If you’re beginning to consider your options for taking care of your loved ones full-time, encountering many unknown terminologies may be daunting. For example, most home care institutions offer respite care and personal care. How are those two different from each other?
Personal Care
There are many aspects to personal care. The supervision or support of ADLs (activities of daily living) is referred to as personal care for the elderly. The best people to provide personal care are licensed in-home care specialists because they are educated in assisting the elderly live healthy lifestyles.
These specialists can assist with the following:
Bathing and Hygiene
It might be challenging for many older adults to bathe independently. Home care professionals will only bathe your loved one if it is required if bathing has become difficult due to a handicap or sickness. The personal care staff, who also respect your loved one’s privacy, keep the water at a reasonable temperature.
When coming out of the tub or shower, they can assist minimize falls and slips and keep your loved one completely dry before getting them into new clothes. With this level of care, your loved one will feel secure and clean in their own home.
Grooming
Personal care is crucial at every stage of life, but it’s especially vital for elderly family members who live alone. Personal care services can assist with personal hygiene, grooming, shaving, and clothing, regardless of whether your loved one needs them for a handicap, illness, or simply monitoring and companionship.
We can make sure your loved one always looks decent, wears clean, appropriate attire, keeps their hair combed, has their teeth brushed, and more. Our personal care staff works to maintain your loved one’s positive attitude and improve their physical, mental, and emotional welfare.
Meal Preparation and Feeding
If required, personal care can include preparing healthy meals and feeding patients who can’t feed themselves. Our professionals can assist with grocery shopping, selecting all the necessary components for a full menu of wholesome meals, and cooking delectable meals to make eating exciting. They can make sure your loved one drinks enough fluids to stay healthy.
The objective is to maintain your loved one on a personalized eating plan that guarantees the best possible health and quality of life.
Mobility Assistance
Ambulation and transfer aid require specialized knowledge and abilities to protect your loved one’s safety and well-being. Personal care specialists take extra care when assisting with standing and walking by applying the fundamentals of body mechanics.
To reduce suffering and prevent injuries, specialists can employ specific techniques when lifting, holding, and transferring your loved one. These nurses can also accommodate patients who use a cane, walker, or crutches. They are also equipped to move your loved one utilizing a mechanical lift.
No matter where the transfer occurs, the top priority is the health and safety of your loved one.
Bathroom Assistance
All facets of toileting and incontinence care are areas of expertise for our personal care staff.
Your loved one may experience distress and shame from incontinence problems. Because of this, experts take particular care to ensure your loved one is relaxed and comfortable despite mishaps.
They help with all elements of using the restrooms and any necessary cleanup with patience and kindness. They can assist your loved one in developing a bathroom regimen that will minimize accidents while preserving cleanliness, good personal hygiene, and high levels of respect for themselves.
Other Facets of Personal Care
Aside from the aspects of personal care expounded above, personal care can also include:
- Transportation assistance (e.g., going to doctor appointments)
- Medication reminders
- Light housekeeping
Respite Care
Respite care can include the different aspects of personal care. However, respite care differs from personal care because it benefits more than just the patient. Respite care gives primary caregivers, often family members of the patient, much-needed rest.
Respite Care Prevents Caregiver Burnout
Caring for someone full-time takes its physical, mental, and emotional toll. That toll is commonly known in the caregiving field as caregiver burnout. Tiredness, worry, and depression are common symptoms of overworked caregivers.
Caring for a loved one doesn’t take long to become a full-time job. If you don’t get enough sleep, your health could deteriorate, and your loved one could not get the best care they deserve. An expert in respite care can relieve the burden off your shoulders while providing your loved one with the comprehensive care required for the highest level of well-being.
Do You Need Respite Care?
It is a joy to assist loved ones who can’t care for themselves. But, sooner or later, you will need to take a break. Without regular breaks, you will likely develop caregiver burnout.
Burnout in a caregiver has symptoms that are comparable to those of stress and depression. They consist of the following:
- Withdrawal from loved ones, including friends and family
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Feeling blue, irritated, powerless, and depressed
- Drastic changes in weight or appetite
- Sleeping habit changes
- Experiencing sickness often
- Physical and emotional weariness
- Irritability
You should not wait for caregiver burnout before getting respite care services. It’s best to get regular breaks from caregiving full-time to prevent the job from affecting your health and the health of your loved ones.
What Do Respite Care Professionals Do?
Respite care can help you around the house with things like cooking, bathing assistance, light housekeeping, medication reminders, fall prevention, and more. The service can take care of everything, including incontinence issues and getting your loved one to and from the doctor.
Our respite care aides will guarantee that your loved one has a tailored plan that meets all their requirements. They can handle all facets of personal management. Respite care allows full-time primary caregivers to pursue their interests, run errands, or take regular breaks without leaving their loved ones unattended.
Personal Care or Respite Care with Vitality Home Health
Personal care is a full-time responsibility. Respite care is a temporary service to help the primary caregiver fight caregiver burnout.
Do you need personal care or respite care services? Vitality Home Health has your back. Our home health aides have the skills and compassion to give your loved ones the care they deserve. For a free in-home consultation, contact Vitality Home Health at 703-260-8888 or info@vitalityhomehealth.com, or use our contact form to send us a message.
