Tag: va domiciliaries in united states

Caregiver Jobs

Caregiver Jobs – A caregiver is someone who provides much needed care to someone who can’t provide it for themselves. Most of the time those needing a caregiver are adults or the elderly. Sometimes they are people who have been diagnosed with a disease and are unable to take care of themselves.

 

 

Caregiver jobs typically depend on the demands of the employer or patient. This person can either work independently or service in an assisted living facility or medical center.

 

 

You or someone you may know may be considering a shift in career choice. Maybe you need a career where there are no age requirements. Or maybe it’s possible that you are looking for a career that will last beyond your retirement age.  If this is you than you should definitely take care giving into deep consideration.

 

 

As you may know, caregiving entails a lot of responsibilities. Some people have a natural ease in caring for and dealing with the elderly. Most importantly, you must know all the possibilities and range of things that can happen while you’re on the job. You must be properly equipped to deal with problems that may arise when caregiving for the needy.

 

 

There are short courses that every caregiver must take. This may be a licensure requirement in your state. This will qualify you to become a certified caregiver. It’s also important to take these courses because clients may look for these credentials when picking you as their caregiver. By taking these courses you will be better educated and able to handle the pressures of caregiving.

 

 

 

When taking care of the elderly or needy, you will have to do more than just tend to their physical needs and demands. You will need to be in control of their medical requirements as well. That is why having a medical background or having some education in the field is essential.

 

 

It’s important to have a pleasant personality as well. You must have a good mental disposition. This is because you will have to watch over and care for another person. The client’s life is in your hands and their loved ones will need to know that you are in control and trustworthy. Not all older people or needy are the same when it comes to their temperament.

 

 

Some older people may be gentle and cooperative. Others may be difficult to handle. You must have a lot of patience and understanding. If you get depressed easily or are easily downtrodden yourself then this may not be the right job for you.

 

 

Caregiver jobs are not always simple or easy. Although, they can be financially rewarding and bring a sense of fulfillment to your life.  If you are the type of person with compassion for yourself and others then you would love caregiving.

 

 

The compassion of a caregiver is second nature to them.  They will likely have known all their life taking care of others is right for them. Whatever you choose, don’t forget there are special courses that must be taken before entering this profession.

 

 

 

 Caregivers are also known as home health or personal care aides. They may help in areas such as bathing, feeding, taking patients for walks, and taking medications to name a few. They may help patients with making appointments, providing transportation, or just being a companion and support.

 

According to statistics, caregivers typically make $20,170 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics or BLS.) Caregivers must have great attention to detail and follow specific rules and schedules. They must be sensitive to the patient’s fragility. Caregivers make sure patients wake up on time and take their medication on schedule.

 

 

Some responsibilities even include light housekeeping. Some patients may not be able to move on their own but their homes need to be cleaned. Caregivers will tidy up the patient’s space and enhance their living situation.

 

 

Companionship is also a main factor in caregiving. You are there to be their friend and support through their difficult situation. You must have a can do attitude and bring a sense of order.

 

 

If you believe caregiving is for you then it’s best to take the appropriate courses and place your foot in the caregiving world!

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Home Care For The Elderly

How to find good home care for the elderly?

 

Needs

 

First consider the actual care needs and write out a list of items that need to be provided.

 

Be able to give an example of a typical day for the care recipient, from the moment they wake up until they go to bed and include a timeline of when they prefer meals, naps and other activities.

 

 

Hands-on

 

How much hands-on care is needed vs. companion care?

If more companion care is needed, make a list of possible activities.

 

 

Transportation

 

Do you need a Caregiver who can escort the client to doctor’s appointments and social activities?

 

If so, what mode of transportation will they use?

Will the Caregiver drive the client in the client’s car?

 

Keep in mind that you may need to research your car insurance coverage if this is the case.

 

Will the Caregiver drive the client in the Caregiver’s car?

If so, be

aware that it will be difficult to be 100% sure that the Caregiver’s insurance policy is up-to-date even if you verify this in the beginning.

 

If they have a late or missed payment the policy could be cancelled without your knowledge.

