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  • SUPPORTING OUR CLIENTS AND BEING SUPPORTED

    SUPPORTING OUR CLIENTS AND BEING SUPPORTED

    My key objective as an occupational therapist is to work with our clients and families towards achieving their personalized recovery and health goals; maximizing their independence and improving their safety and happiness during their daily living.

     Previously, I was working in a facility as an occupational therapist, however I felt as though I did not have a good work-life balance and decided to move care environments. Working with All About Care in the home health setting has allowed me the freedom to spend time with my family and also provide high quality care for my clients. We are allowed the freedom and flexibility to create our own schedules with our clients which is so important for that balance in life.

     This degree of flexibility is equally beneficial for our clients.  Every client has different needs and preferences, and our approach ensures their care is tailored to suit their needs. Some clients prefer to perform their ADL tasks in the morning, some the afternoon, for example. Clients also have physician appointments, dialysis, and other activities or tasks, so having that flexibility means we can accommodate their schedules.

     I also love the skilled home health setting because we really get to see the results of our hard work almost on a daily basis. Forming a strong bond and a mutual understanding with a patient in the early stages of a care plan is key. Regardless of the diagnosis, I always try to take the “we’re in this together mentality” from the get-go and that plays a big role in their recovery. The combination of our knowledge and expertise coupled with the patient’s dedication and hard work is what leads to positive outcomes.  

     If we have clients who have experienced frequent falls in the shower or during bed mobility, we are able to conduct very detailed and specific in-home assessments. The collection of this detailed information means that we can rollout individualized training programs that take the actual home layout and the patients habits into consideration. When you really start to think about it, it is amazing how “particular” we are from morning till night. For example, do you realize how many preferences you have in your typical day? How do you like to perform your bathing? In the tub or shower?  Do you prefer facing the water or facing away? sitting or standing? do you use one extremity to balance or steady yourself while performing bathing tasks with the other? The list can grow pretty quickly, but that is where we can help simplify the process and help the client and get them on a road to recovery that they are comfortable with.

     I started working at All About Care after I had my first child. He was born prematurely and had an extended Neonatal Intensive Care stay. A few months ago, I just had my second child who was born 10 weeks early, he also had an extended Neonatal Intensive Care stay. He has now a full team of physicians, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech language pathologist, and nurses working as a team providing his medical care. Again, the support from our leadership combined with the flexibility of working in an in-home care environment provides me and my family with an invaluable work-life balance.

     My advice for fellow mothers and fellow clinicians is to find a company that encourages doing what you love and spending time with your clients as well as spending time with your family. Having a balanced work-life schedule is imperative and being able to perform to the best of your ability when it comes to providing for our clients and providing for our families. I’m happy that I work for a company that allows time for our families as well as time to provide great treatment to our patients.

  • Bpc #4: Taking Control Of Medications

    Bpc #4: Taking Control Of Medications

    BPC SERIES: A 9-Part Series on BEING a PRIMARY CAREGIVER (BPC)
    Approximately 43.5 million caregivers have provided unpaid care to an adult or child in the last 12 months. *
    This series is dedicated to the heart and soul of this informal, unpaid, caregiving group, the primary caregivers. Silver Lining is dedicated to a healthier Delaware by using our expertise to empower a group of incredible people to give their loved ones the best care possible.

    What is a Primary Caregiver?
    A primary caregiver is the title given to anyone that is primarily (first-up) responsible for caring and providing for another living thing. A primary caregiver could be:the sole available person caring for anotherthe person who cares for another in the primary role (and has additional support people)the individual who lives with the person that needs cared forUltimately, a primary caregiver is responsible for making sure that the person they’re caring for gets the support and care they need. Our goal with the BPC Series is to support this amazing group of primary caregivers with resources, shout outs and access. We see you and we are here for you.

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    * National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S

    Medication compliance is a key factor in well-being. If you’re thinking that a medication “should be skipped”, “isn’t important” or “they have too many medications,” then be an advocate and talk to the prescribing physician(s) about it, but never modify a prescription on your own accord. The importance or significance of a medication and its dose or frequency should always be discussed with the prescribing physician(s). Write down your concerns ahead of your discussion so that you can be thorough in talking about side effects, any new symptoms, or whatever the reason is for wanting to make a change. Even if an individual does end up going off of a medication, there are often specific ways of doing this to prevent side effects (i.e., weaning).

