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  • 3 Benefits of Post-Operative Care

    Post-operative care takes place immediately after a surgical procedure. It may last the length of your stay in the hospital as well as once you have been discharged and have gone home. Like most surgeries, there may be potential side effects and complications, in which your doctor will provide comprehensive orders for. While it may be overwhelming to handle recovering on your own, many people opt for professional post-operative care to streamline their recovery.

    At Coastal Home Care, our post-operative care is personalized to you or your loved one’s needs. We provide support that’s compassionate, secure, and safe. We have the utmost respect for our clients and protect their privacy and dignity around the clock. Whether it’s medication reminders, fall prevention, meal preparation and feeding, we have the experience to adapt to each clients’ needs.

    Below, we discuss the benefits of post-operative care.

    1. Faster Recovery

    After your operation, there are certain wound healing measures that must take place. For instance, there needs to be sufficient oxygen and nutrition provided. Without these, it may lead to wound complications, such as bacterial infections and more severe cases.

    At Coastal Home Care, our post-operative care team works alongside Registered Nurses to provide adequate physical therapy and wound care. Recovery tends to be much faster with the right quality of support and care. U.S. News also offers helpful and additional speedy recovery tips as well.

    2. Personalized Companionship

    Once you have undergone surgery, the recovery process usually involves recovering in bed and restricted movement. Post-operative care provides the additional home support and companionship you or your loved one needs to complete routine chores and maintain the house.

    Post-operative care may vary depending on the client and may consist of assistance with washing the dishes and laundry, or more intensive support such as repositioning, sponge baths, and transportation.

    3. Better Comfort

    Coastal Home Care prioritizes each client’s comfort. We plan ahead before you or your loved one’s surgery to ensure your doctor’s recovery requirements are followed. By taking this time to prepare, it also allows your family to understand what to expect.

    As we have mentioned previously in our Post-Operative Care Guide, when surgery is complete, our post-operative care team can be there to help you or your loved one stay calm and comforted before being discharged. Once you are home, we will help make the recovery process simple.

    We help you or your loved one take any prescribed medications on time and ensure adequate rest is obtained. Throughout the recovery process, we also routinely monitor incision sites, prepare meals, and help with any physical activity as necessary.

    Choose Comprehensive Post Operative Care Worcester County, MD

    Coastal Home Care’s post-operative care team is dedicated to making you or your loved one’s recovery process comfortable and easy. We understand it may be difficult to ask for help, but we are here to assist you or your loved one with the level of care required for a speedy recovery. We give each patient the respect they deserve and work alongside them to create a comfortable environment they can recover peacefully in.

    Contact our post-operative care team at (410) 572-5606 to request more information today!

  • LAWMAKERS NEED TO PRIORITIZE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS FOR HOME HEALTH CARE

    LAWMAKERS NEED TO PRIORITIZE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS FOR HOME HEALTH CARE

    People everywhere are adapting to the new normal. Home health care is no different. Our industry is responding not only to the coronavirus, but also to long-term trends in health care.

    Heading into the 2021 General Assembly session, Virginia lawmakers should prioritize fully funding Medicaid reimbursements for home health care as a critical bridge to a new normal for this industry.

    As Virginia pursues the laudable goal of raising the minimum wage, it creates a dollar-for-dollar impact on home care. The minimum wage is set to rise 30%, but the General Assembly only has committed to a 7% increase in Medicaid reimbursements to date — creating a real funding shortfall.

    If this shortfall is not addressed, Medicaid patients might lose access to the high-quality home health care services provided by home care agencies.

    Care Advantage was founded in Richmond in 1988 to provide care and support to those who need it. Now we serve more than 11,000 patients with nearly 8,000 employees — providing assistance and care for patients in their home, keeping them close to loved ones and familiar surroundings. Our service territory includes 90% of the Virginia population.

