The challenges of older age often include serious health issues resulting in limited mobility and other physical restrictions. Some of these issues involve planned medical procedures like bone and joint replacements and elective surgery. Unfortunately, others are the result of accidents and emergency health issues like falls, heart attacks and dehydration. Hospitalization and rehabilitation are often involved. Seniors wanting to remain independent at home in the face of such challenges often require at home care as they recover.
When people come home from treatment at the hospital of rehab center, they are often considered medically capable of living at home, but in fact they are at least temporarily still at high risk of a relapse of re-injury. Sometimes vital home support is provided by home health agencies and paid for by insurance, but this is usually very limited in time and scope of assistance. Companion services during this time can significantly reduce the risk of a senior patient ending up back in the hospital. How? By completing domestic tasks that would otherwise overtax the patient, providing transportation to follow up doctor appointments, ensuring proper hydration and nutrition, enhancing medication compliance, and providing standby by support for ambulation and hygiene routines. For patients with dementia, they also benefit from safety oversight and medication reminders. When physical and occupational therapy is required, senior companions play an important role in encouraging and monitoring exercise routines. Home bound seniors often really thrive on companionship they receive as services are performed.
Patient recovery support needs may be significant at first and decline over time. Companion services can adjust to these needs and schedules accordingly. By enhancing the recovery process with companion care at home, we hope to “work ourselves out of a job” and return our senior to as much independence as possible.
Activities
- Safety monitoring
- Stand by assistance
- Transportation to doctor appointments
- Grocery shopping
- Housekeeping
- Meal preparation
- Reminders
- Exercise program encouragement and coaching
- Overnight care
Results
- Re-injury, relapse and re-hospitalization avoidance
- Decreased time in rehab
- Better coordination with medical providers and other caregivers
- Enhanced medication and medical order compliance (e.g. PT exercises)
- Social companionship during period of otherwise isolation
