Frequently Asked Questions About Home Care Assistance in Greater Memphis, TN
What is home care assistance and how does it differ from home healthcare?
In its truest meaning, home care assistance refers to any type of care (medical or non-medical) that is provided for the client in their home. In recent years, however, there has been a slight shift in terminology. While home care can be used to describe both medical and non-medical care, typically "home 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 home care assistance services do Comfort Keepers® provide?
Comfort Keepers provides home care assistance 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 personal care services such as bathing, grooming, and hygiene, mobility assistance, transferring and positioning, toileting and 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 are Comfort Keepers® selected?
Each caregiver, 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 caregivers to become Comfort Keepers, because we only hire people we would want caring for a member of our own family.
How much does home care assistance cost?
Following your in-home assessment, our office works with you to develop an individualized plan of care. Pricing for your plan of care is dependent on two factors, how many hours of care will be delivered each week and if services are being provided to more than one client per household. We encourage you to contact us for more information on our services and pricing.
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.
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 home care assistance.
Is there a custom plan of care for each client? Is it modified and if so, how often?
For each client, our office creates a unique and fully private Plan of Care. The goal is to keep track of what kind of care is required and when the client wants to start receiving it. Once the client, family members, and our office have agreed on a Plan of Care, our team will utilize that information to recommend the Comfort Keeper who will be providing the service, set up a schedule, and agree on monitoring and communication.
The client's and family's plans of care are evaluated at least once every six months, but more frequently if necessary. The evaluation is a critical step in ensuring that the client is getting the right amount of care and that the Comfort Keeper is doing a good job.
Will I have the same Comfort Keeper all the time? How will I meet my Comfort Keeper?
The Client Care Coordinator will capture the services necessary and the client's preferences for a Comfort Keeper match during the initial talk and in-home visit. The Client Care Coordinator will then choose the ideal caregiver for the client and set up an introduction between the client, the Comfort Keeper, and the Coordinator to introduce each member of this new team. During that meeting, all of the parties involved go over the Plan of Care to make sure everyone is on the same page and understands what services will be offered.
What if my Comfort Keeper is sick or on vacation?
Each Comfort Keepers office employs a team of caregivers so that your care service will not be interrupted if someone gets sick or goes on vacation. If your Comfort Keeper is unavailable, the Client Care Coordinator will arrange another caregiver and will contact you in advance of the change. The Client Care Coordinator will also introduce the interim caregiver to you and review your Plan of Care with the interim caregiver prior to service. Our goal is to ensure that services are provided as expected. Your safety and security are a top priority.
What are ADLs and IADLs?
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) include the basic tasks essential for day-to-day functioning, 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 all that is needed. However, in many cases, particularly when family or friends are unavailable and the importance of scheduling these activities is critical, informal home care assistance arrangements may not be adequate
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are considered those activities which are less basic than the traditional ADLs. IADLs, nevertheless, are important in enhancing a client’s quality of life. IADLs include such activities as shopping, paying bills, cleaning, doing the laundry and meal preparation. Many seniors require assistance with IADLs rather than ADLs. Some seniors want someone to escort them when they are shopping and help them avoid situations that might cause them to fall. Other seniors may welcome assistance with their bill paying and medical appointments. Comfort Keepers offers an array of companionship and homemaking services to assist our clients with the IADLs.
Contact Us If You Have Further Questions
Please contact the Comfort Keepers location nearest you or your loved one for more information on our home care assistance options. You can contact us via the button below! We look forward to helping those in Memphis, TN and the surrounding area.