    Our success gives us insights on long-term trends we cannot ignore. One in four Americans — and more than two-thirds of those who are older than age 65 — have multiple chronic conditions. By 2050, there will be more than 87 million Americans older than 65, significantly increasing the need for a health care system that meets those needs.

    As these trends accelerate, policymakers will need to find long-term solutions to ensure people can access the care they need. There are a variety of ways to achieve that goal. But before we get there, Virginia must make sure it fully funds Medicaid reimbursements for home care.

    Unlike many home care companies, Care Advantage accepts Medicaid patients, providing valuable care to a vulnerable population.

    Agency-directed care is the bridge for Medicaid patients between consumer-directed care provided by a loved one and skilled nursing facilities. Agency-directed care allows patients to receive more specialized health care in their home, avoiding the need for other long-term support services in a facility setting.

    The data bears this out.

    Providing in-home care represents a 95% cost savings over a hospital stay. And studies show that at least one-third of patients in skilled nursing facilities could be cared for in home, with similar to better clinical outcomes.

    Agency care also comes with more value than just the wage paid to the caregiver. We provide additional support from our medical staff, skills development for caregivers, and accountability for families and the commonwealth.

    Agency-directed care also fills another critical need in our society: providing good-paying, purpose-driven careers.

    Home care jobs often pay more than the minimum wage, while providing other benefits. At Care Advantage, those benefits include an “instant pay” option, educational scholarships and a career ladder that allows them to move from a personal care attendant to registered nurse.

    Unless the General Assembly fully funds Medicaid reimbursement rate increases, agency-directed care for Medicaid patients might not be sustainable long term. This could create a gap in the care continuum at a time when our society cannot afford any fault lines in health care.

    The General Assembly and the governor made laudable and important progress toward this goal in 2020. Despite the budget challenges caused by COVID-19, the commonwealth provided a 5% increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates.

    Unfortunately, the 2% rate increase scheduled for next year does not provide nearly enough funding to make agency-directed home care sustainable in the long term.

    Current rates already are low, making it difficult for agencies to pay caregivers, fund additional medical support and provide the training necessary for this critical part of the health care system.

    As the minimum wage increases in the commonwealth, pressure on home care wages also will rise. This, in our view, is a good thing. As a company, we believe in a living wage for our employees.

    But agency home care faces dollar-for-dollar pressure as the minimum wage increases. The minimum wage is set to rise 30% over the next several years (again, not something we oppose), but reimbursements only are set to rise another 2% in 2021 — creating a significant funding shortfall.

    The General Assembly cannot overlook the importance of fully funding Medicaid reimbursements for home care.

    If our leaders fail to act, patients on Medicaid could be left to fall through the cracks of a broken care system, pushed into nursing homes and tens of thousands of good-paying jobs could vanish overnight.

    And taking the long-term view, shoring up this immediate need is the first step toward creating the new normal in health care and addressing the inevitable trends of an aging population beset with chronic conditions.

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    Tim Hanold is CEO of Care Advantage Inc., a home care agency headquartered in Midlothian, with approximately 8,000 employees in Virginia.

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    RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH LINK

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  • HOME HEALTH CARE IS A PASSION

    HOME HEALTH CARE IS A PASSION

    Home Health is very important within our communities.

    Skilled care in the home helps to keep our citizens safe and healthy and where they want to be during their “golden years” as opposed to having them admitted into a Nursing or group home. On many occasions, after a patient has had surgery, a doctor will suggest a rehabilitation facility for a patient. But it is not uncommon that the patient doesn’t want to go to a facility, or alternatively their insurance may not cover the cost. It is times like these when home health companies can step in!  

    Patients tend to be happier and thrive more when they are in their own home environment and receiving excellent care from a caring group of professionals. Providing in-home care represents about 95 percent of cost savings over a hospital stay and is approximately $200 less expensive per day than a skilled care facility. At Virginia Home Health and Hospice in the western part of Virginia (and our sister company All About Care in Richmond who serve the central part of the state) we have a program called “Bridge to Home” that allows us to further ensure our clients get the needed care they deserve by bridging the gap between hospital and skilled nursing care.  

