Author: AmeriBest Home Care

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most widespread neurological diseases affecting young people around the world. Unfortunately, most people know little about this disease and how it impacts the lives of those with it. At AmeriBest Home Care Allentown, we believe in educating our communities about their and their loved one’s health. Here’s the 101 on MS to help you make the best choice in home health care for your loved one.

What Is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the body and the brain. The cause of MS is unknown. The disease triggers the immune system to attack the central nervous system. The resulting damage causes interruption of signals to and from the brain resulting in numbness, tingling, mood changes, memory problems, pain, fatigue, blindness, and even paralysis. Because MS is unpredictable, each person’s experience with the disease is different, and losses may be temporary or long-lasting.

Risk Factors for MS

Researchers are still trying to determine the environmental factors that can lead to MS. For example, people with higher levels of vitamin D are less likely to have MS, suggesting that vitamin D deficiency could be a factor. While we try to learn other environmental factors of the disease, we do know that,

• Women are three times more likely than men to develop MS
• People with biological relatives with MS are more likely to develop it
• MS is not inherited, but the genetic predisposition may be
• Children of MS patients are 10 – 20 times more likely to develop MS than the general population

Diagnosis and Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Because symptoms and severity of MS vary from person to person, the disease is difficult to diagnose. If you suspect you or your loved one may have MS, it’s vital to seek a diagnosis from a medical professional who concentrates on MS diagnosis and treatment, as they will be more likely to recognize and identify symptoms.

There is no cure for MS, so treatment focuses on managing symptoms. Because the disease is unpredictable, finding the right treatment is often a matter of trial and error. The focus is always in limiting the severity and length of MS attacks. Depending on symptoms and their severity as well as the progression of the disease, treatments can include,

• Corticosteroids to reduce nerve inflammation
• Plasma exchange (removing the liquid part from your blood and mixing your blood cells with a protein solution and returning it to your body)
• Interferon beta medications to interfere with the disease and increase nerve growth
• Glatiramer acetate to help block the immune system’s ability to attack nerve cells
• Monoclonal antibodies to target cells that attack the nervous system
• Daily or twice-daily oral medications that reduce relapse rates like teriflunomide and dimethyl fumarate

In addition, your doctor may recommend dietary changes, physical therapy, and other treatments to help manage symptoms or reduce their severity.

How Home Health Care Helps MS Patients

For those living with MS, life can be as unpredictable as the disease itself. One day may be fine, with the next bringing a sudden flare. It’s important that MS patients have knowledgeable caregivers who can help them meet their daily needs when MS attacks occur. When you choose a home care provider, consider the tasks you or your loved one needs assistance with on a daily basis and when an MS attack occurs.

Are You Looking for the Best Choice in Home Health Care in Allentown, PA?

If you’re looking for home health care for you or a loved one, contact us today.

One of our program coordinators can discuss your needs and help you select the program and services right for you.

Becoming a professional home health aide in Allentown, PA can be incredibly rewarding. You play a key role in maintaining and even improving the quality of a person’s life. Instead of being in a nursing home, an individual is aging in place with you at their side. The littlest thing, like remembering a favorite activity, provides the client with greater socialization, a treasured gift for deterring depression.

There are no formal requirements for education when you’re trying to become an aide. Different situations require different levels of training. In some cases, a high school diploma, safety training, and a heart filled with compassion are all a family needs in an aide. Other in-home caregivers may need a degree in social work, CPR and first aid accreditation, or other medical training to work with specific clients.

The call for direct support personnel is growing exponentially. If you take this career track, you can always find work with companies like AmeriBest. We truly value our staff and give them the tools they need to be successful in their assignments.

Becoming a Home Health Caregiver in Allentown, PA

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. If you want to become a caregiver, how should you proceed?

1. Self Evaluation: First and foremost, you must hunker down and ask yourself if you can do this work with empathy and patience. It is NOT for everyone. Are you willing to work with difficult clients (or strained family dynamics)? Can you put down your job at the end of the day? If you answered no to either question, this probably isn’t the right career option for you. If your answer is yes, move forward.
2. Check around your area to see if there are any apprenticeship programs. If not, volunteer to work at a nursing home. Get a feel for the kind of folks with whom you may work in the future.
3. Review the PA requirements for being a home care aide. Every state is different, but if you plan to apply soon, you’ll want to complete the required exams or certifications, if possible.
4. Get involved in a professional organization that updates you on things impacting your career.

Joining the AmeriBest Team

At AmeriBest, we always look for caring, dependable home health aides to join our staff in Allentown, PA. We prefer experience, but don’t let that stop you from applying. We pay you for the training time necessary to do your tasks.

AmeriBest has provided high-quality home and community-based services since 2008. Our history of maintaining clients’ sense of dignity and independence has made us one of the most trusted companies in PA.

We also have an amazing benefits package for your consideration. We know good employees are our secret ingredient and treat them accordingly. We offer paid time off, 7 paid holidays, medical-dental-vision plans, and life insurance, just for starters.

Start your career today. Email us at info@ameribest.org, or call any one of our three offices:

Philadelphia: 215-925-3313

Harrisburg 717-545-2920

Allentown 610-596-9070

Or 1-800-HOMECARE

The day has arrived. You are exhausted, and your loved one needs more help than you can provide. Thus, the search begins to access quality home care in Allentown, PA, which is what AmeriBest Home Care offers. Find out if you’re eligible for home care services and how you and your loved ones can benefit from them if you are!

What Are Home Care Services?

Simply put, home care services professionals offer extra hands and eyes, so your loved one has greater safety and support. Some of the basic services AmeriBest Home Care Allentown, PA, provides include:

• Dressing
• Bathing
• Personal care
• Dishes
• Laundry
• Cooking healthy meals
• General house tidiness
• Companionship
• Respite care,
• Med reminders
• Transportation to Dr. appointments
• And much more.

In addition, certain situations require specialized care. You can get physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, and a registered nurse. Under Medicare Part A, these services must be medically necessary for coverage. Your physician must certify your need for coverage. Your case will be reviewed periodically. Medicare reports that in 2019 approximately 5,300,000 people received these types of benefits.

Hiring a Home Health Caregiver in Allentown, PA

You are among many people seeking care for their loved ones. The popularity of home health care in PA grows daily. Seniors prefer “aging in place” rather than going into strange institutions with none of the comforts of home. One of the great benefits of having professional care is the peace of mind it gives you and the socialization it provides for the individual.

So, the question becomes, what do you look for in a company? You don’t want to just close your eyes and pick one out of the phone book. You need to know the people behind the scenes and a company’s culture in making your choice. Signs of a quality home caregiver, like our personnel at AmeriBest, include:

• Active, positive references
• The company gives all potential staff background checks
• The company provides ongoing training about “best practices” in the field
• You are treated with respect
• You get honest answers to your questions
• The agency creates personalized care plans in which you, your loved one, and physicians participate

Questions to Ask

Besides the qualifications discussed previously, there are several great questions to ask potential care coordinators.

1. What happens if my aide is a no-show or calls off?
2. Are your aides insured?
3. Do you have any specialized services, and if so, what are they?
4. How often do you update care plans?
5. What if my loved one doesn’t like the aide provided?
6. Do you periodically evaluate your staff?
7. What sets you apart from other home care agencies?

You can also evaluate your home and ask about safety concerns. We can help you find resources to get any durable medical equipment you require, like grab bars, a cane, and a wheelchair.

Reach Out

The professionals at AmeriBest Home Care, Allentown, PA, are available to you to answer these questions now and others as they come up in your home. Contact us online HERE. Alternatively, our phone number is 717-545-2920, and our email is info@ameribest.org