    We have a robust Medication Management Checklist made just for you that you can view or download here, as well as an in depth video on how to maintain Medications here.

    If your loved one needs a little extra prompting with meds and lives on their own, look into something like the Livi. The Livi is a smart home medication dispenser that simplifies managing multiple medications for patients while giving caregivers support.

    Visit our YouTube channel for talks around aging topics and to watch our Coffee Chats with Tiffany where RN Tiffany Rubin talks about matters you care about.

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  • Bpc #3: How To Be Sure Your Loved One Is Eating Enough

    Bpc #3: How To Be Sure Your Loved One Is Eating Enough

    BPC SERIES: A 9-Part Series on BEING a PRIMARY CAREGIVER (BPC)
    Approximately 43.5 million caregivers have provided unpaid care to an adult or child in the last 12 months. *
    This series is dedicated to the heart and soul of this informal, unpaid, caregiving group, the primary caregivers. Silver Lining is dedicated to a healthier Delaware by using our expertise to empower a group of incredible people to give their loved ones the best care possible.

    What is a Primary Caregiver?
    A primary caregiver is the title given to anyone that is primarily (first-up) responsible for caring and providing for another living thing. A primary caregiver could be:the sole available person caring for anotherthe person who cares for another in the primary role (and has additional support people)the individual who lives with the person that needs cared forUltimately, a primary caregiver is responsible for making sure that the person they’re caring for gets the support and care they need. Our goal with the BPC Series is to support this amazing group of primary caregivers with resources, shout outs and access. We see you and we are here for you.

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    * National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S

    By Brittany Stoltzfus, RD, LDN, owner of Simply Nutrition LLC in Pennsylvania

    Being a caregiver of a loved one involves multiple responsibilities. This role can be stressful at times, especially when meal and snack times arrive. As people age, different medications, disease states and emotional health can influence one’s ability to eat. How can you as the caregiver know if your loved one is eating enough? Every person is unique in their exact nutrient needs so overall goals can vary person to person. A person can show physical signs of not eating enough through increased weakness, increased fatigue, and a high level of weight loss. While working with your loved one, patience is helpful. Remember, your loved one will have good days and challenging days with food intake and that is okay. Read the tips below to aid with increasing your loved one’s food intake.

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    NO RESTRICTIONS

    When your loved one has a decreased appetite, allow them to choose what foods sound good to them. If they are interested in seconds, offer another portion. If your loved one is on a restricted diet, speak with your physician first before loosening restrictions.

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    AMBIANCE

    Creating an enjoyable eating experience for your loved one is key. This can include eating together at the table, playing soothing music, and presenting the food in an appealing manner.

    MEAL SCHEDULE

    Offer 4-6 small portions throughout the day versus 3 meals. This approach provides manageable portions and variability based on individual’s needs.  

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    FOOD CHOICE

    On days your loved one is not as hungry, offer high calorie options such as nut butters mixed in yogurt or oatmeal, avocado toast or smoothies to boost calories.

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    SIMPLE FLAVORS

    Prepare foods with few spices or flavors. Choosing bland food such as bread, applesauce, rice, or bananas can be helpful or protein with limited seasoning.

    If you notice your loved one is struggling to eat most days (4 out of 7 days), working with a registered dietitian or the team at Silver Lining Home Healthcare can be helpful for a personalized plan for your loved one.

    Simply Nutrition LLC is a registered dietician-owned nutrition and wellness company focused on bettering every client’s relationship with food. They focus primarily on remote interactions (through Telehealth) to enable access to anyone. If you’re interested in learning more, visit their website.

  • Bpc #2: How To Get Your Loved One Out Of Bed

    Bpc #2: How To Get Your Loved One Out Of Bed

    BPC SERIES: A 9-Part Series on BEING a PRIMARY CAREGIVER (BPC)
    Approximately 43.5 million caregivers have provided unpaid care to an adult or child in the last 12 months. *
    This series is dedicated to the heart and soul of this informal, unpaid, caregiving group, the primary caregivers. Silver Lining is dedicated to a healthier Delaware by using our expertise to empower a group of incredible people to give their loved ones the best care possible.

