Preparing seniors for home care in Seattle

Many people want it, while some don’t think of it as an option. The more prepared among us have made plans with their families long before it became a topic.   

In-home care has become the way of the future. As aging-in-place becomes easier with technology, more seniors can safely live without having to step foot in a nursing home. 

To ensure the best outcome for you or your loved one, it’s important to get the home and the family ready for home care assistance to make the transition as smooth as possible. 

Have the talk

The earlier you start discussing hiring a caregiver with your loved one, the better. It makes the transition smoother and helps guarantee your loved one is getting the care they deserve. It can also save you from having to make hasty decisions. 

Determining expectations with the person who will be receiving care can help set boundaries. These could range from not allowing shoes inside the house to what the person wants to do on their own, like dress themselves. 

Share any religious practices that the caregiver should know about, since this can impact food shopping.  

It’s also important for the caregiver to feel welcome so they can do their job well. If you outline what type of relationship you or your loved one are looking for in a caregiver, then they can better meet those expectations. 

Organize the home  

Organizing the home for a caregiver could either be one of the easier aspects of preparing for home care, or one of the most stressful depending on the state of the home. If it’s the latter situation, there are plenty of online resources dedicated to home organization, such as the Decluttering School.

Or, you can simply focus on the areas of the house the caregiver will be frequenting, and organize those first. 

This can include: 

• Making toiletries, towels, and other needed household supplies accessible around the house. 
• Getting medications in order and stationing them in one area of the house. 
• Make it as easy as possible for the caregiver to help with home care tasks, such as the ones SeaCare provides. Meal preparation, help with mail service and help with communication are just some of these. (In this case, put the mailbox key in an easy to find place.)
• Put rain boots by the door, along with rain jackets and other necessary gear for the changing seasons in the Seattle area. Then it’s easier for your loved one and their caregiver to get fresh air. 
• Arranging PPE, such as gloves and masks by the front door helps make sure you won’t forget it. 

Figure out finances

The earlier you and your family start planning for home care assistance in the Seattle area or elsewhere, the better. One of the most stressful parts of this can be figuring out finances. 

Since Medicare doesn’t cover many home health care services, it’s important to know what you can afford and what insurance will pay for. It’s better to find out now than when you're crunched for time later.  

Keep in mind that respite care is an option. This type of care can give your family a break from full-time caregiving, even if it’s just a handful of hours a week. 

Make the home safe 

Communicate with your caregiver about how to keep trips hazards out of the way, which can include cords, pets and different floor materials. 

In the wet Pacific Northwest, it can be a slippery entry way that needs safety-proofing. A SeaCare specialist can also assist with this during the home visit assessment to see what updating the home might need depending on the level of care required. 

If you think your home or the home of your loved one might require a safety remodel, you can hire a certified aging-in-place specialist that can work with an occupational therapist. Together, they can come up with a home modification plan or the specialist can work with a contractor to do any necessary remodeling, however minor.

Make a home care schedule 

Depending on what type of home care you hire a professional for, you might need to spread out caregiving tasks. 

Maybe someone in your family likes running errands, and can bring your loved one along to cross things off the list. Someone else might enjoy cooking for others, and can make a weekly dinner date with your senior. 

You can sit down together and see what daily tasks you or your loved one needs help with. These might involve light housekeeping duties or help with pet care. Over time, you might find that the person needs more regular versus more intermittent care. 

Avoiding caregiver burnout is just as important as finding the right type of care. If you’re not taking care of yourself, then you can’t sustainably care for anyone else. 

Relax, your in good hands 

If you choose to go with a professional home care agency in the Seattle area such as SeaCare, then you made a good choice. SeaCare ensures your loved one gets personalized care and that they’re living their best lives. 

Unlike some franchise agencies, SeaCare’s owner is often the one answering calls and making sure caregivers and the family are working together to provide care. 

Give us a call today to find out more about how to get the home and your family ready for home care.