    Being under the Care Advantage, Inc. umbrella and part of this new in-home care family has given Virginia Home Health and Hospice the tools needed to grow our business and our team. Our team is made up of caring professionals who go above and beyond to take care of our community. Our success is due to our close-knit and passionate group of professionals. Our team members see our patients as part of our own family and care for them that way!

    Home Healthcare has been my passion for over 20 years, and I have countless stories of kindness to share. But there is one in particular that touched my heart as I am sure it will touch yours.

    Sometimes I ride along with my Clinical Manager in the field to see patients. Just a few weeks ago, my colleague Jessica and I went to get to know some of our patients and observe our nurses providing the amazing care that they do. As usual it was a blessing to meet this patient, as she had a lot of stories to tell us!  

    As we were talking, I noticed she kept staring at my bracelet. I finally ask her if she would like to see it and when I handed it to her she hugged it to her chest and smiled and said, “I love it”.   This patient had just shared with us that her brother was ill with cancer and she was not able to go see him, and she cries all the time thinking about him being lonely. I asked her, “Would you like to have this bracelet to bring you a little comfort to know that someone is thinking of you and your brother?” She said, “oh yes please” and hugged it against her chest.   The bracelet was very inexpensive and didn’t have any particular meaning to me, but I never knew it could make someone so happy and comforted.

    This is not something that we would do all the time, but it meant so much to her to know that we are thinking of her family. I have been told that the patient is telling everyone who will listen that we are there for her family and she wears the bracelet to all her doctor’s appointments.  

    A small gesture and a little conversation sure went a long way to show our patient that we cared about her. Just giving her the kindness and patience of our time can make a real difference in her mindset which will, in turn, lead to a better progression of her own rehabilitation journey and reaching her health goals. It makes my heart melt when I can see that a patient’s positive interaction can really set up for a great recovery from a hospital stay and our team of nurses and therapists are part of that patient’s journey.

    Written by: Sharon Hendricks

    Sharon Hendricks works for our skilled division in the western part of Virginia called Virginia Home Health and Hospice. She has been in healthcare for more than 20 years. She loves spending time with her husband, 3 sons and 4 grandchildren. If you can’t find her shopping at the mall, you might find this cool Nana at the roller-skating rink showing the grandkids how it’s done!

  • Spending the Holidays in Hospice Care

    Spending the Holidays in Hospice Care

    The holidays are looking a little different due to pandemic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most out of it. While this time of the year is usually spent with your loved ones, those spending the holidays in hospice may find it incredibly challenging.

    At Coastal Home Care, we provide trained hospice care nurses to tend to your loved one as well as your family. With 10 years of extensive experience in the private home care industry, our Registered Nurses go above and beyond to maintain your loved one’s safety and independence.

    Terminal illness is one of the most difficult issues any person can encounter. Our team can assure the following below to ensure your loved one is comfortable and surrounded in love.

    Comfort First

    Our hospice care consists of support that ranges from emotional, social, and spiritual. Our experienced team will come to your loved one, get to know them better, and create a comfortable environment that helps them feel at ease.

    We also work together with family and friends to create the most desirable level of comfort possible. Feeling pain or fear of pain often drives the behavior of patients encountering the end of their life, but we will treat your loved one like our own family, and we will stay at their side.

    Care With Respect

    Our team has cared for many patients, so we understand that not every end-of-life journey is the same. We ensure our promise to be considerate of your family’s values around the clock.

    Our trained nurses help your loved one maintain their dignity during this difficult time by protecting their independence, personal information, and physical appearance. Not only do we uphold this respect with your loved one but we also give it to your family as well.

    Enrichment

    When someone encounters the end of their life, the most important thing you can do is cherish the time you have left with them. If your loved one would like to fulfill any particular goals or wishes, our team would be happy to help.

