7. Can caregivers use the client’s cash or credit card to make purchases on behalf of the client? No. The policy of @home healthcare strictly prohibits cash, checks, or credit cards changing hands between the client and caregiver.
8. Can your caregivers provide transportation? Yes. Our caregivers can drive to doctor’s appointments, senior centers…anywhere. If driving your vehicle, there’s no extra charge to your hourly or daily rate. If you require the caregiver to drive his or her own vehicle, you’re simply billed a standard per-mileage rate to cover fuel and wear and tear.
9. Do you accept long term care insurance? Yes. Long term care insurance covers most home care expenses, up to your policy’s daily limits. However, Medicare, Medicaid or other health insurance plans do not cover home care, since our duties are non-medical. For former US servicemen/servicewomen, the Veterans Administration Pension Plan offers a home care benefit called the “Aid & Attendance” pension. Ask us for more information.
10. Will I be required to provide independent meals for the caregiver? No. Caregivers preparing food for the client can make an extra amount and enjoy the same meal. Caregivers who desire something different from what the client is eating may bring their own food.
11. Do caregivers need to be tipped? Absolutely not. @home healthcare caregivers are not permitted to accept tips. In fact, no money should ever change hands between the caregiver and the client. All payments must go directly to the office of @home healthcare.

Why home care? There are many reasons why agency-provided home care makes the best sense for caring for an elderly or incapacitated person in your family. Here are 6:

1. 89% of elderly people would rather live at home than anywhere else. Senior citizens fear moving into a nursing home and losing their independence more than they fear death, according to a study reported in The Wall Street Journal. When asked what they fear most, seniors rated loss of independence (26%) and moving out of home into a nursing home (13%) as their greatest fears. Death was cited as the greatest fear for just 3% of seniors. Furthermore, 82% of Baby Boomers fear their parents will be mistreated in a nursing home and 89% fear their parents will be sad.
2. Staying at home is the most comfortable. Nothing beats the comfort of staying at home. This is true not only in comparison to an institution, but even compared to moving in with a family member. Any move is stressful. If one combines moving with the recent loss of a spouse, the onset of dementia, or a growing disability, even the simplest transition can feel traumatic. Being able to receive needed care within the familiarity of one’s own home uplifts the spirit. “Aging in place” even eliminates many safety risks that come with moving into and moving around in new places.
3. Home care prolongs independence and prevents institutionalization. It doesn’t take much in the form of a mobility limitation or mental decline to render people unable to care for themselves. Simple tasks like cooking – let alone driving to the store or to appointments – become difficult ordeals. Yet the inability to accomplish these basic tasks shouldn’t condemn a person to institutionalized care. Fortunately, if they can be assisted with these tasks, these same people can lead fully productive and independent lives. The personal independence that home care gives them delivers vast benefits in their physical and mental well-being and also benefits their families and society as a whole.
4. Home care is safer. Institutionalized residents are at a higher risk for developing acute illnesses such as pneumonia, dehydration, gastroenteritis, and antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus infections. With a single caregiver attending to many people, it’s harder to control cross contamination from one infected resident to another. The one-on-one personal attention provided by an in-home caregiver greatly lowers the risk of such illnesses. Additionally, home caregivers can devote 100% of their attention to preventing falls, wandering, and kitchen injuries, and will call 911 within seconds of an emergency.
5. Home care reduces stress and depression for the whole family. A conservative estimate reports that 20% of family caregivers suffer from depression; that’s twice the rate of the general population. The “role reversal” of family caregiving is equally stressful on the relative providing the care and the one receiving it. Elders remain keenly aware of the increasing physical and mental losses they are suffering. Plus, they may feel embarrassed to require a family member (especially their child) to help them with certain issues. Transitioning to an institution can be even more stressful. Hiring an agency caregiver not only gives relief to the caregiving relative, but it also involves the least stressful change for the one who needs the care.
6. Home care improves quality of life. By remaining in their home, with proper care, seniors are able to maintain the lifestyle and luxuries they are accustomed to enjoying. The ability to keep possessions and familiar surroundings close-by allows home care clients to visit the same stores, restaurants, neighbors and parks they already know. Also, they can engage in the same activities they love, rather than being expected to join in group activities with strangers. They can savor their privacy and live their life on their own schedule.

Ask us about our FREE senior housing placement service to find the best residence for your loved one.

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