What to Know About Care Plans from Visiting Angels of Bethesda

One of your main concerns when working with a professional home care agency like Visiting Angels of Bethesda is most likely the services that can be provided for your loved one. We understand that every senior has different needs because we have been serving seniors in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties since 2002. A senior with a chronic condition, for example, may need more hands-on care than a senior in good health. That is why, while working with families in Bethesda, Silver Spring, Aspen Hill and the surrounding areas of Maryland, we will create a care plan based on the level of care required by your loved one.

If you've never had to deal with a professional caregiver for a loved one, you may be concerned about how a care plan works. What is included in a care plan? How can I change a loved one's care plan? How can I know whether my loved one's plans should be changed?

We can educate you all you need to know about care plans, including how to work with our team to make any adjustments that are required.

Getting Started with a Care Plan from Visiting Angels of Bethesda

What is Care Plan?

A care plan details the home care services your loved one will receive, as well as the days and times our caregivers will visit. This not only tells our staff about the kind of assistance your loved one needs and when they need it most, but it also helps your family understand what Visiting Angels of Bethesda is doing to keep your loved one safe and happy in their own home.

What Home Care Services Does Visiting Angels of Bethesda Provide?

We specialize in assisting elderly individuals with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Seniors often benefit from this level of assistance since certain age-related issues make everyday tasks difficult or impossible to do alone.

Our care plans often include services like:

• Meal preparation
• Medication reminders
• Light housekeeping
• Transportation assistance
• Help with grocery shopping and running errands
• Mobility assistance
• Personal hygiene care
• Toileting and incontinence care
• Companionship

For seniors who want a more specialized approach to in-home care, we also offer the Senior Life Care Navigation program. Our palliative care services, for example, help chronically sick seniors restore hope and comfort. In addition, our program includes dementia care, end of life care, fall prevention and other services.

How Does Visiting Angels of Bethesda Create Care Plans?

During an in-home consultation, our team will take the time to understand the level of care your loved one needs to age in place. We will examine your loved one's physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs in order to provide them with the comprehensive home care they deserve. We will also discuss your loved one's schedule so that our caregivers can provide care that allows them to maintain their typical routine. Once their care plan has been prepared, we will help you in finding a caregiver who can provide the care your loved one requires.

How Can I be Sure the Caregiver is Following the Care Plan?

Our supervisors will conduct frequent check-ins with clients and caregivers to ensure that care plans are being followed appropriately. We understand how difficult it is for families to see their elderly loved ones, so we go out of our way to ensure that your loved one gets the care they need as indicated in their care plan.

Changing Your Loved One’s Care Plan

Why Do Care Plans Need to be Updated?

Your senior loved one's change will evolve over time. For the time being, they may be OK with occasional professional caregiver visits, but what if they are diagnosed with a chronic illness? What if they need to be hospitalized? A good care plan should be flexible, giving the client the help they need as their circumstances change.

When Should My Loved One’s Care Plan be Updated?

It is not always obvious when your loved one's care plan needs to be changed. If you are unable to be at your loved one's side 24 hours a day, you may miss typical indications that they need more extended care.

Some events may necessitate modifications to their care plan, including:

• Changes in the family’s ability to provide care – If you or another family member have been caring for your loved one, altering the hours in your loved one's care plan may be beneficial if you need to temporarily step back from caregiving responsibilities.
• Medical diagnosis – If your loved one suffers from a chronic condition, their care plan will need to be modified to help them manage new symptoms or behaviors.
• Health emergency – If your loved one has just been injured or needs surgery, urgent modifications to their care plan may be necessary to allow them to heal at home after being discharged from the hospital.

Do you have any doubts about changing your loved one's care plan? Our specialists may be able to help. Our caregivers may act as a second pair of eyes and ears for your family while providing care for a loved one. If they see any changes in the overall well-being of your loved one, they will alert their supervisor, who will contact your family and discuss possibilities.

We may recommend changes to their care plan if we notice:

• Changes in their physical or cognitive health
• Worsening age-related issues that impact their mobility, eyesight, motor skills or ability to swallow
• Worsening symptoms of a chronic illness
• Growing safety issues

How Can I Adjust My Loved One’s Care Plan?

Visiting Angels of Bethesda makes it simple to change your loved one's care plan. All you have to do is get in touch with our office. Our team will review your loved one's care plan and make any required modifications to ensure they continue to get the in-home care they need. We may change the length of the caregiver's stay, the frequency with which they come, the services the caregiver will offer, the specific instructions for delivering these services and other factors.

A customized care plan from Visiting Angels of Bethesda can provide your loved one the help they need to make aging in place a positive experience.

Call Visiting Angels of Bethesda today at 301-490-9050 to learn how our home care services can help your loved one!