    What is a Primary Caregiver?

    A primary caregiver is the title given to anyone that is primarily (first-up) responsible for caring and providing for another living thing. A primary caregiver could be:the sole available person caring for anotherthe person who cares for another in the primary role (and has additional support people)the individual who lives with the person that needs cared forUltimately, a primary caregiver is responsible for making sure that the person they’re caring for gets the support and care they need. Our goal with the BPC Series is to support this amazing group of primary caregivers with resources, shout outs and access. We see you and we are here for you.

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    * National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S

    Getting safely in and out of bed, or doing transfers of any kind, can be physically taxing. Our resident nurses, Tiffany and Amy, offer these steps in learning the ropes:

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    STEP 1: DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF ASSISTANCE YOUR LOVED ONE CAN PROVIDE YOU. TYPICALLY, IT’S ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

    • Independent – no assistance is needed
    • Partial assist – light assistance is needed (i.e., to get the feet to the edge of the bed, to get them sitting up)
    • Dependent – your loved one can’t get out of bed without someone helping the entire time

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    STEP 2: DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF WEIGHT-BEARING CAPABILITY YOUR LOVED ONE HAS.

    • Full weight-bearing – able to fully stand on their own feet/own accord
    • Partial weight-bearing – able to stand but not able to put all their weight down (common in hip and knee surgeries)
    • No weight-bearing – unable to stand or bear weight on their own

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    STEP 3: DECIDE ON YOUR METHOD:

    For someone who is dependent or non-weight-bearing, you MUST use an assistive device to safely get them out of bed. A hoyer lift is the type of equipment you will need. They come in manual or electric options as well as  floor or ceiling options. If the hoyer device will be temporary, renting a it may be most beneficial. Go through your insurance company first. If the hoyer lift will be permanent, then adapting the floor layout, home modifications and adjusting the type of lift is necessary.

    For someone who is a partial assist, there are a variety of options. If you can safely get them to the edge of the bed on your own, there are sit-to-stand lifts, transfer boards and walkers that can safely allow them to pivot to a chair. A transport chair or light wheelchair is a preferred type of seating to transfer to in these cases.

    If you can’t safely get your loved one to the edge of the bed on your own, then look at adjustable bedframes/hospital bed options (for two-person beds, there are adjustable beds that offer different settings for both sides) so you can elevate the head of the bed prior to turning your loved ones legs to hang over the side of the bed. This eliminates you lifting them up and straining your back.

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    STEP 4: LEARN PROPER BODY MECHANICS!

    You can’t care for your loved one if you are hurt. Always bend your knees/hips and keep your back straight. Lift with your legs (not your back), and keep your loved one as close to your body as possible (pretend you’re dancing!). NEVER twist. Here are some additional resources that offer direction on proper body mechanics:

    Body Mechanics During Transfers for Caregivers

    Prevent Injury! Use Proper Body Mechanics for Lifting and Transferring

    ALWAYS TALK TO YOUR PHYSICIAN

    If you anticipate your loved one will have issues getting out of bed, ask your physician for a Physical Therapy home health referral. A trained professional can assess your situation, provide recommendations, and discuss appropriate exercises. This should be covered by most major medical insurance policies.

    Visit our YouTube channel for talks around aging topics and to watch our Coffee Chats with Tiffany where RN Tiffany Rubin talks about matters you care about.

  • Bpc#1: How To Get The Right Medical Equipment

    Bpc#1: How To Get The Right Medical Equipment

    BPC SERIES: A 9-Part Series on BEING a PRIMARY CAREGIVER (BPC)
    Approximately 43.5 million caregivers have provided unpaid care to an adult or child in the last 12 months. *
    This series is dedicated to the heart and soul of this informal, unpaid, caregiving group, the primary caregivers. Silver Lining is dedicated to a healthier Delaware by using our expertise to empower a group of incredible people to give their loved ones the best care possible.