    An example of this would be any family members your loved one would like to make peace with or maybe they would like to establish a connection with a grandchild. Completing the goals you have in life is only made possible with help of others, and Coastal Home Care is dedicated to making sure your loved one’s life is well-lived.

    Choose a Compassionate Hospice Nurse in Wicomico County, MD!

    Determining whether hospice care is right for your loved one is a difficult decision to make. At Coastal Home Care, we take into consideration the thoughts of family members, friends, and caregivers to ensure we provide the best hospice care nurse and support possible. Over the last 10 years, we have conducted comprehensive background checks on all caregivers as well as have a Registered Nurse supervising them before they become part of our team. We welcome feedback from our clients to ensure our support is of the highest quality.

    Read our testimonials to get a better idea of our care or contact (410) 572-5606 to speak with a hospice team member today!

  • Alzheimer’s Support During the Holidays

    Alzheimer’s Support During the Holidays

    The holidays are filled with family reunions, hugs, laughter, good food, and making lasting memories. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us will have to adjust our usual celebrations to minimize the risk of spreading the virus. Older adults with underlying health conditions, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s, have been among those most affected by the virus, and may feel an acute sense of loss due to the changes they’ve experienced.

    If you are looking for assistance in caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s, reach out to the experts at Coastal Home Care, who provide professional Alzheimer’s Support to folks throughout Wicomico County, MD. Our experienced caregivers employ strategies and best practices to ensure your loved one continues to live safely and productively. Our services include assistance with daily tasks, comfort and safety management, and more.

    Below, we discuss a few ways you can celebrate the holidays safely with your loved ones living with Alzheimer’s:

    Manage Expectations

    In their efforts to make the holidays special for their loved ones, caregivers can feel overwhelmed as they juggle maintaining traditions with providing care and adhering to safety precautions. It’s important to remember that your health as a caregiver matters as well.

    In order to reduce stress and manage expectations, arrange a virtual group meeting with family members to discuss holiday celebrations and what precautions you’re taking as a caregiver to keep your loved one healthy. This is also an opportunity to update them about what changes they may see in the person suffering from Alzheimer’s.

    Finally, remember to only take on what you can comfortably and safely manage. This may look like smaller, more casual gatherings or activities.

    Celebrate with Social Distancing

    There are numerous ways to make the holidays special while social distancing. For example, you can leave a care package with some favorite baked goods and a card at your loved one’s front door.

    Drive by celebrations have also grown in popularity during the pandemic. Plan a festive “Holiday Parade” and ask friends and family members to decorate their cars with festive decorations and homemade signs.

    If you want to visit with your loved one in person, consider an outdoor activity like taking a walk around the neighborhood to look at the lights, or sit outside with blankets and hot cocoa. Remember to wear your mask and maintain six feet of distance between yourself and anyone outside your household.

    You can also use technology to connect during the holidays. Face-to-face interactions can reduce feelings of isolation or loneliness, so consider setting up video calls with software like Zoom or Skype. These can be a simple time to chat, or take on a more structured form such as playing a trivia game, watching a movie together, or singing carols.

    Another option is to video record special moments, like children opening gifts, to send your loved one to include them in the memories.

    Keep them Involved

    To make them feel included, think of different ways you can involve your loved one in safe, manageable tasks such as preparing food, wrapping gifts, setting the table, or putting up decorations.

    At the same time, it’s important to maintain a sense of normalcy throughout the holidays for the person living with Alzheimer’s. Have them continue with their daily routine as much as possible to avoid causing any disruption or confusion.

