24-Hour Care

Someone who provides 24-hour care must be aware of their client’s physical needs. It is also just as, if not more, important, to understand the emotional needs of a client and his or her family, friends and/or partner. Great caregivers go beyond the basics. Always consider what is necessary for the client to get better emotionally and physically before you hire someone to come into the home. This will ensure everyone will benefit not only short term but for the long haul.

Sometimes, we need help for us or for the ones we care about. This is certainly true for the elderly. For those who want to stay in their home as long as possible, home care is the ideal answer. It is the perfect solution to help the elderly and temporarily infirm do more than just cope with life.

Yet, what if care is needed for more than just the day or the night? What if you or someone you care about requires 24-hour care? This type of service may be essential after surgery, a long hospital stay, an accident, an illness or if a family member, partner, or friend is leaving for an extended period of time. When considering care for yourself or a loved one, make sure the care provider has flexibility in the nature of their services.

Flexibility

Good home care offers a flexible schedule for its clients. It lets them choose the type of care they need. In some cases, it may be only during the day for an hour or two; at other times, care may need to be during the night time hours. In some cases, 24-hour care service is the only answer.

Knowing someone is available to help 24-hours a day, is one means of ensuring a sense of comfort and safety. This is applicable both to the client and the family, partner or friend caregiver. They all know a professional will take good care of the elderly client.

Personal or Custodial Care

One aspect of home care should always be personal care. In a 24-hour care service, this should include everything from helping someone with a shower or bath in the morning to helping you get ready at bed time. A full-service personal care provider will include the following as a basic part of their prescription for daily personal care:

• Bathing or showering – could include a bed bath
• Personal hygiene – teeth, nails, hair
• Preparing meals from breakfast to lunch, dinner/supper and snacks. This includes any special meals or diets prescribed
• Feeding the patient or helping them eat if they currently have difficulties
• Helping them to the toilet and/or changing a colostomy bag

Other Positive Aspects of 24-Hour Care

Yet, a good care provider goes beyond the basics. They will be more than there to remind clients to take their medicine. They can do more than go shopping, do the washing up or house cleaning. Great care providers will help the client move towards independence whenever possible. They are also there to provide what everybody needs at times – someone who will talk to them and, more importantly listen to what they are saying.