Senior In-Home Caregiving Myths
Senior care is a hard conversation to start. Our aging loved ones don’t want to admit sometimes that they can’t keep up with household maintenance, no longer have a need for a spacious home, and in some cases, that it just isn’t safe for them to be alone. Most Santa Clarita seniors base their fears of senior care upon myths and rumors they have heard about the deplorable state of senior care facilities. It’s time to shatter these myths and modify how senior care is viewed. Times have changed and Comfort Keepers strives to maintain the highest standards of safety, comfort and trust with our seniors and their families.
Myth #1: senior care is only for those in poor health
Senior home care in fact provides two different types of care:
- Home Health Care provided by licensed medical professionals: This service can include a range of medical and therapeutic services. Your senior can receive services such as post-operative rehabilitation, skilled assessments, occupational and speech therapy, wound care, mobility training, pain management or IV therapy/injections.
- Non-Medical Home Care: This service can aid your senior in everyday tasks like hygiene and household cleaning paired with companionship provided by professional caregivers. Non-medical home care often centers on the simple activities of daily living but they can also provide services like driving and running errands.
Myth #2: senior care is far too expensive
The cost of a private room in a nursing home is constantly rising. This can scare families away from researching costs of senior home care. In reality, home care is one of the most affordable options because of the flexibility of an hourly service. If your senior only requires a few hours of non-medical and companionship services like meal prep, light housekeeping, medication reminders and shopping, non-medical home care can be the perfect choice for you.
Myth #3: I have no say in choosing my caregivers
Be sure the company you choose hires only screened, trained, bonded and insured caregivers. The company should offer flexibility in setting up a schedule, credible companies will also offer back-up and replacement caregivers.
Myth #4: senior care erases my independence
The hardest part of convincing some seniors into home care is their fear of losing their freedom, when actually the opposite is true. A professional caregiver can serve as a second set of eyes and ears to help keep seniors safer at home without having to give it up. A caregiver also can transport seniors to special events or even just the grocery store, which can help get them out more than they were probably getting out before.
Myth #5: all senior care facilities are the same
Everyone has heard awful stories of nursing homes and abusive caregivers. We promise they are not all like that. Caregivers can be grouped into three different categories including:
- Agency Employee: Dependable agencies hire caregivers who are screened, trained, bonded and insured. The agency pays the caregivers and handles all taxes and other employment obligations such as worker’s compensation, liability coverage and performance issues.
- Independent Contractor (with a registry): An independent contractor with a registry is recruited, screened and referred to the senior by the registry. The senior becomes the employer and is responsible for all employment responsibilities such as hiring, scheduling, handling any performance issues, and paying federal and state payroll taxes. The senior assumes the risk as the employer. It’s unlikely these caregivers are receiving any support, training and continuing education.
- Independent Caregivers: Otherwise known as the “gray market,” they are in charge of marketing themselves. The consumer must accept the responsibility of conducting criminal and background checks. The senior becomes the employer and is responsible for hiring, scheduling, handling any performance issues, and paying federal and state payroll taxes. The independent contractor will also not be covered by workers’ compensation, liability and bond insurance.
Our goal at Comfort Keepers is to stay connected with you so that you know exactly how your loved one is doing. We aim to enhance the vitality and life of your senior, not inhibit it. This will allow us to change services if the needs of your loved one change. We are here to help you and your loved one. Peace of mind for you and independence for your loved one – that is what we provide. Call us today or visit our website to see all of the services that we can offer for you.
Comfort Keepers
23900 Lyons Avenue
Santa Clarita, CA 91321
661-287-4200
