5 Myths About Home Care

There are many common assumptions made about home care, so let's take some time to debunk 5 of the most frequent misconceptions:

FACT: Home care is for EVERYONE!

There is no aspect of home care services that make them irrelevant for everyone except a certain age group. Our caregivers can help newborn babies get the care they need so their parents can rest AND assist seniors with showering so they can be comfortable and clean. As mentioned in our article "How Do I Know if Home Care is Right for Me?" - anyone who has ever wished for help can benefit from service. Since home care services are non-medical in nature, we are able to assist a wide variety of patrons without any disruption to the methods or techniques we employ to assist them. Someone recovering from recently delivering a baby, a recent major surgery, or a bad day with arthritic knees all benefit from someone helping them take a bath, driving them to a doctor's appointment, or taking care of their dishes while they sit and rest. Caregivers offer help with people's Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), which are universal among all of us, regardless of age.

FACT: We have no eligibility requirements to qualify for home care!

All you need to do to be "worthy" of needing home care is want some help! Home care isn't exclusively for folks who are bedbound, sick, or paralyzed. We can help people with those conditions and often do, but they aren't the only scenarios that make home care necessary. The human experience is varied and unique to every single person - sometimes you just need someone to talk to and spend time with you. Sometimes you need someone to look after your sick child so you don't miss work. Sometimes you need help getting to a scheduled surgery because all your usual helpers are unavailable. No request is too small or insignificant - we're here to help. And when you're ready to get back on your feet, we will go help others.

FACT: Homecare is the most affordable option available!

Senior living facilities and adult family homes provide an incredible and very important service in our communities, but they can be extremely cost-prohibitive to many, or may be more than a family needs right away. Home care is a more affordable option that helps bridge the gap and keep seniors living independently at home for as long as possible. Home care agencies like ours offer more flexible scheduling models to help clients only get the care they need and nothing more, saving time and critical finances. Insurance also frequently covers home care services, typically approving a number of hours per month so families can get the care they need. There are also programs aimed specifically at helping family caregivers get respite care, such as the Washington Lifespan Respite Voucher Program, which allows eligible family caregivers to get up to $1000 of service covered. We'll never discourage anyone from looking into facilities as a care option - what matters most is getting the care that's right for you or your family member - but home care can be a great way to get the help you need without breaking the bank.

FACT: Individualized care is more possible with home care

While facilities and family homes can offer excellent quality of care to their clients, they're limited by the volume of clients they care for. Qualified caregivers can only spend so much time with residents because many others need their attention as well. With in-home care, you are scheduling and paying for a personal caregiver for yourself or your family member, ensuring that their specific needs are being catered to for the full duration of scheduled care. You have a say over what aspects of care are focused on AND the care is provided in a familiar, comfortable environment. When a good relationship is formed between client and caregiver, the best quality care is received.

FACT: Home care allows seniors and those with disabilities to stay living independently longer

Independence is important. It makes us feel like ourselves, makes us feel like we have agency and can make choices about our lives and how we live them. Many people, especially seniors, feel that home care is a step backward - an admission that they can no longer do what they used to. It can feel like giving up what sense of agency remains, but the truth is home care actually allows folks to remain independent, in their homes, and in charge of their lives for as long as possible. Home care is a way to get assistance with things that are harder than they used to be, such as standing for long periods of time to make a meal or do the dishes. It's a tool at your disposal, like a cane or a screwdriver - it makes things easier, simpler, more accessible. Booking with a home care agency means taking your care into your own hands: you set the schedule, you determine how you want to be helped, and you instruct how you'd like things to be done. Your care, on your terms, in your own home.

There are many myths about home care and these are only a few. It's a complicated service that requires trust and building strong relationships, but when done well, home care is a deeply personalized form of care that saves and changes lives for millions of people around the world.