    Coastal Home Care: Alzheimer’s Care in Wicomico County, MD

    As different as things may seem this year, it’s still possible to make cherished memories with your elderly loved one. We realize that caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s presents unique challenges that can feel overwhelming when faced alone. At Coastal Home Care, we come alongside you and your family to provide comprehensive Alzheimer’s Support with an emphasis on professionalism, respect, and empathy. As the leading provider of elderly support services in Wicomico County, MD, we also provide senior companion care, hospice support, and post-operative care. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

  • CREATIVE AND SAFE THANKSGIVING TRADITIONS

    CREATIVE AND SAFE THANKSGIVING TRADITIONS

    We are all looking forward to some family time this week, whether physically in person or some other creative way.  As we continue to remember best practices for keeping us all safe, here are some thoughts around creative measures to consider this holiday season:

    • Go all out for your immediate family and make the most of a small but special day together (make everyone’s favorite dish)
    • Find an oldie but goodie movie and circle up the troops for a family movie experience (even on an iPad, family can still watch with you)
    • Set up a table in your front yard, dress up in your finest thanksgiving garb and show that Thanksgiving spirit to your neighbors, better yet, invite them to do the     same and you’ll have a neighborhood outdoor celebration with perfect social distancing in place
    • For those of you with kids (or just feeling like a kid yourself), draw giant turkeys and Thanksgiving sayings on the sidewalk with sidewalk chalk, send some well     wishes to those serving on the front lines
    • Decorate a tree in your front yard with pictures or sayings of things you are most thankful for
    • Donate to a local food pantry or drive as there are SO many in need this Thanksgiving (make that a family tradition going forward)
    • Write thank you notes to those on the front lines and deliver them to a local facility so those working feel the Thanksgiving love
    • Create a Thanksgiving Mad Lib and do it over the phone with relatives that you aren’t able to spend the day with and prepare to laugh out loud
    • Do a “food exchange” where you make extras of your classic dishes that you usually share together to swap off in a distanced masked quick exchange. Then set up a zoom dinner pajama party!!
    • Speaking of Zoom, for Thanksgiving Day, try a Zoom family meeting to check in with each other, Zoom is offering all accounts free unlimited meetings on Thanksgiving Day! You can play games such as Thanksgiving Trivia or Bingo. 

    This season is about recognizing and focusing on those things that stand out to us as special and meaningful. Of course this year has forced us all to really re-evaluate what is important in our lives. It’s 2020, and although you still have to wear your masks, social distance and wash your hands, your Thanksgiving day can be as crazy or as simple as you want because you can say “Well it’s 2020, what else did you expect!”

    Written by Cathy Dancy, Vice President of Human Resources for Care Advantage, Inc.

  • BEING PART OF A WORK FAMILY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

    BEING PART OF A WORK FAMILY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

    Working for Care Advantage has been truly eye opening when it comes to how a company should treat their employees and the amount of investment they have in their staff. I went through a comprehensive training over the past few months since I was new to the health care industry. There is a team environment here where one person’s success is everyone’s success which I love. Also anyone that finds out I am prior military is always appreciative and thanks me for my service. Being a part of this company reminds me of my experience in the United States Air Force the family like environment and us all working together for a common goal, to provide excellent in home care to all of our clients.

    My role as the Central Intake Manager entails handling all incoming phone/email/ web traffic of potential clients and assisting inquiring families about Care Advantage can provide exceptional care to them and their family members. To go a little further in depth, my role requires me to develop rapport with the family members by being very empathetic to their unique situation and talking them through how we can help them through these troubling times. 

    Previously I was in the staffing industry as a Business Development Manager. This required me to handle inside and outside sales and developing client relationships by providing information on how our process and business model could help their company staff more efficiently and saves money by expediting their process. I was highly motivated to help our small business grow to compete with the larger firms and by the time I decided to leave my previous company to come on board with Care Advantage, I had grown a book of business that was 65% of the companies total business.   

    I love when I get to speak to someone that was former military, or their spouse, so I can discuss potential benefits through the VA or Veterans Care Coordination they may be eligible for. The ability to connect with service members and help them as well as the rest of our clients is a major benefit of this role and the fact that I am usually the first point of contact for them makes me try harder to set the tone for their Care Journey. Care Advantage has helped me grow in so many ways professionally and personally and has also helped me gain a new respect and prospective for our caregivers. I practically brag about who we are and the accomplishments we have made in this industry to potential clients and the fact that I am so proud of this company shines through on every call. 

