Navigating the maze of Home Care

How do you decide who cares for you or your loved ones?
Where do you turn to for information? Who do I ask?
How do you know if you will be receiving a professional and compassionate service?
I don't want to go into a nursing home, is there an alternative?

A large proportion of our enquiries are from clients or families that are confused about the home care system. Choosing your home care provider is important and making sure the company providing the care is professional, compassionate and trustworthy is essential for peace of mind.

As part of Home Instead's 'Home Care Solutions' guide we have formulated 18 crucial questions to ask a home care service provider when making your decision:

1. Do you employ your own carers?
2. How have your carers been trained?
3. By whom and what is the extent of their training?
4. Does the CAREGiver training include Dementia and Alzheimer's Training?
5. Is there continuous education of the CAREGivers?
6. How do you screen carers prior to employment (i.e. reference checks, criminal background checks etc.)?
7. Do you provide insurance for each carer?
8. Do you visit the client at home to set up services?
9. Can I choose the time and day the carer will visit?
10. Will I get the same carer visiting each time?
11. Can you guarantee back-up or replacement carers?
12. Can I change carer if they are not compatible?
13. Do I have to decide what services will provide in advance or can I decide at the time of the visit?
14. Can I contact you 24/7? Will the phone be answered for immediate action?
15. Do you provide services in the evenings, weekends and overnight?
16. Do you have a recognised quality assurance program?
17. Do you manage the client's care needs and will you identify and coordinate additional services if required?
18. Do you communicate with family to keep them informed?

This list of questions sorts the sheep from the goats! The key is that you and your loved one should have CHOICE. The service should be flexible, client centered and professional. 

You don't want just anybody turning up to your house or your parents house to assist them, you want to make sure that the ladies and men helping you or your family are dedicated, well trained and responsible.

For more information on 'Home Care Solutions' please click on the link below:

http://homeinstead.com.au/guide-care-solutions-older-persons.html

Loneliness and Isolation

Social isolation and loneliness is a growing concern with older people. In a recent study, researchers found that loneliness can be twice as unhealthy as obesity in people aged over 50.(see: http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/feb/16/loneliness-twice-as-unhealthy-as-obesity-older-people)

Further research identifies that loneliness puts individuals at greater risk of cognitive decline, making individuals more prone to depression and can have a significant impact on mortality. (see: http://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/threat-to-health/)

Companionship and social interaction is vital for seniors in retaining their cognitive abilities and physical health. Yet, some seniors are worried about how they will get to a social event, how they will manage whilst there, and sometimes the comfort and safety of their home lures them to stay. Loss of mobility, lower income, and sensory loss are all social isolation risk factors.

Physical isolation can be an issue, as many retirees decide to relocate to more remote areas (the South Coast or the Southern Highlands) and inadvertently disconnect themselves from their previous lives or families. Whilst this might not be an issue in early retirement it can lend itself to social isolation in later years. Many older people feel they have too much reliance on family members to 'get out and about' because of poor public transport options.

Many older people lose confidence in their ability to participate in daily activities. Families can be one driving force to encourage social interaction and activity but most family CAREGivers have their own lives, busy jobs and family life to consider.

Home Instead CAREGivers are trained to spot these concerns and report back to the office where we are them able to identify beneficial activities, social outings and community events that would be suitable to each individual client. Our CAREGivers are able to assist each client with a range of activites:

Companionship & Conversation (reminiscing about the past, discussing upcoming events, past events or family history)

Crafts, games, cards

Aid with reading

Family scrapbooking

Plan visits, outings and trips (visit neighbours, friends or family, attend appointments, go shopping)

Aid with writing letters or email correspondence

Attend community events

Provide transport to/from special events e.g. weddings, birthdays, christenings etc.

As a community we need to appreciate and celebrate our elder generation and encourage activity to ensure that those that have cared for us are also looked after.

If you're worried about mum or dad, and you think that they might be feeling depressed or anxious, remember you are not alone, nor is your mum and dad.
There are supportive services available and we can help you find them.

Still Alice Fundraiser Event

Su and I embarked on a mission in January to get the film 'Still Alice' to the Illawarra. It was a difficult task which involved us having to get permission from the production company to show it. Once we overcame that hurdle, we then had to worry about filling all the seats! We decided to make it a free event and funded the event ourselves just to make sure we had attendees...we needn't have worried!

