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What is home care and how does it differ from home healthcare? In its truest meaning, home care 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...

Each day in the United States, 6,000 people turn 65 years of age. One in five Americans will be older than age 65 by the year 2030 (American Association of Retired Persons, 2003). This increase of U.S. seniors translates into a staggering increase of people looking for assistance with daily living activities. Ask most seniors where they would prefer to age, and the majority will say they want to stay in their own home. The preference to age at home along with an increasing senior population has led to incredible growth in the in-home...

Thousands of products on the market—referred to as assistive devices —make it easier for seniors to take care of themselves and manage everyday tasks made more difficult by loss of dexterity, mobility, vision or hearing. In this article, Comfort Keepers® reviews a brief list of devices that can enhance quality of life for many seniors at home. Local home medical equipment providers carry many of these devices, and you can find numerous suppliers on the Internet by using search engine terms like “assistive devices for senior citizens.” These devices enhance the quality of life of older people and others with...

In this article, Comfort Keepers® reviews essential legal documents, health information and other considerations seniors and their families should address to reduce stress when critical life decisions need to be made—and to ensure that a senior’s wishes are fulfilled. For more complete information on the subjects covered below—and to find out about laws specific to your state—talk with your attorney. Online Resources In addition, you can find more detailed information on important legal matters for seniors by visiting the following online resources: The ABA’s Commission on Law and Aging The ABA Guide to Wills and Trusts The ABA Family Legal Guide, which includes chapters on “The...

The cost of long-term care for seniors varies as much as the types of care available and the degree of assistance you or a loved one need. In this article, Comfort Keepers® will review some of the more common funding options for senior housing and long-term care services. Senior care can range from a few hours a week of personal or companionship care by an in-home care provider, to full-time in-home care, to skilled nursing care in a nursing home. Many who have not done their research mistakenly believe that Medicare can be the answer for long-term care. In reality,...

In-home care clients are at a life stage marked by many changes and medical conditions. In this article, Comfort Keepers® will offer some suggestions about how doing some research and talking with medical professionals, seniors and their families can be better prepared to know: What to do when these changes occur How to prevent certain conditions and reduce their risk or severity The types of treatment available The benefits of getting and maintaining treatment AgingCare.com, The Community for Caregivers, provides an overview of a variety of common health conditions that affect the elderly, with information on symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, risk factors and advice for caregivers: Alzheimer’s &...

In-home care offers seniors and their families the convenience of care delivered in the comfort of home. For families who live away from their loved one, in-home care providers like Comfort Keepers® offer, as one of their services, regular updates to families about the senior’s well-being. In this article, Comfort Keepers will provide an overview of in-home care services available. In addition to peace of mind, Comfort Keepers can deliver a wide range of services, working with seniors and their families to create care plans that meet their specific needs. These individual care plans allow seniors the...

Seniors and their families have a wide variety of housing options to consider depending on the senior’s health status, mobility and need for care. In this article, Comfort Keepers® explores senior housing options: from staying in the comfort of their own home to moving to a skilled nursing site. Home Care Services If a senior’s medical needs are minimal and the senior’s primary need is assistance with activities of daily living, home is a good option. There are various types of support services needed to promote independent living. In-home service options range from offerings like home-delivered meals or transportation to personal care, companionship and...

Serving as a loved one’s family caregiver can be demanding and stressful, but has its rewards. In this article, Comfort Keepers® provides you helpful advice on how to manage your caregiving responsibilities to control the stress so you can better appreciate your role as caregiver. If it is any consolation, as a family caregiver, you are not alone. An estimated 44 million Americans—accounting for 21 percent of all U.S. households—regularly care for an elderly relative or friend. Family and friends provide an estimated 80 percent of senior care. As you will read here, there...

Aging happens. There is no getting around it. Unfortunately, conversations about preparing for our senior years often do not happen. At least not as soon as they should. In this article, Comfort Keepers® offers suggestions for overcoming the discomfort that many times prevents adult children and parents from beginning these important discussions—whether about long-term senior care and finances, health care, end-of-life decisions, driving, or safety around the house. The best advice is to plan carefully and think through such conversations so that they are as positive and productive as possible. Write down what you think needs to be discussed so you don’t...