With the aging population and busy work schedules, it is likely that more seniors will require care services in the coming years. Home care allows elders to stay in their own home environment while still getting additional help with daily tasks. Non-medical care may be needed even when the senior is relatively healthy and without medical issues.
What Is Non-Medical Home Care?
Non-medical home care encompasses a variety of daily tasks that can be challenging for seniors in their own homes. Non-medical care may mean help with getting to the bathroom, dressing, preparing food, reminding about medication, transporting them to appointments, light cleaning and other household tasks. Often, non-medical care can mean interacting with the senior on a meaningful level to help keep them alert and engaged in activities. The non-medical caregiver may play cards with the senior, engage them in conversation on favorite subjects and be a companion for shopping trips. Non-medical care helps to enrich the home environment and social circle of the elder.
What Caregivers Can’t Do
Non-medical caregivers do not provide any medical procedures for clients. They cannot administer medications, give injections for insulin or other drugs and cannot monitor vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar or other physical indicators. They cannot engage in any services that would be considered clinical or invasive. Strict legal requirements determine the limitations of medical and non-medical home caregivers.
How Non-Medical Home Care Helps
Primarily, the non-medical caregiver ensures that the normal physical care of the elderly person is consistent and adequate for his needs. A non-medical caregiver provides regular companionship for the elder and a ways to monitor the condition of the elder on a regular basis, outside of his regular medical care. Non-medical care companies generally provide updates on the status of the elder’s mental, social and physical condition so that family members can take action when needed. Non-medical caregivers can provide important social and mental stimulation that helps to keep seniors alert. A non-medical helper can also provide respite for other family caregivers so that they can spend some time on themselves.
Matching Caregivers With Seniors
Because non-medical companions come into the home and have close interaction with the elder, it is important to find a good mix of personalities. A good non-medical home care agency will work to find the right person to make your elder family member feel comfortable and secure.
Non-Medical Home Care counselors at Safe at Home Healthcare are available to talk with you about your Non-Medical Home Care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care, including live-in care. We are an elder care agency providing Home Care in Oswego, IL. For more information about Non-Medical Home Care call us at (888) 703-5287.
