When To Consider

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According to AARP, 9 out of 10 Americans want to grow old at home and keep living in their communities as long as possible, known as Aging in Place. With the desire to stay at home being so common, many people may wonder when it is time to take the next step and request assistance in the home. There are several common indicators that now may be the time to set-up in home health care services. Some of these indicators are:

Frequent falls
Changes in medications
When assistance with walking and/or ambulating is required
Multiple visits to the emergency room
Recent hospital admission
A recent or scheduled surgery
Unintentional weight loss
Difficulty managing medications
Poorly controlled pain
Assistance required to leave the home due to a medical condition
Social withdrawal
Daily care of wounds or administering of treatments
An advanced neurological disease
Limits on physical mobility due to a stroke or general weakness
Chronic illness with periods of instability
Primary caregiver experiencing caregiver fatigue

Keep in mind that this is a very short list and that it should in no way deter you from requesting information about home health care if you feel that it is right for you. Each person who contacts a home health care agency has a unique situation and a reputable agency will take the time to look over your situation and make recommendations based on your needs.

Dear Just Like Family,

When we were notified that we were approved to have a caregiver for my mother during her chemotherapy treatment, I had no idea what to expect. I hoped and prayed for someone who would be dependable and kind to my mother. My hopes and prayers were not only answered, but exceeded beyond anything I could have hoped for!

I can’t express my gratitude enough for everything that the aide did for my mother. It was easy to tell that it was more than just a job for her. Her kindness and strength, along with her charm and wit, won my mother over immediately, even though she had been resistant to the idea of having a “stranger” in her house. The aide quickly proved to be not only a friend, but truly a member of our family as well. Her devotion to, and concern for, my mother was boundless. I never had to worry about my mother’s physical or emotional well-being while I was at work.

I will never forget how grief-stricken the aide was when we had to take my mother to the hospital. When mom was sent home to live with my husband, son, and I under hospice visits, the aide was right there to pick up where she left off — showering my mom with not only care, but loving concern as well. I used to tease the aide that some mornings my mom seemed more excited to see her than me!

When we lost my sweet, brave mother, the aide was one of the first people we notified. On the evening of my mother’s memorial service, I looked up and there the aide was coming to see our family and give her condolences.

I will never forget the love and care that Kay gave to my mother during the last and most difficult months of her life. She was truly “just like family” and I can honestly say that my husband and I truly miss her! What a wonderful asset she is to your organization. If any of my friends or relatives are ever in need of a similar service, I would recommend “Just Like Family” in a heartbeat.

Thank you so much for providing this service, and thank you so much for the wonderful aide you assigned to my mother. She was truly mother’s guardian angel!

Sincerely,

LF