You are seeing the signs that your loved one needs help with their daily functioning. They do not want to go into a “home” or another facility because it seems so cold. The good news is that there are options that will keep them safely in their beloved house. So, what home care assistance is available in Harrisburg, PA?
In truth, what type of services you’ll receive depends heavily on the circumstances. However, home caregiving focuses on four key areas:
- Personal Care: This covers cleaning, laundry, dishes, food preparation, hygiene, and medication monitoring, among other things.
- Supervised Activities: It’s important to get out of the house. A trained aide can transport an individual to community activities regularly, even those with dementia or functional impairments.
- Personalized Case Management: At AmeriBest in Harrisburg, PA, we pride ourselves on creating specialized care plans perfectly suited to your loved one’s situation.
- Companionship: An aide becomes a lifeline for socialization. Studies show that such interaction deters depression and anxiety.
Other assists include skilled nursing, speech therapy, and physical therapy. An agency can offer you options on how to make the home space safer and easier to navigate. They can also assist with obtaining medical equipment and supplies when you’re struggling to find them. In short, home care assistance in Harrisburg, PA, provides support to vulnerable individuals while maintaining their dignity and sense of independence.
Choosing a Home Care Agency
As you might imagine, the approach and culture of one agency can be vastly different than another. How do you choose? One of the most important things you should know is that the Department of Health in PA licenses caregiving agencies. This department oversees an agency’s standards and surveys them regularly. An agency must adhere to regulations.
When you start your search, we recommend having a list of questions ready to ask each potential agency. Start with their certification and accreditations. These aren’t an end-all and be-all, but it’s a beginning.
Move on to their hiring and training practices. The best agencies look for a specific “type” of individual as staff, one with compassion, patience, attentiveness, and strong ethics. The agency must require background checks by PA State law. After hiring, do the aids receive more training, and if so, what type? At AmeriBest we know it’s important to keep our staff abreast of best practices as they emerge in the health care industry.
From a pragmatic point of view, what does the agency do when your aide calls off? How soon can they have a replacement available? Can the agency handle your loved one’s unique requirements, if applicable?
Last, collect references and follow up on them. You’d be surprised at how many people take a professional services company at its word. Get feedback from others and from the Better Business Bureau so you’re not caught by an unpleasant surprise.
What Can You Expect from AmeriBest Home Care Harrisburg, PA?
When our agency works with you, we pride ourselves on being knowledgeable and individualized. There are no “cookie-cutter” solutions to home care here. Your situation is different from anyone else’s in family dynamics alone.
We focus on getting to know you and your loved one, as well as getting input from their wellness team. You can contact us online, call 717-545-2920 or 1800-HOMECARE, or email info@ameribest.org with any questions or get further information.