24 Hour And Hourly Private In-Home Care For The Ones You Love

Call Us At (800) 296-9962

Safe In Home Care

 

The Safety Of In-Home Care

According to Census data in 2014, there are 46.2 million people 65 years or older or 14.5% of the U.S. population, which is about one out of every seven Americans.

It is estimated that by 2060, there will be about 98 million older Americans, which is more than twice the number in 2014.

As a result of this population growth trend, the need for home care services is also increasing. In addition to changes in population demographics, there is a growing preference for seniors to receive care in their home as opposed to a facility such as a nursing home, hospital or assisted living facility.

In fact, nine out of ten senior citizens prefer care in the home over nursing home care.

Safest Home Care Agencies

Seniors Are Safer At Home

There is increasing concern about Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), an infection caused by bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics, as well as exposure to other infectious diseases.

Seniors are most vulnerable to developing infectious conditions due to their lower immune systems and greater contact with others in these medical facilities.

Home care avoids this exposure by providing care in their home and reducing exposure.

Safe Home Caregivers

To have a stranger come into your home requires trust. You need to feel comfortable that the care provider is competent and has been screened properly.

Unique Homecare Services prides itself on being a model for our thorough screening of our caregivers.

Our procedure for screening safe home caregivers is:

• We require medical certificates, TB tests, and doctors’ reports
• Verifications of past employment
• We request and check references
• Thorough background checks.
• Caregivers that are Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) with at least 2 years of experience are our preferred caregivers

We also provide our caregivers with Worker’s Compensation and Liability Insurance.

With our thorough screening process, we make sure that we are sending the best caregivers to represent our company and the best caregivers for our clients.

The Familiar and Comfortable Environment Of Home

Excellent in-home care keeps seniors in their most comfortable environment, their home, which decreases anxiety and confusion.

Home care is proven to be a reliable way to manage chronic conditions and reduce expensive hospital visits.

Research shows that people with in-home health care heal more quickly than in institutions.

Home Care Services

Home health care includes both medical services as well as personal care services. Home health care agencies like ours provide custom tailored, personalized care planning through a thorough In-Home Assessment.

We also help with completing forms and health related paperwork.

We act as a liaison with family members when family members are not in the local area or when they are not available due to other commitments.

About Unique HomeCare Services

Unique HomeCare Services provides private in-home care for elders, those with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, and people who are recuperating from illness, injury, or surgery.

We provide both short-term and long-term in-home care needs from as little as one 4 hour day a week to 24 Hour Care and Live-In Care.

We offer a full range of in-home personal care services including Bathing, Personal Hygiene and Grooming, Dressing Assistance, Toileting and Incontinence, Feeding, and Medication Reminders.

We also provide support services such as Case Management, Accompaniment to Appointments, Nutrition and Meal Management, Light Housekeeping and Laundry Services, Bed and Wheel Chair Transfers, and Shopping and Running Errands.

Unique HomeCare Services is headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts and serves the surrounding Greater Boston communities.

It is our pleasure to assist our veteran clients with VA Aid and Attendance Benefit approval at no cost.

We have an extensive Directory of Online Senior and Caregiver Resources for the information you need.

To schedule a no cost and no obligation In-Home Assessment to determine the home care needs and get a quote, please call us to speak to a Case Manager at (800) 296-9962 or fill out our Free Quote Contact Form.

Is An Individual Caregiver Or A Home Care Agency Better?

 

Is An Individual Caregiver Or A Home Care Agency Better?

When you have the responsibility for the care of a loved one, you do not want to trust just anyone.

If you or a loved one need in-home care, you want a home care agency that has the experience and a track record of helping families put together a plan that is affordable and responsive to the care needs.

Best Homecare Agencies Dedham MA

Home Care Agencies vs. Individual Caregivers

Individual home care providers are individual people providing in-home care by themselves. They may have to juggle the individual needs and schedules of many patients. This makes their availability very limited.

They may get sick, take a vacation, or need to spend more time with another client whose health may be declining.

They also may not have the level of skill needed to care for you or your loved one should health needs become more complex.

Advantages of Working with a Home Care Agency

A home care agency has many caregivers that can be assigned to provide in-home care. There is always coverage if a caregiver is out or away. With more than one caregiver home care agencies have coverage should you need more help.

There are additional staff members with varies skills if more specialized care is needed.

Agencies typically have a wider range of in-home services they can provide.

Agencies fully screen their caregiving staff.

Download the Guide to the Choosing the Best Homecare Agencies for more details.

About Unique HomeCare Services

Unique HomeCare Services provides private in-home care for elders, those with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, and people who are recuperating from illness, injury, or surgery.

We provide both short-term and long-term in-home care needs from as little as one 4 hour day a week to 24 Hour Care and Live-In Care.

We offer a full range of in-home personal care services including Bathing, Personal Hygiene and Grooming, Dressing Assistance, Toileting and Incontinence, Feeding, and Medication Reminders.

We also provide support services such as Case Management, Accompaniment to Appointments, Nutrition and Meal Management, Light Housekeeping and Laundry Services, Bed and Wheel Chair Transfers, and Shopping and Running Errands.

Unique HomeCare Services is headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts and serves the surrounding Greater Boston communities.

It is our pleasure to assist our veteran clients with VA Aid and Attendance Benefit approval at no cost.

We have an extensive Directory of Online Senior and Caregiver Resources for the information you need.

