What You Need To Know About 24-Hour Care In Greenville SC

24-hour care involves around-the-clock assistance. While each of the states has its own set of regulations, the general options for this form of care include:

  • 1 caregiver that works throughout the day, taking breaks, followed by 8-hours of rest in the home of the client.
  • 2 caregivers that work 12-hour shifts. The caregiver that works the evening shift will stay awake throughout the night.

What You Need To Know About Getting Started With 24-Hour Care

Many families approach a bonded and licensed agency like From The Heart Home Care to fulfill the requirement of caring for an aging spouse or parent or even an elderly friend. Hiring a caregiver through a reputable agency brings security and peace-of-mind.

The Signs That It Is Time To Change To 24-Hour Care For A Loved One Or Spouse

Below is a list of some of the common signs that your loved one may require more care:

  • Compromised balance or frequent falls. This could be caused by dementia, neurological issues, or following an accident.
  • Confusion during the nighttime or daytime, waking up during the night, or feeling agitated or confused in the dark.
  • If the patient has recently stayed in a hospital or rehabilitation facility following a heart attack, stroke, or a hip or leg fracture.
  • Confusion or fainting due to dehydration.
  • Difficulties drinking or eating without assistance.
  • Wandering away from home by vehicle or foot, and getting confused or lost.
  • Frightened or confused by short absences of caregivers, friends, or family.
  • Increased or new bathroom accidents.
  • Leaving the oven and stove unattended.
  • You are unsure of leaving your loved one overnight or you are no longer getting enough sleep due to having to tend to their needs during the night.

Common Question To Ask About 24-Hour Home Care

Here are a few questions that many families ask about getting started with 24-hour care for a spouse or elderly parent:

Will there be 1 or 2 caregivers during each shift?

Can I interview the caregivers? Can each caregiver meet with my spouse or elderly parent?

What will happen when a caregiver is unable to make it for their shift? How does the agency deal with “fill-in” caregivers?

Can a family caregiver share tasks and duties with an agency caregiver? What is the best way to coordinate this?

Who can I speak to when changes occur or when I have a problem?

What are the specific tasks that a caregiver will perform?

What You Need To Know About Coordinating 24-Hour Home Care Without An Agency

You may be thinking about hiring a person that you already know or hiring one of the private caregivers to provide care to your spouse or aging parent. It is important that you feel confident about this decision. Here are a few things you need to be aware of.

You become responsible for taxes, payroll (when the person is classified as “an employee”), liability insurance, and workman’s comp.

You hold the responsibility of coordinating and managing schedules for your spouse’s or parent’s care.

You will have to find a replacement caregiver if the person decides to leave or cannot make a shift.

You need to find out from your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance agent, whether your policy will cover liabilities for an in-home worker.

Find out about the overtime pay and minimum wage requirements in your state.

Making sure you have a team of consistent and reliable caregivers is far more vital than you may realize. Continuity and consistency of care also build trust. Having different caregivers coming and going throughout the day and night can become confusing. It also often results in poor communication. Reliable and consistent caregivers will result in far more consistent care.

However, it also best to be aware that a caregiver that becomes a favorite can leave. Talk to your spouse or your parent about the way they are feeling. Reassure them that the agency will soon find a similar and suitable replacement. It is also important that you are checking in regularly to see how things are going or to request adjustments when necessary.

From The Heart Home Care, LLC offers professional caregivers that assist families in the right way to care for an aging adult. 24-hour care for a senior in their own home offers around-the-clock support, without the need for your spouse or your aging parent to leave the familiarity of their home.

24-hour care is often helpful for both long-term and short-term. For example, if a senior has undergone a major operation, post-surgery, 24-hour home care might be required during the recovery of the patient. In other instances, long-term care for a senior can also be extremely helpful. People that have Alzheimer’s or dementia often require 24-hour ongoing home care to provide vital services such as preparing meals, medication reminders, personal care, and more.