Category: Home Care Allentown

You want your loved one to have the best home health services as they age at home. With so many providers to choose from, how do you choose from the home health care agencies in Allentown, PA? Let’s look at what you should consider when choosing a provider for yourself or your loved one.

A Checklist of Questions

Consider creating a Checklist of Questions as you search for providers. Asking the right question helps you to determine what kind of care a service offers and if they’re the right match for your loved one. As you consider questions to add to the checklist, keep in mind,

• Your loved one’s specific healthcare needs
• Concerns that your loved one has expressed with regards to past caregivers
• What your loved one’s goals are for living independently – everyone has their own idea of what independent living means, so make sure that a care provider understands your loved one’s needs and is prepared to meet them
• Your loved one’s schedule for doctor visits, medications, therapy, and treatments, as well as any social and community activities they participate in

Remember to ask for references and follow up with those references. Due to patient privacy, you’ll likely only receive professional references such as doctors and therapists. Be sure you check review sites, especially those that focus on healthcare and home care, for testimonials, feedback, and complaints about the agencies that you consider.

Assessing Home Health Care Agencies in Allentown, PA

Remember to review the responses you receive from your checklist, references, and research with your loved one, family, and their physician. Determine what questions are most important to the needs of your loved one. If you’re unhappy with the answers that you received, then the agency may not be the right choice for you. Always trust your gut, even if you or your loved one can’t pinpoint a specific reason why you feel a certain way about an agency. Importantly, interview multiple agencies to match the services and care they offer with what your loved one needs.

Top Home Care Services in Allentown

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 that are right for you.

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

Working with people needing home care services Allentown PA, we constantly see individuals struggling with their sense of purpose, depression, and anxiety because of their condition. These feelings are normal but can get in the way of being happy.

Some organizations are working on what should be an easier question: How to be happy? Studies show that there is a correlation between mental well-being and things like chronic pain and longevity. People who are unhappy focus on their pain more than on activities. People who are happy are more likely to be active, contributing to their body’s overall hardiness.

In-home healthcare, an aide like those at AmeriBest can encourage ideas for improved happiness. They can also redirect individuals trying to break bad habits. The idea is to make new routines and new practices that support positivity. You’d be surprised at how simple some things are, like smiling more. Smile at someone when you pass them (watch their eyes light up).

Smiling releases dopamine, the “feel good” chemical. Here are some more ideas:

1. Sleep:
   Adequate sleep is vital to your body and mind. Otherwise, you live in a fog. Create a quiet time before bed, and stick to a routine of when you sleep and when you get up. Avoid eating and drinking before bed or actively engaging your mind in something like an online puzzle. You’re trying to wind down, not up. Also, get bedding and pillows that feel good. Believe it or not, that little bit of comfort affects how well you sleep. Read up on sleep hygiene.
2. Remain active as practicable:
   You don’t need to jog or lift weights. Instead, take short walks. And, when you wake up, stretch before you get out of bed.

   

3. The attitude of gratitude:
   Instead of focusing on perceived negatives in life, look for the blessings, both big and small. Create a daily journal of things that improved your day. Maybe you snuck in 15 minutes more sleep before getting ready for the day. Or, perhaps, you saw a lovely bird outside your window. Redirecting your mind to “good stuff” improves happiness.
4. Random acts of kindness:
   Give someone a compliment (nice scarf, love your hat). How does it make you feel? Even just making eye contact and saying good morning can boost how you feel inside. It’s satisfying to do good things.
5. Acknowledge your feelings:
   No one is happy every moment of every day. Don’t dismiss those moments when you feel lousy. Don’t just put on a happy face and push feelings away. Instead, try to figure out the trigger. What made you feel bad? Knowing this helps you avoid similar situations in the future.
6. It’s your story:
   You cannot compare your life to anyone else’s. For example, in recovery from surgery, you might hear about someone who was up and going while you are still struggling. You are NOT them. Every person is different, so keep going without making unreasonable expectations.
7. Finally, keep your space tidy:
   Clutter impacts how you feel and think.
   

Home Care Services Allentown PA

Our AmeriBest caregivers can help with this, among many other daily tasks covered by the home care services in Allentown, PA. If you’d like more information on getting home healthcare, you can contact us online. Our email is info@ameribest.org. The phone number for our Allentown, PA office is 610-596-9070. Our trained professionals are happy to help in any way.

When you have a loved one who struggles with various daily needs, you want a high-quality, dedicated company like AmeriBest in Allentown, PA, on your side. Our goal is to provide comprehensive Home Health Care Services in Allentown, PA, to our community by focusing on compassion and maintaining individuals’ dignity. Studies show that a lack of self-worth greatly impacts an individual’s quality of life. Two key words in AmeriBest’s home care are “client-centered.” Our clients do not feel like they are on the outside looking in. We listen to their ideas, concerns, fears, and hopes when devising a plan of care. Next comes input from family and friends. And, of course, we include all of a person’s healthcare providers in the equation, so everyone is on the same page.

Dealing with Caregiver Uncertainty

Individuals requiring care often have misgivings about having a stranger in their homes. Or they aren’t sure exactly what to expect from the situation. These feelings are shared by families seeking the right situation for their loved ones. It’s not easy. There are many options out there, but think about what you want ideally and make a list, including your questions and use them during reviews of company options.

Remember that all home health agencies in Pennsylvania must have a license from the Department of Health. This license ensures they meet health and safety standards while adhering to rules and regulations. The Department will survey agencies unannounced to check on best practices.

The Best Home Health Care Services in Allentown, PA

Overall we want people to feel more comfortable and safe in their homes. We also want to educate families about risks and valuable insights into the current situation they may never have encountered. While we handle the professional end, families still have valuable roles to play as intermittent caregivers.

There are many good reasons to consider hiring home health services for the vulnerable population. You have responsibilities, and when you try to meet those along with those of your loved one, it becomes a struggle. There are many challenges to caregiving. Time management is at the top of the list. An aide can give you much-needed time away. They can:

• Assist with bathing and dressing
• Provide medication reminders
• Prepare meals
• Help with safe ambulation
• Do laundry and light housekeeping

Most importantly, AmeriBest’s home caregivers in Allentown, PA, provide socialization. Whether it’s recounting favored memories, playing cards, or watching TV, the aide is a person who can give your loved one their whole attention.

Taking the Next Step

When ready, reach out to AmeriBest’s Allentown, PA office at 610-596-9070. We also have offices in Harrisburg, PA, and Philadelphia. Seek the one closest to you for convenience. Don’t feel awkward about what may seem to you as an odd question. Thousands of people have probably asked likewise.

We have a professional staff ready to review the process and respond to all your questions. Call us at 610-596-9070. If you prefer, email AmeriBest at info@ameribest.org or use our online contact form for your initial communication.