About In-Home Care

What is home care?

While in-home care can be used to describe both medical and non-medical care in the home, typically in-home care refers to non-medical care such as companionship, homemaking services and personal care. Home health is a term used to describe skilled care and other functions such as speech, physical or occupational therapy.

In-home care allows your loved one to get the help he or she needs without giving up independence.

What is live-in care

Live-in care is the same as home care, but caregivers live with their clients.

What does a caregiver do?

A caregiver provides seniors and other adults assistance at home to ensure their physical wellbeing and social health. Caregivers provide companionship, personal care, and other quality of life services. This can include mobility and safety assistance, help with meals and housekeeping, transportation to appointments and social events, as well as activities that encourage engagement, purpose, connection and joy.

If you’re wondering how to become a caregiver, visit our careers page for more information.

What is aging in place?

The term aging in place refers to seniors that choose to remain in their home as they get older instead of moving to an independent or assisted living community. According to the AARP, a majority of seniors would prefer to remain in their homes for as long as possible. And aging in place has a number of benefits.

Seniors who remain in their own homes as they age enjoy the consistency of belonging to communities where they may have lived for many years surrounded by friends and families.
Being surrounded by beloved objects and memory cues can foster a sense of connection and peace, and for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, a familiar environment can reduce confusion and improve mental engagement.
Remaining in the home also avoids the stress of relocation and acclimating to new environments.
Aging in place can be more cost-effective than facility care.

What is a home health aide?

The term home health aide and caregiver can be used interchangeably. Home health aides provide companionship, personal care, and other quality of life services. This can include mobility and safety assistance, help with meals and housekeeping, transportation to appointments and social events, as well as activities that encourage engagement, purpose, connection and joy.

What are ADLs? (And what are IADLs?)

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) describe basic tasks essential for day-to-day functioning. These include 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.

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are those activities that are important in enhancing a client’s quality of life. IADLs include shopping, paying bills, household chores (cleaning, laundry), and meal preparation.

Seniors and other adults that need assistance at home may require assistance with ADLs or IADLs. Comfort Keepers offers an array of companionship and in-home care services, and specific tasks are laid out in the Plan of Care that is customized for each individual and family.

What services does Comfort Keepers provide?

Comfort Keepers assists seniors and other adults that need help at home to live their best quality of life. This can include help with aging parents, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, mobility assistance and a variety of care types.

Comfort Keepers provides uplifting in-home care that considers a client’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. We provide 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 in-home care services. This includes bathing, grooming, hygiene, mobility assistance, transferring/positioning, toileting/incontinence, and feeding/special diet assistance. Some offices provide Dementia/Alzheimer’s care, or and in-home safety technology solutions. Services vary by state and office.

How does Comfort Keepers select caregivers?

Every Comfort Keepers caregiver 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. Caregivers are screened for empathy and trained to provide the highest quality in-home care.