 

Will they take public transportation (bus or taxi cab)?

 

This is probably the safest method of transportation to prevent the risks of insurance issues.

 

(Some cities provide special transportation privileges for seniors and you may want to contact your local Department on Aging for information).

 

 

Memory Loss

 

Is there memory loss?

 

If so, have you had the type of Memory Loss diagnosed (Alzheimer’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, Pick’s Disease, Frontal Lobe Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, Lewy Body Disease, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, Vascular Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease)?

 

Blood clots and brain tumors may also cause dementia.

 

A diagnosis of dementia type will help the agency to better understand the care needs and assign a Caregiver with the right type of training and qualifications.

 

 

Language

 

Do you need a Caregiver who speaks a certain language?

 

Hours

 

How many hours of care per day will you require?

 

Review the list of services you will need performed during the care visit and decide on the minimum number of hours per day which would work as a starting point.

 

The agency will need to know the hours of service to assign a Caregiver and will allow you to adjust the hours after the first week to accurately meet the care needs.

 

Dietary

 

Are there any special cooking requirements?

 

Communicate any food allergies or specific cooking requests and consider how groceries will be purchased or delivered if the care recipient is unable to shop for groceries on their own.

 

 

Additional Skills

 

Are there any “skilled” care requirements, such as taking blood pressure, blood sugar testing, wound care or a feeding tube?

 

Communicate if these specialized services will need to be performed or monitored.

 

 

Medication Management

 

What is the care recipients method for managing medications?

 

Do you know for sure if the medications are currently being taken correctly?

 

Be able to provide a list of medications and the method of monitoring so the Agency will be aware of possible side effects and other requirements such as taking pills with or without food, etc.

 

 

Care Management

 

Will Care Management be required?

 

As Caregivers are responsible for providing the “hands-on” care, they do not have time to manage the overall care issues.

 

A trained Care Manager can supervise all of the care needs, from organizing medications in a pillbox and obtaining refills (due to insurance purposes, this service usually must be provided by a Supervisor or R.N. depending on the state laws), to arranging doctor’s appointments and other necessary services.

 

A Geriatric Care Manager will work with family members and take on responsibilities which they are unable to perform and provide professional expertise in guiding the long-term care decisions.

 

Home Healthcare Nursing

What is a Homecare Company?

Homecare company is a service provider to those who are in conditions ( mostly medical-related) that inhibit them from carrying out the daily activities such as the elderly, those suffering from chronic diseases, those who have undergone surgery or have had an accident and are on the way to recovery and the disabled to attain independence.

 

Many a times those in these conditions stay with their relatives. However, for them to receive better support and become independent the home care services are indispensable.

 

What is home healthcare?

 

A well-trained nurse or aide visits the home regularly to assist the patient with day to day activities or medical care where necessary.

 

This is has become the most preferred choice for most people with relatives who need special healthcare services. Home healthcare is either part time or full time.

 

Home healthcare has kept changing over time and here are the services the patients can benefit from;

 

The patients are assisted in the maintenance of:

 

medical schedules,

 

toileting activities,

 

bathing,

 

carrying out such activities as shopping, meals preparation, dressing,

 

keeping the house clean and accompanying patients to the physician.

 

How is an aide assigned to a patient?

 

Due to the separate cases patients have, there is the need to appoint a qualified manager for each case so as to provide adequate assistance.

 

The health agencies are charged with the responsibility of assigning a good care manager or aide for each instance.

 

The care manager should be a registered aide or nurse who visits the home, assesses and evaluates the patient’s requirements who then comes up with a home care plan and implementation in consultation with the client (patient), the family and homecare employees.

 

What are the 4 levels of homecare company?

 

Routine home care; the patient gets the homecare services at home or when hospitalized for a condition that is of non- terminal disease or illness. The care giver visits the patient periodically.

 

Continuous homecare; ongoing care is only given to the patient during the time of crisis to keep the patient suffering from a terminal condition at home.

 

Respite care; this form of care is provided to inpatients. The caregivers or aide visits the patient in a contracted facility daily to monitor and provide necessary care to the patient.

