Knowing When It’s Time to Hire a Caregiver

There are many decisions we need to make as we age. One of those decisions is whether to hire a caregiver. There’s no right or wrong answer to whether you should hire a caregiver but understanding what a caregiver does and the benefits they provide can guide you in your decision. 

What is a Caregiver?

A caregiver is someone who provides non-medical at-home care to an aging individual. Some caregivers are family members caring for an aging loved one, often children caring for parents. Caregivers can also be hired professionals, such as those employed through Visiting Angels Northeast Ohio. 

Caregivers provide a variety of services depending on the needs of the recipient. Some caregivers provide companion care, including assistance with meal preparation, laundry, transportation, and medication reminders. Caregivers can also provide personal care, which includes all the companion care services with the addition of physical care needs, such as toileting and bathing. 

Who Needs a Caregiver?

Some people believe caregivers are only for those who require physical assistance or are sick, but that’s not always the case. Any senior adult living at home can benefit from a caregiver. The goal of a caregiver is to help seniors live safely and independently at home. Caregivers can assist seniors with anything from reaching something from the top shelf to bathing and personal grooming. Beyond physical assistance, caregivers are also great for seniors looking for companionship or someone to support them emotionally through a difficult time in their lives. 

Is it Time to Hire a Caregiver?

If you’re an older adult living at home, or you’re a family caregiver wondering if it’s time to hire a caregiver, ask yourself these questions:

• Are you or an aging loved one having difficulty with daily tasks? These tasks can include having trouble carrying laundry to and from the laundry room or struggling to shower or move around the home safely. If at any point throughout your day, you feel unsafe caring for yourself, a caregiver can help ease those worries by assisting you in your routine. 
• Have you or an aging loved one been diagnosed with a health condition? Caring for yourself can come with hurdles as you age and even more hurdles if you live with a health condition. Even though caregivers don’t provide medical care, they can give medication reminders and transportation to doctor’s appointments. They’re also available to provide emotional support if you’re coping with a new medical condition. 
• Are you or an aging loved one feeling alone or isolated? It’s common for older adults to feel lonely, especially if they don’t have family or friends nearby who can easily visit. Caregivers make great companions and can also assist with setting up social media accounts to connect with friends or provide transportation to meet family members for a meal.
• Are you feeling overwhelmed caring for a loved one? Suppose you’re a family caregiver, meaning you’re caring for a senior in your family, and you’re feeling overwhelmed by your caregiving responsibilities. In that case, you may want to consider hiring someone to help you, even if it’s just part-time. You can also hire a caregiver to look after a loved one if you’re going out of town or need a few personal days to focus on yourself. 

Remember, you don’t need to be experiencing any of the above to hire a caregiver. If you’re an older adult who wants help or companionship, that’s plenty of a reason to reach out to a caregiver.

Working with Visiting Angels

Visiting Angels Northeast Ohio is a home care agency that hires compassionate caregivers to work with clients part-time or full-time, including overnight shifts. Our caregivers assist clients with a range of tasks, including meal preparations, light housekeeping, personal grooming, medication reminders, mobility, and transportation. 

We start our relationship with potential clients with a complimentary consultation session. One of our care coordinators meets with the client to learn more about their home care needs in this session. This session is also a time for the client to ask questions or express any concerns. After the initial meeting, we prepare a customized care plan and schedule to best accommodate the client. We then match our clients with a qualified caregiver to provide the proper care and match the client’s personality. Caregiving services then commence, typically no later than 48 hours after the consultation. 

Our Mentor office serves those in Lake, Geauga, and Northeast Cuyahoga counties. If you’d like to learn more about our caregiving services, you can complete this form online or call us at 440.974.0869.