    What is a Primary Caregiver?
    A primary caregiver is the title given to anyone that is primarily (first-up) responsible for caring and providing for another living thing. A primary caregiver could be:the sole available person caring for anotherthe person who cares for another in the primary role (and has additional support people)the individual who lives with the person that needs cared forUltimately, a primary caregiver is responsible for making sure that the person they’re caring for gets the support and care they need. Our goal with the BPC Series is to support this amazing group of primary caregivers with resources, shout outs and access. We see you and we are here for you.

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    * National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S

    Getting the right durable medical equipment or DME (which is the official umbrella term for any medical equipment like walkers, wheelchairs, canes, etc.) can be cumbersome and difficult. Why? Because in order for an insurance company to approve DME, they need information from your physician (and sometimes this includes backdated notes/information). If your insurance company approves the DME, then the DME company needs to get you what you need and submit a reimbursement claim to the insurance company. Medicare, through which a lot of individuals over 65 get their DME, has a list of approved DME. They’ll cover 80% of the allowable cost. You cover 20% plus your Part B deductible.

    You can typically get equipment in two main ways:

    1. Pay for it out of pocket. This makes it easier to pick what you want and you typically can get it faster because the insurance company doesn’t have to be involved..
    2. Use your insurance. This usually means it’s free or you have a low co-pay. It may take more time to get it, but not having to pay for it is a plus, especially if it’s something expensive like a hoyer lift.

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    RESOURCES

    Tomorrow Health is an excellent resource in helping you find the right medical equipment and in navigating your way through the insurance process. They’ll work with your doctor and your insurance to get you the right products at the right prices.

    DME Supply USA is an online DME store through which you can view, sort, and purchase DME.

    Visit our YouTube channel for talks around aging topics and to watch our Coffee Chats with Tiffany where RN Tiffany Rubin talks about matters you care about.

  • Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Assistance at Home

    Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Assistance at Home

    For many people, parents are role models who help to shape their decision-making processes. Parents teach right from wrong, healthy from harmful, and how to care for oneself. However, aging parents can get stuck in their ways and may ignore the very advice that they offer to you. 

    If you’ve noticed that one of your aging parents struggles with chores and self-care, you should reach out to Coastal Home Care. We offer numerous at-home care options so that your loved one can remain self-sufficient in their own house. Our patients throughout Sussex County, DE, receive companion care services, Alzheimer’s or dementia care, hospice support, or medication management. And these services aren’t one-size-fits-all. We create a “Plan of Care” for each patient to promote personalized, flexible support that fits your parent’s needs. 

    Here, we outline the shifts in daily tasks, moods, or conditions that could signal a need for companion caregiver:

    Changes in Physical Appearance and/or Activity

    You may first notice some bodily changes in a parent. Sudden weight change, for instance, may attest to a struggle with cooking, diet, or grocery shopping. Likewise, poor hygiene and sloppy appearance can speak to difficulties with self-care. 

    Daily activities may change as well. A parent might start struggling with routines: bathing, dressing, toileting, or even moving around. Likewise, a sudden loss of motivation or interest in hobbies suggests that they struggle with doing these formerly amusing endeavors. 

    The prospect of a senior care center tends to alarm older adults, as they equate it with a loss of autonomy. But Coastal Home Care services promote aging in place, where seniors can choose to live and age in their own homes. Thus, in hiring us, you can assure your loved one that they don’t have to give up their home. 

    Changes in Behavior and/or Mental State

    Oftentimes, the most difficult part of watching a parent age is to see their struggles with moods and mental health. Coastal Home Care offers Alzheimer’s and dementia care specifically for such struggles. Still, you and your family must remain alert for symptoms of these conditions. 

    Along with a general loss of interest and motivation, your loved one may struggle to keep track of time. This frustration, in turn, can increase their confusion and anxiety. Such mood swings are unfortunately common for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. 

    Sleep cycles tend to shift as well. A senior parent may start sleeping into the day, which in turn affects their mood and energy levels. They may also start forgetting to call family members back – again, loss of memory is a distressingly common symptom. 

    Changes in Their Household

    Even if your loved one insists that they are fine, their home may indicate otherwise. After all, taking care of a house or apartment takes a great deal of work. If your loved one struggles with it, the burdens stack up quickly. 