    If I could provide one piece of advice to potential clients, caregivers or anyone inquiring about Care Advantage it would be to know that we have your best interest at heart and we will do all that we can to help provide the right level of care for you and your loved ones until you know what the new normal is. The compassion that we all show is genuine and we love it when can help make your situation better and can provide some piece of mind.  As a veteran, I encourage anyone I know to look into Care Advantage because their name says it all; they truly care about everyone connected to them!

  • CELEBRATING OUR DIFFERENCE MAKERS

    CELEBRATING OUR DIFFERENCE MAKERS

    As the world faces a pandemic of historic proportions, home care and hospice workers represent some of the most critical workers in our lives today. With the increased need to protect our loved ones, families across the nation are turning to in-home care and hospice services. In what has proven to be a challenging year for many, our home care and hospice workers have always shown incredible resilience, bravery, and support.

    Now is our chance to say thank you…

    November is designated as Home Care & Hospice Month a time to celebrate the nurses, therapists, aides, and other home care and hospice workers in an effort to highlight the remarkable work they perform while caring for their charges. Playing a definitive role in our healthcare system, home care and hospice workers have become the unsung heroes that provide our loved ones with the care and support they need when they are at their most vulnerable.

    Jessica White, an RN for Paradise Home Care, A Care Advantage, Inc company, is very passionate about Home Care and has been in their industry over 18 years. “Home care is not for everyone, but I have never seen myself doing anything but helping people in their home. I have been a home health clinician since 2002 initially as a Physical Therapist Assistant then, while working, I felt that I could help the patients even more by furthering my education and completing my nursing degree which I finished in 2007”.

    LIVING TO CARE FOR OTHERS

    Home care and hospice workers have the gift of adapting to each patient’s particular circumstances and the home environment. A patient’s home is essentially an extension of their personality. Home care and hospice workers know how to adapt the way they deliver information and provide a type of care that is as unique as the person who is receiving it.

    “I have a passion for teaching and learning and this is very important as a home health care provider. I’ve actually had patients tell me that I’ve provided them with more information than their medical providers which makes my heart happy. The individualized approach we take in this type of care is something that is always appreciated by patients and clients” says Jessica.

    They spend their lives caring for others, providing comfort and support in times in which it’s needed the most. Home care and hospice workers can help bed-ridden and mobility-impaired patients recover with dignity and, when necessary, can assist with tasks such as the following:

    •          Personal Care

    •          Meal Preparation

    •          Bathing

    •          Grooming

    •          Dressing

    •          Toileting and Incontinence Care

    •          Medication Reminders

    •          Accompaniment to Medical Appointments

    •          Transportation, Shopping and Errands

    ‍Additionally, they serve as companions that help ward off the feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and much more by assisting their patients in the following areas:

    •          Conversation and Company

    •          Emotional Support

    •          Engagement in Social and Outdoor Activities

    •          Promoting Overall Health

    In most cases, the caregiver’s presence becomes so important to their patients and their families that they also become something akin to a good friend or family member rather than a nurse or other type of home care aide.

    In the case of skilled home health services, it is a very similar story.

    Jessica White says, “There’s a lot that goes on in the background of an actual visit and I think it takes special people to manage their case load and schedule, complete documentation, make phone calls to doctors and family members while balancing that with life outside of work. There is often worrying about patients that are in “not the best situations” whether it’s the family dynamics, environment, financial difficulties or overall loneliness.

    I have developed some wonderful relationships over the years, heard amazing stories, laughed, shed some tears, assisted in transition to hospice and Even some unexpected loss that has truly hurt my heart.”

    SETTING THEIR LIFE TO THE SIDE

    Home care and hospice workers stand out for one major reason, and that is the fact that they willingly set their personal lives aside in order to bring life and love to those who need them. To these heroes, the needs of their patients come before anything else. They understand the importance of the work they perform, and they know they can make a difference that can last a lifetime or longer. “Fun fact I’m dually licensed in the state of Virginia which I am proud to have accomplished and was able to do so with support of my family and friends while raising two children,” mentions Jessica.

