24-Hour Home Care
Harmony Companion Home Care has been committed for almost a decade to serving and improving the lives of seniors, disabled, intellectual disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder individuals, and our Veterans through the Counties of Bucks, Berks, Chester, Delaware Lancaster, Montgomery, and Philadelphia. Our services share a common goal to improve and uphold the quality of life of your loved ones. We service anyone needing in-home care, from the elderly to mother’s helpers.
We believe that it is living that is important, not just being alive. Our goal is to help people live their lives as independently as possible by providing the extra help necessary to achieve that goal.
Does your loved one need around-the-clock care? That doesn’t mean you’re forced to put them in a nursing home. In fact, 24-hour home care is an excellent option to help your loved one age in place.
What is 24-hour at-home care? What does a 24-hour caregiver do? How much does senior home care cost? Is it covered by Medicare? Do overnight caregivers sleep? How do you choose the right 24-hour home care company?
Let’s take a look at the basics of 24/7 home care services.
What Is 24-Hour Care at Home?
24-hour in-home care involves around-the-clock assistance with activities of daily living such as toileting, bathing, grooming, eating, and more. There are two different types of 24-hour home care:
- Live-in caregivers stay in the home night and day and are given an 8-hour break to sleep.
- 24-hour care involves two or more caregivers rotating shifts so somebody is always awake to help your loved one.
What Services Are Included With 24-Hour at-Home Care?
24-hour in-home care services for seniors may include:
- Dressing, bathing, and grooming assistance
- Toileting and incontinence care
- Mobility assistance
- Medication reminders
- Safety and fall prevention
- Meal planning and preparation
- Laundry
- Light housekeeping
- Grocery shopping, prescription pickup, and other errands
- Transportation to social activities or doctor appointments
- Companionship
Don’t underestimate the importance of companionship. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [1]:
“Loneliness and social isolation in older adults are serious public health risks affecting a significant number of people in the United States and putting them at risk for dementia and other serious medical conditions.”
Read the kind words from previous clients. Our testimonials and reviews help families discover how dedicated we are to customer satisfaction.
Learn how Harmony Companion Home Care will make a difference in the life of a senior you love. Read our mission, and the process we use to provide the best service possible.
Providing exceptional 24-Hour Home Care for seniors and families in Chester County, Delaware County areas including; West Chester, Exton, Downingtown, Chester Springs, Malvern, Paoli, Media, and Villanova, PA.
What is the Difference Between Hourly Home Care and Live-In Home Care?
Live-in Home Care
When you think about 24-hour at-home care, you may think that involves having somebody live with your loved one, and that can be the case. With live-in home care, you have one caregiver in the home all day and night for 4 or 5 days a week, and a second caregiver in the home the other 2 to 3 days a week.
The benefits of live-in home care are that it is cheaper than hourly home care and your loved one gets to know two caretakers extremely well. For some elderly people, especially those with Alzheimer’s or dementia, having familiar faces can help them feel more comfortable.
One potential downside is that live-in caregivers must receive 8 hours off every night to sleep and may have several hours of time off during the day.
Hourly Home Care
If your loved one requires a caretaker who is always awake any time of day, hourly home care may be a better option. With hourly home care, your loved one will have multiple caregivers rotating in and out of the house every 8 to 12 hours. Potential downsides include the higher cost and the fact that your loved one will see more faces and need to get to know more caregivers.
Can Hourly Home Care Also Be 24-Hour Home Care?
How Much Does Senior Home Care Cost?
Does Medicare Cover 24-Hour Home Care?
Looking for in-home care in the Malvern, PA area? Learn more about our non-medical home care options including companionship, safety, meal preparation, and more.
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How Do You Know When a Parent Needs 24-Hour Care?
The easy answer is that you should trust your gut. If you worry that your loved one requires 24-hour care, you are probably right. Here are some specific things you can look for to know when it’s time to consider 24-hour at-home care for your parent:
- Repeated accidents. Your loved one may need to be monitored more closely if they repeatedly stumble, fall, or even have close calls.
- Physical care requirements change. If you can no longer meet the physical requirements of your caregiving duties, you should consider bringing in 24-hour care rather than risking your own health and safety to care for your parent.
- Your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. If they are at risk of wandering off, leaving a stove turned on, or are experiencing “sundowning,” they may need more care than you can provide alone.
- You experience caregiver burnout. Caring for a loved one can be physically and emotionally draining. Whether you need a short break or full-time help, caregiver burnout is an extremely valid reason to bring in 24-hour home care for your parent.
24-hour in-home care involves around-the-clock assistance with activities of daily living such as toileting, bathing, grooming, eating, and more.
Do Overnight Caregivers Sleep?
How Do You Choose the Right 24-Hour Caregivers?
Here are some questions you can ask to find the right home-care agency for your loved one [4]:
- How do you provide seniors with high-quality care?
- What type of employee screening do you do?
How do you train and monitor caregivers? - Do you provide any financial assistance?
- How do you handle billing and expenses?
- Will the agency work directly with you, your loved one, and health care providers?
- How are problems addressed and resolved?
- What procedures are in place for emergencies?
- When can services begin?
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions, https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/lonely-older-adults.html
- Genworth, Cost of Care Survey, https://www.genworth.com/aging-and-you/finances/cost-of-care.html
- Medicare, Home Health Services, https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services
- Mayo Clinic, Healthy Aging, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/home-care-services/art-20044609
