It is no secret that people are aging, the need for help is growing, and the home care industry is unprepared to respond adequately to families’ challenges. The complexity of medical problems, family stress, and navigating healthcare systems all prevent the kind of compassionate and experienced care required to improve health.
In Canada, almost one-quarter of women (23%) provided unpaid care to adults with long-term conditions or disabilities. More than five million Canadians provide care to family members or friends with chronic health conditions, disabilities, or age-related decline.
Better Way Home Care views all these problems as solvable with the right tools, staff, and a commitment to providing excellent service and care. Home care can be the foundation of support that makes a difference in families’ lives, but well beyond that is our dedication to going beyond traditional home care, and we will tell you how.
Home care refers to services provided in the home for an individual who needs assistance due to general decline, an accident, or illness. Unless a home care worker is licensed to provide medical care, most home care is considered “companionship” care. Home care is private pay. The types of duties a home care companion worker can provide are:
Many families choose to provide hands-on care themselves. However, the sacrifices may outweigh the benefit of having some or all the care provided by professional care staff. Here are some of the benefits of home care.
Allows someone to remain at home
Most older adults state they want to age at home. Remaining at home is possible but only with qualified and trained care staff to promote recovery and ensure safety.
Flexible and customized care
We tailor home care plans to meet the clients’ and families’ unique and flexible needs and preferences. Our tier system of care ensures continuity of care.
You can keep your employment
Reducing or leaving employment has significant consequences, including not just loss of income but reduced retirement savings and challenges returning to the job market.
You reduce stress and caregiver burnout
Caregiver stress can have serious implications for your physical and mental health. Caregiver stress can lead to depression and anxiety, isolation, disturbed sleep, substance use disorder, and declining health.
You can be a family member, not a caregiver
Caring for a family member has rewards, and you can continue to do so in ways that honor your commitment to someone you care about. However, having help also allows you to be a family member, preserving the integrity of your relationship.
You have the advantage of skilled care
Family caregivers often find that the needs of a loved one can exceed their skill level. Transferring, bathing safely, and medication management are just a few tasks family caregivers provide. On a higher level, families are often expected to provide catheter care, injections, and wound care, which can be overwhelming, stressful, and unsafe.
People rarely need just companion care. When someone declines, whether it is related to a medical issue, surgery, general decline, or dementia, the complexity of needs goes beyond companion care. We provide wrap-around services that cover virtually all healthcare needs, and we do so with exceptionally skilled staff. Here is how we are different:
Ultimately, two decision-making forces usually guide families in choosing home care. One is the cost of care, and the other is the belief that family should care for a loved one. The cost of care can be a legitimate concern for families, but the emotional, financial, and physical consequences of providing that care can be significant.
Families should and can assist with caregiving in ways that contribute to well-being and satisfaction for everyone. Using home care does not prevent care from family but can enhance it by providing a foundation of support, improved communication, and access to community and healthcare resources.