What a fantastic turnout we had on Monday 16th February! Close to 200 people came to see the film and listen to our Q&A/Forum afterwards.
It was an opportunity for Su and I to:

a) bring the film to Wollongong and showcase the struggles of Younger Onset Dementia
b) to raise awareness! Every 6 minutes in Australia someone is diagnosed with Dementia and the number of people with Dementia is expected to grow to 900,000 by 2050
c) to raise funds for locals living in the Illawarra that are experiencing Dementia.

We have had some extremely positive feedback about 'Still Alice' and I urge everyone to go and see the film in Sydney (I believe it's showing at the Dendy) or buy the DVD when it comes out. It's realistic, emotional, heartbreaking, and demonstrates the different stages of grief, coping and struggles that families encounter after a Dementia diagnosis. It's certainly not an easy film to watch but it is powerful and rewarding.

The sense of community support following the film gave me a real buzz and I hope that those in the audience that are currently supporting or caring for loved ones with Dementia felt that support around them.


A BIG thank you to all those that purchased raffle tickets on the evening! As a result we were able to raise $705.00 to donate to Alzheimer's Australia and earmark it for the Illawarra region. It's fantastic to be able to support local families.


Thank you to those businesses that donated to our raffle and made it such a success: MBL Consultancy, Priceline Shellharbour, Niche Hair & Beauty, Ella Bache Wollongong, Lagoon Seafood Restaurant, Hoyt's Warrawong and Alzheimer's Australia.

Those that saw Sandra Kay and Mary Bills from Alzheimer's Australia NSW speak at the Q&A can attest to their knowledge and expertise in this area. It was a wonderful opportunity to ask questions, make comments and be amongst industry professionals to discuss Younger Onset Dementia. Thank you to Sandra and Mary for agreeing to be part of our evening.

Thank you to our CAREGivers that volunteered on the evening. Despite the fact that all of our CAREGivers had been caring for their clients throughout the day, they made the effort to assist us on the evening for several hours to support this cause. Our CAREGivers have such an important role - to provide care and support in the community and many have clients with Dementia. Like family caregivers, they see the realities of Dementia and exercise their skills and Dementia specific training on a daily basis. They are the heartbeat of our company and we couldn't be prouder of them and the work they do. Thank you for taking your own time to support Home Instead and Alzheimer's Australia!

Su Middleton & Harriet Cox

When Seniors Say No...

In our role as a solution provider, we often come across families that are struggling to convince their elderly family member's to accept help. We find that the families are worried about the health and safety of their loved ones yet feel like they are hitting a brick wall of resistance.

Why do Seniors refuse assistance?

"I don't want to make a fuss!"

They have spent their lives caring for their children and Seniors still want to maintain that role, as opposed to the roles reversing and their children caring for them. It feels unnatural for some Seniors to have this attention and they would much rather be left alone. They have spent their entire lives making decisions for their family and for some Seniors it can feel like they are losing control of their decision making power. It can be a frightening time for Seniors as some believe that if they accept care, they are accepting the fact that they are struggling with everyday tasks and it's a slippery slope to residential care.

"I don't need any more help, my daughter can do it!"

A Home Instead Senior Care survey found that 71% of carers in Australia had no outside help, despite 31% admitting that they would like more help. By seeking outside help, it may actually relieve the pressures on family members and alleviate the burden. With busy lives and busy schedules, it is sometimes impossible for adult children to take on the role of primary CAREGiver. There is an underlying expectation that children will assist parents with shopping, cleaning, personal care and transport. Whilst it is ideal, some families nowadays sometimes struggle to manage the demands of work obligations, their children's busy lives and their own domestic tasks and simply are unable to add anything else to their workload.

"I don't want somebody in my home"

To some seniors the thought of having a stranger care for them in their home is daunting. Some Seniors fear the loss of privacy or dignity. Again, another concern for many Seniors is loss of control - they might think that they won't have a choice over the day or time the CAREGiver comes or what type of services they provide. 

How to deal with resistance:

1. Understand where the resistance is coming from. Talk to your loved one about the reasons why they are resisting help.
2. Explain your goals. Remind your loved one that you both want the same thing. Explain that a little extra help can enable them to remain independent and living at home longer.
3. Bring in outside help. A third-party professional can assist the conversation with valuable input and a third party may help your loved one to see things from your point of view.
4. Research your options. By researching your options you are presenting your loved one with confident professional choices of in-home care and they can be reassured you have done your homework and they will be looked after.
5. Respect their decision. If your loved one is of sound then he/she should have the final say so make sure you involve them in their care planning. This will help your loved one dispel the feeling that they are not in control.

