Home Care Isn’t Just for Seniors
By Ian Busby
When the words ‘home care’ get used, the immediate image is a senior getting help maintaining their health and their home. While Home Care Assistance Calgary can tend to a senior’s needs with great attention, they can also provide the same services to a wide variety of people struggling to maintain a normal life due to illness or disease. They define ‘special needs’ as anyone who has difficulties in daily life activities, from basic self-care to social interactions, caused by a variety of health conditions from cancer, stroke, and ALS to some simpler things such as injury rehabilitation, sleep issues or behavioural problems.
“We stake our reputation on quality service for seniors, but we aren’t limited to just senior care,” —Home Care Assistance Calgary president Chuck Terlesky.
“There are many people who need the help that we can provide, and we don’t discriminate by age or circumstance in our clientele.”
Home Care Assistance has qualified caregivers that provide dependable help for people of all ages and conditions, and they can find someone who best suits the needs of the client. If that client suffers from multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease or a traumatic brain injury, it’s the client that can choose the most qualified caregiver to deal with the specific needs caused by the illness that affects them.
All Home Care Assistance caregivers are required to have at least two years of experience caring for individuals with chronic care needs or disabilities. Many of those caregivers have much more experience, so they’ve encountered a wide variety of special needs in the past. They also go through a comprehensive screening process with rigorous background checks and even a psychological exam developed to assess honesty and conscientiousness. The services that could be valuable for a special needs client include assistance with a physical fitness regimen, healthy eating, medication reminders and cognitive therapy. They can also assist in transportation, household tasks, light housekeeping and bathing and hygiene — many things that become difficult for someone with a physical impairment or cognitive decline.
In addition to personal care and basic needs, Home Care Assistance workers can also engage in a game of cards or help clients around their gardens — activities that can keep the mind engaged and improve overall healthy because of that stimulation.
The best part for a special needs client is the service is provided on a 24/7 basis, or a little as an hourly rate, depending on the volume of care required.
“We can tailor the care that best suits your needs, whatever time of day that may be,” Terlesky said. “And we will not hold your to our services unless you are 100% satisfied.”
Another service caregivers can provide is reporting to family members, which can put loved ones at ease. Caring for a special needs individual can put a strain on a family, but the services provided from Home Care Assistance Calgary can ease off the responsibilities of those close to the clients, which can great benefit everyone involved. The right caregiver is found through a three-step process. First there is an in-person assessment with a client care manager who will oversee the care plan. They will ask about specific needs, conditions, mobility issues and scheduling, but also inquire about ways to promote overall wellbeing including favourite meals, hobbies and activities.
Step two in the process is to ensure quality care over time, which means the client care manager will conduct regular quality assurance visits with the client. They believe there should be a strong interaction between the clients and the manager to ensure a meaningful long-term relationship is built.
The third step is a recommendation on the caregiver provided, one that is best suited to the care needs and personal preferences. Home Care Assistance Calgary works to have that caregiver available for the client’s needs, ensuring familiarity and consistency, two qualities crucial to quality care. “When a disruption in service is anticipated, the care team notifies the client as soon as possible, and we work diligently to replace your caregiver with another highly qualified person,” Terlesky said. “Our caregivers are human too but we try out best to have consistency so that the client’s needs are met.”
To get more information about Home Care Assistance Calgary’s services, call
403-301-3777
or visit their website at homecareassistancecalgary.ca