    The most obvious indicators will be mess and clutter: dirty dishes and surfaces, spoiled food, piles of unopened mail, and so on. Additionally, general upkeep tasks like lawn care, snow removal, or trash collection may be noticeably incomplete. 

    These concerns are particularly distressing at a time like now, as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 situation. Our caregivers can help with some light housekeeping for their patients. Plus, with daily testing for themselves and their patients, our senior companion care during COVID-19 helps to keep your family safe. 

    Compassionate Companion Care Now Available In Sussex County, DE

    When a parent ages and shows signs of physical and mental constraints, you can turn to Coastal Home Care for personal care. Our comprehensive companion care, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, hospice support, and other services are available for Sussex County, DE, residents. With us, your loved one can age in place, sustain their quality of life, and remain independent. Call us at (302) 752-1800 or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation. 

  • FALL PREVENTION TIPS – JAMIE VELA, PT

    FALL PREVENTION TIPS – JAMIE VELA, PT

    September is National Falls Prevention Month. The statistics regarding falls in those over the age of 65 are scary. Falls can often be responsible for the dreaded downhill spiral in the aging population, preventing many seniors from returning to Independent Living. Check out these Fall Prevention Tips so that the loved ones in your life can remain aging safely in the comfort of their care environment.

    Regular Exercise to improve Strength and Balance – Use it or Lose it! Now more then ever we need to get our seniors moving again since our pandemic. This is a great time to reach out to your doctor for a refresher or start of Skilled Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy intervention.

    • Regular Medication Review – by your Physician, Nurse Practitioner or Pharmacist. Medications can contribute to falls in adults and regular review and communication with your health care provider is essential. Older adults may also need assist taking their medications correctly due to memory and cognitive deficits.
    • Home Safety Evaluations – thorough evaluation by experts, usually PT’s or OT’s, that go into your home to assess for modifications and equipment needs to enhance safety and reduce fall risk so that seniors can continue to age in place.
    • Hire a Geriatric Care Manager – care managers provide valuable guidance and resources to help with the care of a loved one that can lead to decreased falls and decline. They are able to identify if a loved one can remain aging safely in place or may be better suited for a senior community and then assist with that transition.
    • ‍Recruit Help – This can be from a family member, close friend or hired help in the home or a combination. They can provide assist to help with daily household tasks that present a fall risk, offer protection during transfers, ambulation, activities of daily living, can provide safety reminders, ensure proper medication management and can help a loved one attend regular physician appointments.

    Jamie Vela is an experienced physical therapist and Home Care Specialist with our Capital City Nurses team. She has over 18 years of insight as a physical therapist in both facility and home healthcare landscapes. Jamie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Virginia Teach and a Master’s Degree is Physical Therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University.

    Follow our Pinterest Board for more tips on falls prevention.

  • 4 Ways to Help Your Elder Recover After Surgery

    4 Ways to Help Your Elder Recover After Surgery

    Recovering from surgery is difficult for anyone, but it’s especially hard on elderly folks. Seniors need more time to heal and are prone to injury and infection during their recovery. However, they must also continue with their daily routines for mental well-being.

    If you want to help a loved one sustain a comfortable recovery, hire a trained caregiver from Coastal Home Care. We provide all forms of home caregiving including dementia care, hospice support, and attentive post-operative care to seniors throughout Sussex County, DE. Our personalized, high-quality service has made us a trusted name in caregiving.

    Here, we describe 4 ways you can help your loved one have a speedy recovery after a surgical procedure:

    Organize Their Home For Their Needs

    After an operation, it will be difficult for your elder loved one to move around his or her (or your) home as normal. It will also be difficult for him or her to reach for important items like phones, remotes, plates, glasses, and more. A crucial aspect of post-surgery care involves reorganizing to accommodate the needs of the patient.

    First, you should create open paths throughout the home’s interiors by arranging furniture to clear obstructions in your loved one’s way. Also, move any rugs or other items that present a falling or tripping hazard.