How can a CARE Consult help?

Home Instead Senior Care can be the professional voice and reason when discussing resistance to assistance. Sometimes just putting a "face to the business" will alleviate concerns in Seniors. By meeting with us it enables Seniors to ask any burning questions they have, discuss their preferences and needs and formulate a plan of action. 

Our CARE Consults are free of charge and completely no-obligation. They can be arranged after hours if this is more convenient for your family and usually take place in the Senior's home. It is a chance for us to get to know the family and our client so that we can successfully match a CAREGiver to he/she, tailor our services to best suit them and talk about their past and present life to get a better sense of their likes/dislikes.

Tips on having "The Conversation"

1. The first step is to start having "The Conversation". It is usually best to limit the number of people present. Often a loved one can feel "ganged up on" and "bullied" into decisions so it's best that the environment be as calm and relaxed as possible.
2. Talk to your loved one about what they are finding a little difficult so that you know what kind of services they might need. Also, talk to them about what activities they are missing out on. The companionship services that enrich lives are just as important as the necessary services like personal care and household cleaning.
3. Ask them what person they might want if they did have a CAREGiver coming in to assist them. Putting your loved one's mind at ease is really important, and explaining that this man/woman coming in to assist them is matched to their requests and therefore can become a companion might ease their tension.
4. Explain why you are concerned. Some Seniors might not realise that their actions are impacting others or that their family is worried about their safety and wellbeing. By discussing your concerns and your loved ones reservations it will encourage empathy and understanding by each party.

Download our free resource When Seniors Say No:

http://homeinstead.com.au/documents/WhenSeniorsF1.pdf

If you need any assistance or you would like to organise a CARE Consultation, please do not hesitate to contact us on (02) 4295 6829.

Hospital to Home Safely Package

Last year, we were speaking with a local hospital about some of their difficulties in discharging patients. Instantly a patient came to mind - a lady that had been in hospital for over 3 months, her son lived in Victoria and she needed to be taken from hospital and moved from one residential facility to another. As you can imagine, this was an incredibly difficult time for this lady and it was quite frustrating for the family who were trying to organise the logistics of a local Wollongong discharge and relocation from Victoria!

Home Instead Senior Care stepped in and were able to spend a few hours with this lady, taking her from hospital to her previous place of residence to pick up some personal and treasured items that she could take with her to her new home. Our CAREGiver spent some time with the client settling her into her new home, putting away her clothes and making her a cup of tea. We made sure she was comfortable before we left which was a huge comfort to the family.

For some family carers, it is difficult to take time off work to pick up mum/dad from the hospital. Or perhaps, you are a casual employee and it is an expensive exercise for you to take the time off? Perhaps your loved one doesn't want to hassle you? Home Instead's assistance with transport and discharge from hospital might even be essential if you are not local to the Wollongong area.

Introducing our Hospital to Home Safely Package

Returning home from hospital is a critical turning point in one's recovery process. Issues can occur such as:

• mistakes/missed medications
• missed follow-up doctor appointments
• poor nutrition
• dehydration
• lack of safety preparation in the home

Home Instead CAREGiver's can assist to minimise the risk of hospital re-admissions and reduce stress by transitioning someone to full recovery. Our CAREGiver's can provide assistance with tasks such as:

• Discharge coordination
• Transport
• Medication management
• Nutrition management
• Personal care
• Meal preparation
• Housekeeping
• Grocery shopping
• Laundry & Linen

$125 Hospital to Home Safely Package includes:

• Pick up & escort from hospital
• Prescription collection
• Grocery shopping assistance
• Transport home
• Light house cleaning
• Bed linen change
• Meal preparation
• Companionship

NO LOCK IN CONTRACTS, NO COMMITMENTS AND NO HIDDEN FEES.

Price includes 3 hours of service (including GST). First 10 kilometres of transport included.

Why Blog?

The majority of phone calls and inquiries we take at Home Instead Senior Care are from family members that are struggling to navigate the home care system. There are countless options, organisations and resources available and it can be overwhelming and frustrating!

Our goal at Home Instead is to provide our clients with the information to successfully navigate the home care system and to give tailored solutions to meet their needs. We hope that our blog will provide the same service.

By providing topical information and guides, families can then make informed decisions to enable ageing adults and loves ones to remain active, independent and to ensure they are leading a full and interesting life.