Category: Seniors care

What Is Community First Choice?

Affordable, quality home health care is important to aging at home and living independently. Community First Choice (CFC) was established under the State Plan as part of the Affordable Care Act of 2010. For Pennsylvania residents, it allows for seniors and people with disabilities to receive cost-effective community-based care. So let’s look at what community first choice does for Harrisburg residents.

What Is Community First Choice?

As part of the Affordable Care Act of 2010, Community First Choice provides funding for home and community-based care for people who meet the Medicaid criteria for institutional care. This allows them to live at home in their communities and saves money versus institution-based services.

Why Home and Community-Based Care Matters

The most important reason that home and community-based care is important to Harrisburg residents is because it is, overwhelmingly, what they want. Whether living with a disability or aging, people want to live independently, near their families and communities. Home and community-based care gives them that ability.

In addition, home and community care is less expensive than long-term care in a public or private institution. Per recipient, the state of Pennsylvania saves about $30,000 annually with home-based care over nursing homes.

What Services Are Included in Home and Community-Based Care?

For seniors who qualify for home and community-based care, AmeriBest Home Care provides a wide variety of services to meet their daily needs. These services include,

Transportation/ escort services
Social services/ case management
Nutritional counseling/ education
Personal care
Homemaker chore services
Home delivered meals

Do You Qualify for Home and Community-Based Services?

The state of Pennsylvania offers 12 Home and Community-Based Services to meet the needs of seniors and those with disabilities. At AmeriBest, we can educate you on eligibility requirements and assist you with follow-ups until you are approved.

Are You Looking for Home Health Care in Harrisburg, 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!

What Is Agency with Choice Program?

If you live with a family member with disabilities or are caring for elderly parents, choosing care can be a hard decision. While the goal of living and aging at home is to live independently, the process of finding quality home care can be less empowering than it should be. That’s why AmeriBest Home Care works closely with families to tailor care, including working with the Agency with Choice program.

What Is Agency with Choice?

To help provide individuals and families more control over their in-home health care, the Office of Developmental Programs made Participant Direction Services (PDS) available. Agency with Choice is one of these services, allowing individuals or their representatives to have direct supervisory control over the care services they receive while the Financial Management Services (FMS), such as AmeriBest Home Care, handles the employer-related paperwork such as payroll and tax records.

What’s the Difference Between Agency with Choice and Contracting through a Care Agency?

Agency with Choice provides individuals and their families with more control over their care. When you contract with an agency like AmeriBest to supervise your care, the standards your caregiver meets are determined by the company. While you are the patient and client the caregiver is responsible for, the agency still acts as their direct supervisor.

With Agency with Choice, the caregiver is considered an employee of AmeriBest for the purposes of payroll, tax, and other employment considerations. However, you directly supervise and manage the care they provide. This makes it easier to tailor the services you need and empowers you or your representative to directly supervise your care.

Who Is Eligible?

Individuals who live with a disability or autism and live at home or with a family member or friend may be eligible for Agency with Choice. Not all in-home care services may qualify for the program. However, services typically covered include,

In-home and community support services
Companion services
Respite services
Homemaker and chore services

Is Agency with Choice in Philadelphia Right for You?

At AmeriBest Home Care, we want to empower you to choose the right care for you or your loved one. Whether you’re caring for elderly parents or someone with a disability, it’s important to consider your options carefully. Contact us today to discuss your options with one of our program coordinators.

Women’s History Month: Women in Caregiving

March is Women’s History Month. At AmeriBest Home Care Harrisburg, we’re excited to honor the women who helped shape what care is through their work and advocacy. Let’s look at some of the most influential caregivers in history.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt

Though Franklin Roosevelt’s polio left him paralyzed, he still became President in 1933. As strong and influential as he was during a tumultuous time in US History, it was the care that his wife Eleanor provided that enabled him to be the leader we remember today. When Franklin Roosevelt passed away, Eleanor continued to advocate for effective and empathetic care for those who needed it most.

Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler

In 1864, Rebecca Lee Crumpler became the first African American woman in the US to earn an M.D. degree. She focused her work on the care of women and children and further secured her place in medical history with her Book of Medical Discourses.

Anne Sullivan

When Hellen Keller lost her sight and hearing from scarlet fever as an infant, her family saw little hope for her. However, Anne Sullivan rose to the challenge, helping Hellen learn to communicate and interact with the world around her.

Hellen Keller

With the help of Anne Sullivan, Hellen Keller was able to overcome incredible obstacles to become an activist and speaker. Among her numerous causes, Hellen Keller became a fierce advocate for people with disabilities.

Debbie Reynolds

Debbie Reynolds was best known as a Hollywood actress (Singin’ in the Rain as well as the voice of Charlotte in Charlotte’s web). She was also the mother of one of the most beloved actresses in science fiction – Carrie Fisher. What most don’t know is that Debbie also spent her life as a caregiver to her own mother and grandmother when she was 14 and even her own daughter Carrie when she showed signs of depression and bipolar disorder.