    Then, ask your loved one for the things he or she needs and place the key items within his or her reach. Later on, offer to get any other items. And if you live in a two-story home, create a comfortable sleeping area on the ground floor so your senior loved one won’t risk him- or herself by going up or downstairs.

    Plan Out What Your Elder Needs

    Before the surgery, try to have everything your loved one may need on hand. Discuss with their physician what the likely effects of the surgery will be and what equipment or other items he or she will need for a comfortable recovery.

    Make a list of the items and purchase them according to the needs of the patient. Planning in this way will ensure both a faster and easier recovery for your loved one as well as a less strenuous experience for you and any caregivers.

    Attend Follow-Up Appointments

    Another way to facilitate a faster recovery is by attending your loved one’s post-op appointments. Although he or she may not have memory issues, the doctors may give overwhelming amounts of details about conditions, recovery needs, and medicine. Hearing all this first-hand can help you accurately remember these details later on.

    Plus, attending appointments with your loved one provides you a chance to ask his or her doctor about questions and concerns you’ve had when taking care of them. You can get the answers needed to ensure you continue giving the best care possible.

    Ensure Support in All Circumstances

    Finally, recognize that not all circumstances are the same. You can manage some challenges, but there will be others where professional help is required. That’s when you’ll want a friendly and expert caregiver from Coastal Home Care.

    Our nurses provide all manner of post-operative care and form personalized care plans that suit each patient’s needs. Hire a trained post-operative care nurse and discuss your loved one’s preferences to ensure they get the care they need.

    Coastal Home Care: Dependable Post-Operative Care in Sussex County, DE

    Seniors struggle with recovering from surgery, but they can return to full health and a higher quality of living with the right support and caregiving. At Coastal Home Care, we aim to ensure that all of our patients get the best personalized post-operative care possible. We also provide other home care services to patients and their families throughout Sussex County, DE. Our quality services are flexible and affordable for almost any schedule and budget.

    Contact us at (866) 687-7307 to learn more and make an appointment with one of our trained post-operative caregivers today.

  • WE ARE HIRING NOW

    WE ARE HIRING NOW

    Thank you to the Wicker and Wilde Morning Show for having our CEO, Tim Hanold, on to talk about the amazing career opportunities we have within our company.

    Want to become a healthcare hero? Take our PCA Class to get started in your career in healthcare.

    Already a healthcare hero? Check out our Careers page for the many openings we currently have in our growing care family.

  • The Best Streaming Services to Subscribe to in Quarantine

    The Best Streaming Services to Subscribe to in Quarantine

    Quarantine is not fun for anyone, but being stuck inside all day doesn’t have to be a drag! When you’re looking for something to do, whether it be while waiting for a grocery delivery, your caregiver preparing your meal or washing laundry – relax by catching up on the latest travel series and indulge in some nostalgia with a Cary Grant film.

    One way you can access these programs is by subscribing to a “streaming” media service. Streaming means online, so you will need a fast internet connection. However, if you’re not looking to upgrade, some services do allow temporary or permanent downloading.

    Let’s chat about some of your best streaming options to make the day more enjoyable and entertaining:

    KANOPY

    Kanopy is a great option if you have a library card because it means you already qualify for a Kanopy subscription, and it’s FREE! Kanopy prides itself on curating a high-quality catalog, making choosing between an Oscar-nominated film, documentary, or just a simple romantic comedy easy. The major drawback is that Kanopy only gives you 9 watch credits per month, which a dedicated movie-watcher can burn through in a week. Many titles on Kanopy aren’t available anywhere else, and since it’s free, it’s worth linking your library card to this service.

    DISNEY+

    This amazing collection of Disney productions features both modern and vintage entertainment. Watch contemporary classics like Avatar or Toy Story or indulge in some nostalgia with Snow White, The Parent Trap, or you can watch the whole Star Wars series. How cool was Carrie Fisher? Disney Plus also hosts educational content, including the entire catalog of National Geographic documentaries. One of the best featured films from National Geographic is called “Free Solo,” and details the expedition of a professional climber, Alex Honnold, who climbs 2,000 feet in Yosemite without rope or any climbing aid! If that’s not for you, you can virtually explore the world with their various other adventure documentaries that explore animals and different ecosystems. And because it’s Disney, you can rest assured that every title is family-friendly and free of graphic violence or other offensive material.