    This is what defines the caretakers at Care Advantage, Inc. Each one of our caregivers has the dream of building a career in home care. For many caregivers, nurses and therapists, working in home care or home health is a calling. This is just one of the reasons they put their heart and soul into providing the support their clients or patients need, and why they deserve to be celebrated during the month of November.

    Jessica comments,

    Yes it can be exhausting and there have been some frustrations along the way, but I like to think I’ve made a difference in a lot of lives and situations with goals being set and working together as a team! To me, there is nothing more rewarding than helping overcome obstacles, assisting with managing medical issues and patients remaining at home as we age in place.

    CELEBRATING ALL HOME CARE AND HOSPICE WORKERS

    As the rest of the world steps back, our health care workers are rushing forward to dedicate their time to working with others. In a time of uncertainty, they remain strong. In a time of concern, they put others before themselves. Let us celebrate the effort they put into making our loved ones more comfortable while improving the quality of their lives by helping them regain their dignity and sense of well-being.

    All of this and so much more is what turns home care and hospice workers into the unsung heroes that fill our communities with love and empathy, especially during these troubling times. The time has come to celebrate this noblest profession by recognizing the love and effort they put into making not only their patients’ lives better but also the lives of the families that have to live the experience at a more personal level.

    To all of the home care and hospice workers sacrificing so much to save so many, words do not do enough justice – we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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  • Home Care for Elders Living in Their Own Homes

    Home Care for Elders Living in Their Own Homes

    As we age, we gain more and more independence. And part of growing older means you’ll need the support of others in order to take care of yourself. These changes inevitably occur for all of us, notably our aging loved ones. Though aging can inhibit their activities, many elderly people still want to live independently in their own homes rather than in an assisted living facility or nursing home.

    At Coastal Home Care, we help families provide the consistent care their elderly loved ones need. Through our dedicated elderly home care, our trained nurses ensure your loved ones remain active, independent, safe, and healthy while living in their own homes. Coastal Home Care has provided quality home care services to families throughout Sussex County, DE, including hospice support, Alzheimer’s care, and more.

    Below we discuss the details of providing home care for elders who seek to continue living in their own homes:

    Why Skilled Caregivers are Important

    Home caregivers are vital for helping their elder patients continue to live their daily lives independently while assisting them with routine tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, washing, or getting themselves dressed in the morning.

    However, proper home care involves more than having an extra set of hands and eyes. It also requires a caregiver to have the necessary knowledge and skills in order to provide the long term care your elderly loved one will need. For example, a caregiver should have a certain degree of medical training to provide the necessary treatment to keep your elder loved one in stable health.

    Comprehensive  knowledge and training is especially important if a caregiver is assisting a patient with a diagnosis that affects their ability to function, such as those with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

    A caregiver that is trained and experienced in dealing with patients with chronic illnesses is better equipped to handle situations in which their most severe symptoms arise. Their help at those crucial moments will ensure that your loved one will live longer and more comfortably.

    Thus , when seeking options in home caregiving for your elderly loved one, remember to search for companies that offer certified nurses and trained caregivers, such as Coastal Home Care.

    Patience is Key

    Our elders have spent much of their lives taking care of themselves and others. So, when you decide to hire a caregiver for your elder loved one, remember to focus on being patient, as your loved one will likely not want to change their independent lifestyle.

    Both you and the caregiver should work together to gradually familiarize your loved one with  having a companion in their home that will help develop their new routine.

    To help navigate these difficulties, our team at Coastal Home Care begins the process of caregiving by collaborating with you and your elder to create what we call a Plan of Care. It is a personalized plan that outlines the best possible course of action toward providing your loved one with the care they need in a way that fits their personal preferences.