 

In a patient level of attention; here the patient gets care that cannot be provided while at home or when the home care program fails. All time attention is given to the patient in a contracted facility.

 

 

Assisted Living

Why Should You Care About Domiciliary Care?

Domiciliary Care (or Dom Care) is a monitored housing system in a home-like atmosphere for adults who are in need of constant supervision and are not able to continue living alone due to an age-related disability or physical, mental or visual affliction. People over the age of 18 who are appropriate candidates for this type of program are people that are unable to live on their own and need supervision and help with their mundane day to day activities.

 

Domiciliary care home programs are independently regulated by each state’s jurisdiction. For the most part, these residences tend to be smaller than the more common traditional assisted living homes. Often times, the individual provider’s residence will be the same as the Dom Care residence. These homes are inspected to certify and ensure that the health and safety regulations are being met.

 

Who can qualify for Domiciliary Care?

 

Residents living under Domiciliary care are low-income people that unable to live on their own due to disabilities. The majority of the inhabitants are either physically impaired, have shown to have issues in social or personal situations and are related to mental retardation or mental disabilities, or for an advanced-aged individual. If they are not considered a danger to themselves, they are likely to qualify for Dom Care.

 

Individuals have to undergo an assessment based on their needs by their local agency. The agency will determine if the individual qualifies for the program. In general, most applicants that are severely disabled need to be admitted to nursing home care. The individuals need to be able to move or at least be semi-mobile so that they are able to leave the house with minimal assistance in case of an emergency, such as a fire.

 

what is a domiciliary accountWhy choose Domiciliary Care?

 

The benefits that residents of a domiciliary care program reap are vast, not only to they receive room and board, they also receive assistance with their daily activities, for example:

 

  • bathing

  • grooming

  • meals

  • housekeeping

  • laundry services

Sometimes after a stay in a hospital, someone might find they need some help while they recuperate. Others can conclude that a long-term condition or disability means they can no longer cope, and they need a little bit of aid. If the individual is required to take medication, the caretaker provides assistance with the schedule and dosage. The most important aspect of dom care is that the resident can socialize with other populations, thus becoming part of a caring “family” and often, gaining independence and comfort in belonging to a community.

 

Who is the Typical Dom Care Home Provider?

 

Individuals that provide their home, support and care for the residents are typically the Domiciliary care providers. The providers are required to undergo a certification process to ensure that their residence is on par with the health and safety regulations. They also need to be able to work with each resident’s case manager to access a resident’s situation.

 

A domiciliary care worker needs to have a genuine interest in helping people maintain their quality of life and independence regardless of the potential barriers they may face. They must be patient, kind and sympathetic to the difficulties of the resident’s situation. A domiciliary provider is there to facilitate the resident’s independence as much as possible and encourage their well-being at the same time.

 

Who is Eligible for Domiciliary Care?

 

Domiciliary care is available for low-income individuals that are not financially equipped to pay for medical assistance services. The eligibility process varies from state-to-state. However, the most common requirements are that the person must be at least 18 years of age and older and that they must be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The individual must also be unable to live independently due to the mental, physical, visual or age impairment they suffer.

 

Veterans Administration (VA) benefits are also available for many long-term services such as domiciliary care for qualifying individuals. Veterans Assisted Living and dom care programs care for a range of problems including:

 

Applying for VA domiciliary care may differ depending on the individuals current status, however, the most common requirements are: veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces with honorable discharge or the legal spouse of an eligible veteran, a resident of one of the 50 states and they must be age 62 or older, unless the individual has a disability and is unable to obtain employment. The eligibility for long-term care services will be determined based on their need for ongoing treatment, personal care, and assistance, as well as the availability of the service in their location. Other factors, such as financial eligibility, their service-connected (VA disability) status, insurance coverage, and ability to pay may also apply.

 

The veteran’s annual income must not exceed a predetermined amount and is unable to support him/herself adequately. In these programs, the veteran is required to be capable of performing his/her daily activities with minimal support and to take part in their treatment.