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,

This letter is to thank you for all that you have done for my mother. Your company “Just Like Family” has demonstrated over and over that you are not “just a business” and that your staff were not just “doing their jobs.” Every person on your staff has truly cared for my mother’s wellbeing. The caregivers from Just Like Family were so pleasant and kind to her! It was such a blessing to me when I would walk unannounced into my mom’s home, and hear the lovely and cheerful manner in which your staff spoke to her.

You staff did much work above and beyond their “duties.” It was obvious to me that your staff was doing the “extra” things because they sincerely cared about my mother, about her quality of life, about her medical safety, and her emotional wellbeing. I would enter mom’s home to find your caregivers working hard to keep her home clean and tidy. I would notice they were doing extra tasks, such as helping my mother go through her clothing and determine what could be given to charity or kept. Sometimes I would find them clearing out some of the garbage, junk, and clutter in the home’s unused rooms and this was all a lot of hard work!

When my brother passed away, your caregivers were incredibly kind, compassionate, and helpful. Your company name “Just Like Family” was consistently reflected in their attitudes and actions during that terrible time. They were sad about his passing, and they were clearly even sadder for my mother, again, because they truly cared.

I want to send high praises to all of your caregivers and your office staff was always efficient, concerned, and professional. Your staff embodied the following characteristics: skillfulness in caregiving, sincerity, patience, knowledge of geriatric issues, respect, kindness, compassion, mindfulness, alertness, and caring. By the way, these were extended to the treatment of my brother. The words are not sufficient, but all of those who cared about my mother know what your staff did and we are grateful.

I will recommend your agency to anyone in need of skilled, professional in-home services that come with a bonus package of caring and integrity.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you.

Very Sincerely Yours,

RMU