Rosalynn Carter

Another First Lady on our list, Rosalynn Carter, became a caregiver at the young age of 12 when her father was diagnosed with leukemia. In addition to serving as a caregiver for other family members, she has written books about caregiving and started the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers to promote the health, strength, and resilience of those who dedicate their lives to serving others.

AmeriBest Home Care Harrisburg, 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.

Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month: The Facts, Stats, and 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

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?

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.
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.
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.
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

Have a Heart: American Heart Month

February is American Heart Month, with the theme “Live to Beat.”. It’s a time when various organizations encourage individuals to focus on cardiovascular health. At AmeriBest in home health care Harrisburg PA, we have seen firsthand the toll a heart attack can take on a person and their family during our work. Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. To put it in perspective, one person dies every 34 seconds from cardiovascular disease. In 2020, this equated to nearly 700,000 individuals.

The caregivers at AmeriBest have been trained to recognize the signs of a stroke or heart attack. They observe closely, especially with people who have hypertension, which is a contributing cause of cardiovascular problems.

Heart Health

It’s not as hard as you might think to deter your risks of cardiovascular disease. The first step is understanding your risks by talking to your physician. Taking preventative measures matters.

What are these measures? Main boil down to ongoing self-care. Here are a few:

Eating Healthy. Keep salt and saturated fat to a minimum. It’s ok to cheat. Just remain aware of what you’re consuming. AmeriBest’s Aides can prepare nutritional meals for your loved one.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep. Practice sleep hygiene. Shoot for 7-8 hours a night. Create a daily ritual for yourself for the time you get up and the time you go to bed. Don’t nap too much.

Move it! Endeavor to get about 2 ½ hours of activity weekly. If that sounds like a lot, it equates to only 13 minutes daily over 7 days. Focus on low-impact cardio exercises that increase your heart rate. Walking, yoga, swimming, and cycling are examples. These types of exercise have minimal impact on joints.

Reduce Stress: For example, say your loved one knows a person who really rattles their cage. Limit how much time they spend with said individual. Activity (ah, ha #3) helps decrease anxiety, as can laughter, yoga (yes, it’s true), meditation, socialization, journaling, and keeping up with your personal hobbies. All these things provide mental distraction.

Know your numbers, specifically your blood pressure which is now easy thanks to home cuffs. If you cannot coordinate the cuff, ask the AmeriBest aide to help you.

If practicable, remain an active participant in your health. If you have questions, ask them, and insist on answers. You are your own best advocate.

Socialize: An in-home caregiver from a home health care agency like AmeriBest has trained personnel who take an interest in your loved one’s favorite activities. Studies show having interaction offsets depression, too.

Hiring a Home Health Care in Harrisburg, PA

When you reach the point when you know you can’t go it alone as the primary caregiver to your loved one, it’s time to consider professional aides. Whether or not your loved one has cardiovascular problems, seeking in-home assistance comes with many questions. The professionals at AmeriBest are here to answer them and provide the necessary information you will need going forward.

Reach out to us:

Online https://www.ameribesthomecare.com/contact-us/

Telephone: (717) 545-2920

Email: info@ameribest.org

Senior Care for Your Loved Ones in Philadelphia PA

As years go by, our loved ones show signs of aging. Eventually, there are things they cannot do for themselves. You step in to help here and there, but the responsibilities keep on growing! People find themselves overwhelmed. That’s where AmeriBest Senior Care Philadelphia, PA, steps in offering in-home health care for seniors.

You may have already felt a financial strain from caregiving due to lost pay or out-of-pocket expenses to provide your loved one with medical necessities. You would not be alone. Three in ten families caring for their seniors report increased debt. Our agency can walk you through all the financial supports available, including Medicaid, which can decrease your burden substantively if you qualify.

Aging in Place

Aging in place is highly preferred among seniors. They don’t like the idea of moving from their home. Everything there is familiar, including the people. At a facility, many strangers walk the halls, and it’s nowhere near as comfortable. Plus, many families feel guilt over engaging in a nursing home. Using a home healthcare service solves these problems.

Studies show aging in place has an impact on mental health, too. Being at home, a person feels secure, and they also have a sense of autonomy. There’s less stress and more predictability.

You want to make the best choice in home care. At AmeriBest Home Care, we pride ourselves in attentive service and making every effort to maintain the individual’s sense of self-respect. Your professional home caregiver frees you up to focus on personal needs and tasks, many of which have been on the back burner because you simply ran out of time.

What to Expect

As you seek senior care for your loved one in Philadelphia, PA, you might wonder what to expect from services. At AmeriBest Home Care, we will work with you, your loved one and their medical team to come up with a personalized plan of care. Some of the duties of our caregivers include:

Preparing meals
Med minders
Housekeeping
Bathing
Dressing
Organizing schedules
Participation in social events
Driving to physician’s appointments.