    The service is also relatively affordable. Basic Disney+ only costs $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year. If you’re willing to pay a little extra ($12.99 a month), you can also get Hulu and ESPN+. ESPN+ is a great choice for sports fans, as you can stream live games as they happen. It also offers a wide selection of sports-related documentaries and analytical talk shows.

    HULU

    Hulu boasts one of the largest streaming libraries currently available, and you can subscribe to it as a standalone service for $5.99 a month. If you’re looking for a large library of classics this may not be the one for you (although they do currently have Saturday Night Fever and Good Will Hunting available). However, they often have the best selection of new movies. Quentin Tarantino’s latest, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is available along with the latest Men in Black movie, Men in Black: International, Aquaman and so many more. They’re TV show selection is great for your reality TV show binge watchers, but definitely not for those looking to relax with a cooking or adventure documentary or program. The two big drawbacks are that even though you pay for the service, Hulu will still show ads, and it doesn’t have many exclusives; you can find most of their catalog on other services.

    NETFLIX

    Netflix, the pioneer in TV and movie streaming is still going strong. The company currently offers a basic streaming plan at $8.99 a month, which is a catch. They boast the largest number of exclusives, everything from award-winning Orange is the New Black to foreign shows like The Protector. And their DVD rental service is still going! They always have a great selection of classics from Grease to West Side Story. And if you’re feeling creative in the kitchen or missing the outdoors, Netflix has the best array of cooking, travel, and health and wellness shows to explore without leaving your house. Honestly, just the fact that they have Jeopardy makes it all worthwhile.

    You can check out one ($7.99/month) or two ($11.99/month) DVDs at a time. Keep them as long as you like and take advantage of Netflix’s truly impressive DVD library.

    AMAZON PRIME (Prime Video)

    If you regularly have books or other necessities delivered to your home, consider subscribing to Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime offers customers free two-day delivery on certain products and a comprehensive library of free e-books that you can read on a Kindle or computer screen. And the movies! Amazon’s catalog includes older movies that don’t get much love anymore, such as Grace Kelly and Cary Grant’s “To Catch a Thief.” And many of Audrey Hepburn’s amazing movies: “Roman Holiday,” “Funny Face,” and “War and Peace.”

    Luckily they have a lot of new shows as well that have turned out to be huge hits such as the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. All this for the steal of $9.99 a month.

    HBO MAX

    Long considered the final word in prestige TV, HBO has finally made its catalog available via streaming. They feature much of their own original programming, including shows like True Blood, Game of Thrones, or The Sopranos, and currently continues the trend with the newly released Lovecraft Country. They also have a significant catalog of documentaries, as well-made as their TV shows. The big drawback is that HBO Max is by far the most expensive service on this list, costing $14.99 per month. And most of their titles are newer; they do not host many older films. Lastly, HBO has a well-earned reputation for their racy programming – many of their shows feature profanity, nudity, and violence.

    GOOGLE PAY / APPLE TV

    Google Play and Apple TV are a bit different from the other services listed here. Rather than pay a monthly or yearly fee, you pay per title, and prices vary widely. A mid-range TV show might cost $2.99 per episode, while a popular new film might cost $12.99. You can purchase some TV shows by the episode or the season, with prices varying based on the number of episodes and how recently the show was released.

    Google Play and Apple TV also offer a rental service for many of their movies. You can rent the movie for a fraction of the film’s cost, usually between $2.99 and $4.99. Once you rent a movie, you have 30 days to begin watching it. Once you start watching it, you have 72 hours until the movie gets returned – but you can watch it as often as you like within that time frame.

    The drawback of this one is that if you watch a lot of movies or tv shows, it can get expensive. But once you purchase (not rent) a movie or show, you can download it and have it forever. Additionally, content that is often exclusive to one platform can be found and purchased here.

    OTHERS

    This list gives you only the biggest names. Other services, like CBS All Access or AT&T TV Now, often offer cheaper prices – but at the trade-off of a smaller catalog. But just in case they host a favorite or two of yours, they are worth looking into if you have the time.

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