Frequently Asked Questions About Our Home Care Assistants and Senior Care Services in Greater Kalispell, MT
Figure out the answers to our home care solutions in Kalispell, Polson, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, and surrounding areas
What is in-home senior care and how does it differ from home healthcare?
At its core, in-home senior care refers to all care (medical or non-medical) provided for the client in their home. In recent years, however, there has been a slight shift in terminology. While care can be used to describe both medical and non-medical care, typically "in-home senior care" refers to non-medical care such as companionship/homemaking services and personal care services, while "home healthcare" refers to the provision of skilled nursing care and other care such as speech, physical or occupational therapy.
What services does Comfort Keepers provide?
Comfort Keepers provides companionship care services such as meal preparation, laundry, light housekeeping, grocery shopping/errands, incidental transportation, medication reminders, grooming, live-in service and respite care. We also provide a wide range of personal care services. For example bathing, grooming, hygiene, mobility assistance, transferring/positioning, toileting/incontinence, and feeding/special diet assistance. Some offices provide Dementia/Alzheimer’s care and in-home safety technology solutions. Services vary by state and office.
How do you select Comfort Keepers?
Each home care assistant–special people we call Comfort Keepers– is an employee who is carefully screened and trained before caring for a client. Each must undergo a rigorous process including national and local criminal background checks, DMV, and personal and professional reference checks. All Comfort Keepers are bonded, insured, and covered by Workers’ Compensation insurance for our clients’ peace-of-mind. We strive to hire the very best home care assistants to become Comfort Keepers because we only hire people we would want caring for a member of our own family.
How much does care cost?
Each Comfort Keepers office is independently owned and operated. We encourage you to contact your local office directly for a complete list of products and services available, as well as the rates for your area.
Are services available 24 hours, 7 days a week?
Yes. Services are available for as little as a few hours a visit up to 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Can you provide services on short notice?
Yes. We understand that situations can arise where one needs services in a hurry. We can provide services on an as-needed basis.
Do you provide services to those in nursing homes or assisted living communities?
Yes. Comfort Keepers can provide companionship or personal care to residents at assisted living communities and nursing homes who may desire additional attention or personalized care.
Is there a written plan of care for each client? Do these plans get modified and if so, how often?
The local Comfort Keepers office develops an individualized and completely confidential Plan of Care for each client. The purpose is to document the type of care services needed and when the client would like to initiate care. Once the client, and family members, and local office agrees on the Plan of Care, the office staff will use that information to recommend the Comfort Keeper who will be delivering the service, establish the schedule and agree to the monitoring and communication.
We review Plans of Care with the client and family at least every six months, but reviews may be more frequent based on state regulations. The review is an important process to ensure the client is receiving an appropriate level of care and is pleased with the Comfort Keeper providing the care.
Will I have the same Home Care Assistant all the time? How will I meet my Comfort Keeper?
During the initial conversation and the in-home visit, the Client Care Coordinator will document the care services required and the client's preferences for a Comfort Keeper match. The Client Care Coordinator then selects the best fit for the client and arranges an introduction between the client, Comfort Keeper, and Coordinator to introduce this new team. During that meeting, everyone reviews the Plan of Care to ensure agreement and understanding of the services to be provided.
What if my Comfort Keeper is sick or on vacation?
Each Comfort Keepers office employs a team of home care assistants to ensure there is no interruption to your care if someone is sick or on vacation. If your Comfort Keeper is unavailable, the Client Care Coordinator will arrange another home care assistant and will contact you in advance of the change. The Client Care Coordinator will also introduce the interim home care assistant and review your Plan of Care with them prior to service. Our goal is to ensure that services are provided as expected. Your safety and security are top priorities.
What are ADLs and IADLs?
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) describe basic tasks essential for day-to-day functioning. These include tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, mobility, and toileting. Many seniors who require help with such activities are largely independent but may require help with one or two ADLs. In some cases, intermittent help from a family member or friend may be sufficient. However, at times when family or friends are unavailable and scheduling these activities is critical, informal arrangements may not suffice. This is where a home care assistant can make a life-changing difference.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are those activities that are less basic than traditional ADLs. IADLs, nevertheless, are important in enhancing a client’s quality of life. IADLs include activities such as shopping, paying bills, household chores (cleaning, laundry), and meal preparation. Many seniors require assistance with IADLs rather than ADLs. Some seniors want someone to escort them when they are shopping to help them avoid falling. Other seniors may welcome assistance with their bill paying and medical appointments. Comfort Keepers offers an array of companionship and care services to assist our clients with IADLs.
Please contact our office in Kalispell, MT for more information about our services or home care assistants. You can reach us by phone any time at (406) 755-4030 or contact us online.
