The care of your aging loved ones is never a decision that should be taken lightly. Many seniors wish to remain in their homes instead of moving into a retirement home, but often require some level of home care to ensure they remain safe and healthy.

To choose a method of home care that’s best-suited for your parent or loved one, you should first understand the difference between hiring a skilled home health agency versus a personal caregiver agency.

Home Health Care Agencies

Does your loved one require some level of medical care? Home care aides are Registered Nurses (RNs), Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, or similar professionals trained to understand the nuances of senior care. They will assist with needs such as medical tests, health monitoring, medication administration, and therapy.

If your loved one is recovering from a procedure, agencies can arrange for short intermittent visits from a certified nursing assistant (CNA) to ensure that they are healing well. RNs and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are provided for more advanced nursing visits that require wound care, post-surgical needs, medication administration, or catheter care.

Caregiver Agencies

In contrast, the staff at caregiver agencies often lack formal medical training and are considered to be either “unskilled” or “non-clinical.”

While these caregivers provide companionship for seniors and services such as house cleaning, meal preparation, and dressing, many can’t administer proper medical supervision and treatment. This can be a drawback for seniors who suffer from dementia or have a chronic illness that requires consistent monitoring or care.

 

Care IV Home Health has been the in-home health care company that Arkansas residents have turned to since 1993. Their home health team is trained to accommodate family members in the comfort of their own home, with services that range from scheduled visits to providing a live-in nurse for around-the-clock care. Visit their website to learn more about their home care services, and call (501) 686-2400 to speak with a member of their team.