AmeriBest: Senior Care in Philadelphia, PA

Our company name says it all. We want the “best” for your entire family. Aging in place doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Everyone needs to have a say and receive essential information as soon as possible. We encourage family advocacy. There are no “cookie-cutter” solutions in our business. The plans we settle on take into consideration family dynamics, your concerns, and your loved one’s feeling.

We are one of the top agencies in Philadelphia, PA, having shown dedication to superior care. As the world of caregiving grows and changes, we remain mindful of best practices in every aspect of our services. In choosing our staff, we seek individuals who show strong compassion, support, and attentiveness. We also scout for people who are dependable and trustworthy.

For more information, please contact us any time!

Call: 215-925-3313 or 1800-HOMECARE

Email: info@ameribest.org

Access Quality Home Care in Allentown PA

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.

What happens if my aide is a no-show or calls off?
Are your aides insured?
Do you have any specialized services, and if so, what are they?
How often do you update care plans?
What if my loved one doesn’t like the aide provided?
Do you periodically evaluate your staff?
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

Characteristics of a Good Home Health Care Aide in Philadelphia

A good home health care aide in Philadelphia can manage many responsibilities. They are compassionate, knowledgeable, and able to multitask. A home aide should also have a love of learning and development.

Compassionate

An in-home caregiver should be compassionate. Compassionate people are in tune with the needs of others and make an effort to help them. They listen to their patient’s stories, empathize with their struggles, and are sensitive to their challenges.

Knowledgeable

A good home health care aide should be knowledgeable about the patient’s condition and how to administer treatments. They should know when a patient should take their medications, how often those medications need to be taken, and what will happen if they are not taken on time or as prescribed. It also means the aide must understand how specific equipment works and operate it correctly.

A Multitasker

In addition to being a caring and compassionate individual, a good home health care aide in Philadelphia should be able to multitask. Multitasking is an essential skill because it enables them to be more efficient in their job, ultimately saving time and money for the patient’s family.

Handling Stress

The ability to handle stressful situations is another characteristic that makes a good home health care aide stand out from other candidates. A stressful situation may arise at any moment when caring for patients.

Love of Learning

It’s not enough to just be a good home health care aide. To stay competitive in the field, they must be willing to develop their skills and knowledge continually. Continuing education is a must.

If you’re interested in home health care in Philadelphia for an aging loved one, contact us at AmeriBest Home Care to learn more.

Home Care in Harrisburg PA

No matter where you live, you’ve probably come across a family caregiver or a professional home health care aid, like those provided by AmeriBest Home Care in Harrisburg, PA. The sad reality is that (as of this writing) 133 million people have at least one chronic illness. Families are left with difficult decisions. Do they send them to a facility, or do they find a way to keep their loved one in the comfort of their home?

If they choose in-home health services, the family of the said individual may try and become the caregiver, attending to all the needs of their loved one. As you can imagine, the strain is palatable. Effectively they are trying to balance two lives into the time allowance for one.

What is Aging in Place?

But there’s good news. Relief is on the horizon with AmeriBest home care services in Harrisburg, PA. The person involved can “age in place.” The idea is to give seniors a sense of independence while maintaining matters of safety and other supports. The individual has greater self-esteem and a more positive attitude. There is less stress, and an in-home aide helps with socialization, too. For the family, having a professional caregiver is less expensive than facility care.

What About Medicare?

When an individual cannot afford home healthcare, Medicare coverage. Can provide financial help if you qualify. A person has to be homebound, require periodic care, and have a doctor who will prescribe the service. Additionally, Pennsylvania’s Department of Health and Human Services can cover some of the costs involved. If you are not sure if your family makes for a good candidate, call the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (215-765-9040) and get some answers. The staff at our AmeriBest home health services can also help guide you through the jumble.

It is worth noting that both Medicare and the Pennsylvania Department of Health Services will allow you to choose an aide. Your children, cousin, aunts, etc., can work in your home and get paid. This takes aging in place to another level of well-being. Now your loved one not only stays home but has a known individual caring for them.

Home Health Care: a Closer Look

A person receiving home health care receives different services than other people. It’s vital they receive individualized care. One person’s needs are not the same as someone else. At AmeriBest, we are committed to tailor-made care plans. Yours might include more than trained aides. Perhaps the person needs physical therapy, for example. That requirement goes into the plan, along with any other specialized necessities.

Basic services include:

Light housekeeping
Meal preparation
Nutritional menus
Socialization
Bathing
Spotting a person with mobility issues

Our compassionate and well-trained aides help individuals achieve self-sufficiency within their limitations. They keep an eye out for changes in a person’s behavior, speech, walking, etc. Any oddity immediately gets communicated to the person’s medical care team.

There are several ways to contact us for further information:

Our online contact form

Phone: 717-545-2920

Email: info@ameribesthomecare.com

We look forward to hearing from you!