    More Than One Way to Care

    There isn’t a one-size-fits all way to properly care for an elderly individual. Each individual is different with specific needs and conditions that will need attention.

    Some senior patients may only require assistance with simple tasks around the home, and others need a nurse with medical expertise to ensure they get the quality palliative or hospice care they need.

    One key advantage of home caregiving is flexibility. The ability to make changes to the home or customize the type of caregiving  facilitates easier and more comfortable care. This is often why we like to see elder home care over support through nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

    Our elder home care experts seek to provide responsive and effective support. They will look for unique ways for your loved one to improve in body and mind and work with you to find opportunities for your loved one to remain comfortable and healthy for as long as they can.

    Coastal Home Care: Quality Elderly Home Care in Sussex County, DE

    While assisted living and nursing homes can be useful options for many families, they may not be for everyone, especially for elders who desire to continue living in their own homes. Coastal Home Care offers your loved one the ability to continue living independently while helping them sustain their health and activity.

    Our certified nurses are trained in attentive elderly home care, as well as in hospice support, dementia care, medical assistance, and more. Families throughout Sussex County, DE have depended on and continue to trust in our services. Contact us at (866) 687-7307 for more information about elder care services today and schedule a consultation.

  • How to Protect Your Loved Ones During COVID

    How to Protect Your Loved Ones During COVID

    The pandemic has continued to place a tremendous amount of pressure on so many people across the country and the world. One group who has had it the hardest, and are also the most affected by it, are the elderly. They are the most at risk, but also the most in need of assistance and caregiving. Many families and services have had a difficult time figuring out how to provide proper care.

    Since the beginning of the pandemic earlier this year, we at Coastal Home Care have trained and outfitted our certified caregivers with everything they need to continue performing excellent senior companion care services to our patients throughout Sussex County, DE. We have also added numerous procedures to our operations to prevent any chance of infection, such as daily screenings and regular virtual communication among staff.

    Below, we discuss how the virus can spread and ways to prevent it from doing so to keep your elder loved ones safe and comfortable during this time.

    Ways COVID-19 Spreads

    Those who have caught and been infected with COVID-19 can spread the disease, even if they no longer have or seem to have never received serious symptoms of it. Here are some of the ways that the coronavirus has spread:

    • Prolonged close contact, usually within six feet.
    • Contact or inhalation of breath or water vapor after a cough or sneeze.
    • Contact with high-touch or potentially infected areas, then touching sensitive areas that could lead to infection, such as the face, eyes, and mouth.

    How to Protect Your Elders from COVID-19

    As we grow older, we become more susceptible to serious illnesses. According to the CDC, 8 out of 10 adults who received a severe illness from COVID-19 were over the age of 65. This means that our elders are at higher risk than most others, which requires us to be more careful and vigilant when providing them care. Here’s what elder caregivers should do to keep their loved ones safe from any potential harm from the coronavirus:

    • Perform proper social distancing procedures with your elder, especially if you are aware that you or someone with you have been showing symptoms of COVID-19.
    • Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, or mouth, especially if you haven’t sanitized and/or have been in a high touch area.
    • Clean and disinfect any shared objects or surfaces.
    • Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap
    • Stock up on medicine and groceries to reduce the amount of trips you take outdoors.
    • Stay home as much as possible, since doing so is a vital way for your elder loved one to remain safe and protected.
    • Always wear face masks and gloves whenever you and your loved one are outside of your home to ensure you both are protected from spreading or receiving infection.

    Coastal Home Care: Quality Senior Companion Care in Sussex County, DE

    Giving care to our elders has become a significant challenge due to this pandemic. However, in following the tips and procedures listed above, you’ll at least be able to provide comfort and safety for your senior loved one. We at Coastal Home Care can help, as well, as we continue to provide reliable senior companion care to families and elders across Sussex County, DE. Our registered nurses and caregivers are trained to combat the virus while providing the essential elder care services that are needed now more than ever.

    Contact us at (866) 687-7307 for more information about our companion care services today.