While National Safety Month mainly focuses on workplace safety, safety applies to all of us and we all deserve to live happy, safe, fulfilled lives! This is especially true for our seniors living alone, suffering from a cognitive impairment or those who are experiencing mobility issues during these uncertain times.
One of the most important reasons for observing National Safety Month is to encourage all to work together to prevent incidents before they start and this is exactly what ABC Home Healthcare Professionals aims to do- help clients and families prevent accidents in the home which can lead to costly hospitalizations and lengthy rehabilitation stays!
Life changes and so do the needs of your loved ones
At ABC, we are proud to offer a variety of home care services designed with clients in mind. From companionship, homemaking, personal care, skilled nursing, live-in care/assisted living at home and more, we can provide the care you/your loved one needs to remain living safely and independently at home!
Especially after the loss of a spouse, living alone can become increasingly difficult for folks as they age. A companion can help ease the sting of loneliness by providing a reliable, friendly face that will come to the home and keep you/your loved one company.
Every home is different and there are some layouts that are more conducive than others when it comes to aging in place. For instance, if you or your loved one(s) live in a home where the laundry is in the basement, this can pose as a safety risk for an aging individual. According to the CDC, each year, 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries and at least 300,000 older adults are hospitalized for hip fractures annually. These hospitalizations can be extremely costly and, of course, a fall is a danger to any older adult. Prevent falls from happening by arranging a homemaker who can come to the home and assist with light housekeeping such as laundry, vacuuming, meal prep and more!
As we age, activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, going to the bathroom and housekeeping become more difficult. Just because these tasks become more challenging should not mean you can’t live safely and independently in your own home. ABC’s home health aides/personal care attendants provide assistance with these ADLs and can come to the home as little as once a week for 2 hours or 24/7 via long hour shifts or through our live-in/assisted living at home program. Similarly, we have specially trained caregivers to assist clients who have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease with their ADLs and to improve their overall quality of life in the home.
Preparing for discharge and a successful return home
For those who have been recovering at the hospital or at a short-term rehabilitation and nursing facility, a seamless transition home is extremely important. ABC understands this which is why we work closely with discharge planners from hospitals and facilities alike to ensure there is a clear and logical discharge plan for a successful transition back home.
Before getting discharged or before your loved one gets discharged, it is important for the state of the home to be assessed to ensure that it is safe for the person’s return. This includes looking at rugs and floors to identify any buckling of the flooring, anticipating if handicap accessible ramps or equipment is needed, installing grab rails in showers and near toilets etc. At ABC, we are fortunate to have a licensed general contractor on-site who can perform in-home modifications and help with the installation of any handicap accessible/safety equipment.
Preparing for a return home? Give us a call and schedule your assessment today!
Keeping safe during the COVID-19 pandemic
This pandemic proved that “home” is the safest place to be and while COVID definitely changed our original way of doing things, we continue to be resilient and start to see signs of life slowly reverting back to the normal as we knew it pre-COVID. ABC supplies workers with all of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) they need including but not limited to masks, gloves, face shields, full body suits etc. Our workers must wear masks when caring for clients (face shields only if necessary) and they must always wear gloves. The safety of both our clients and workers is of utmost importance and following CDC guidelines helps us ensure the safety of both!
When it comes to home care, you have many choices. That’s why it is critical to ensure you are making the right choice when it comes to who you are allowing into your home to care for you and/or your loved one. Arranging care can be costly no matter which way you look at it, however, home care continues to be the most affordable option. While private help can be found on sites such as Care.com and may seem more cost effective than hiring an agency, consider the following:
| IMPORTANT ISSUE | ABC HOME HEALTHCARE | INDEPENDENT PROVIDER / FAMILY |
|---|---|---|
| Staff are bonded and covered by liability insurance | YES | NO |
| Client is held 100% responsible for all staff injuries under Homeowners Policy |
NO | YES |
| Staff are covered by workers compensation | YES | NO |
| Staff has federal, state and local taxes withheld | YES | NO |
| Registered Nurse oversight of personal care staff |
YES | NO |
| In home supervision of personal care staff |
YES | NO |
| On-call Care Manager, 24 hours a day, seven days a week | YES | NO |
| Staff is skilled, tested and trained by Registered Nurse | YES | NO |
| Licensing inspections by State inspectors to monitor quality and standards of care | YES | N/A |
| Registered Nurse evaluation of customer needs |
YES | NO |
| Care Plan developed by Registered Nurse | YES | NO |
| Care Plan followed by personal care staff |
YES | NO |
Especially as we observe National Safety Month and consider the safety of not only our clients but our workers as well, hiring an agency like ABC Home Healthcare Professionals is truly the safest bet. Why? For instance, if a caregiver reports for walk on a snowy winter day and trips and falls at the client’s home, ABC’s employees are bonded and insured through our liability insurance policy- there is no cost for the client or the client’s family. However, if this same scenario happened with a caregiver who was hired privately (not through an agency), the client/client’s family could be held accountable for paying worker’s compensation and paying the private caregiver their salary even when they are unable to work. By hiring privately, a client/client’s family is taking a risk unnecessarily. You have enough to worry about…let ABC Home Healthcare Professionals do what they do best which is caring for you/your loved ones at home!