To schedule a no cost and no obligation In-Home Assessment to determine the home care needs and get a quote, please call us to speak to a Case Manager at (800) 296-9962 or fill out our Free Quote Contact Form.

What Is The Cost Of Home Care?

 

In-Home Care Services Are More Affordable Than You Might Think

When you or a loved one needs personal care, deciding on the right type of care can make all the difference in the world. There are several care options.

What Type of Care Do You Need?

If your loved one is in poor or declining health, either mentally or physically, and health care needs are many, an assisted living facility or home care may not be the best option due to the cost involved. In this case, a skilled nursing facility, or nursing home made be a better option.

price of home care

Nursing homes are similar to hospitals because they are more able to provide skilled care to seniors with more intensive or urgent needs. For example, if your loved one needs care around the clock then a skilled nursing facility may be the best option.

What About Assisted Living Facilities?

Assisted living residences may, or may not have licensed nurses on their staff.

Because they are considered non-medical facilities- some assisted living facilities do not have a nurse or doctor connected with them at all. This is because they are not required by law to have a licensed nurse at their agency.

Accordingly, even if the assisted living facility does have a nurse, they cannot give hands-on care such as administering oxygen, dressing a wound, administering insulin 24 hours a day, or other care that is defined by the state and federal governments as “skilled nursing care.”

When is In-Home Care a Good Option?

We recommend that families always do an in-home evaluation to determine the level of care needed before making a decision on the best option. We believe that the individual and family are the best judges of what will work best for them and their unique situation.

We understand that the price of home care Dedham and other communities can be a primary concern for many families looking for in-home medical or non-medical services.

Some people assume that it in-home health care or personal care will be too expensive but if you compare all your options in most cases where the health or other care needs are not that intensive in-home care is your most cost effective option.

The Cost of Home Care

Typically, the price of home care is determined by the number of hours needed. In some cases, there is a 4 hour minimum for homecare services, but you can choose as many or as little services as you feel are necessary.

Hourly rates in Massachusetts, average $25 per hour for a Health Aide. For example, if you need a home health aide 4 hours per day for 5 days per week, then the yearly cost would be approximately $26,000 per year.

Contrast this cost with the yearly cost of a nursing home which is $131,400. Compare this with the yearly cost of a one-bedroom apartment in an assisted living facility which is approximately $55,920, in-home care is so much more cost effective than the other options.

How To Pay For In-Home Care

In-Home care services can be paid for directly by the client or through a variety of public and private funding sources.

These funding sources may include workers’ compensation, Long Term Care Insurance, as well as Medicaid.

About Unique HomeCare Services

Unique HomeCare Services provides in-home care for elders and people who are recuperating from illness, injury, or surgery.

We offer a full range of in-home care services such as personal care, grooming and incontinence care, bathing and dressing, post-hospitalization care, Alzheimer’s and Dementia care, and medication management.

We also provide non-medical support services such as meal planning and preparation, light housekeeping, caring companionship, shopping/errands, accompanying to medical and other appointments, as well as case management services.

Our services are available for long-term and short-term care needs from as little as a one 4 hour day visit a week to 24 Hour and Live-In Care.

We also offer Respite Care services to assist family caregivers going away or with caregiver fatigue.

It is our pleasure to assist our veteran clients with VA Aid and Attendance Benefit approval at no cost.

We have an extensive Directory of Online Senior and Caregiver Resources for the information you need.

Our service area is Boston, Norwood, Dedham, Westwood, Walpole, Canton, Sharon, Stoughton, Avon, Braintree, Easton, Milton, Quincy, Weymouth, and surrounding towns.

To schedule a no cost and no obligation full In-Home Assessment to determine the home care needs of you or your loved one please call us at (800) 296-9962 to speak to a Case Manager or fill out our Free Quote Contact Form.

Aid and Attendance Benefits for Veteran Home Care

 

Aid and Attendance Benefits for Veteran Home Care

Veteran Home Care Benefits

If your loved one is a veteran or you are a spouse of a veteran, you may be eligible for in-home care through the Veterans Administration.

Aid and Attendance and Housebound Improved Pension

Aid and Attendance and Housebound Improved Pension is a pension benefit that not many people know about.  It is available to veterans who have served at least 90 days, with 1 day during wartime.

24 hour in home care

Who Qualifies for the Aid and Attendance Benefits?

You qualify for Aid and Attendance Benefits for Veterans funding if you:

• Are eligible for basic pension benefits

• You require the aid of another person in order to perform Activities of Daily Living, such as bathing, feeding, dressing, toileting, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting yourself from the hazards of your daily environment.

• You are bedridden, in that your disability or disabilities require that you remain in bed apart from any prescribed course of convalescence or treatment,
You are a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity,

• You have corrected visual acuity of 5/200 or less, in both eyes, or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.

Aid & Attendance Benefit for Veterans by www.AUniqueHomecareServices.com

What It Covers

This benefit will cover the cost of home caregivers and nursing or assisted living facilities.

The benefit level can be over $2,000 monthly for a veteran and spouse and over $1000 for the widow of a veteran. The need for services does not have to be because of a service-­related injury.

However, the veteran must require assistance in performing Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

About Unique HomeCare Services

Unique HomeCare Services provides in-home care for elders and people who are recuperating from illness, injury, or surgery.

We offer a full range of in-home care services such as personal care, grooming and incontinence care, bathing and dressing, post-hospitalization care, Alzheimer’s and Dementia care, and medication management.

We also provide non-medical support services such as meal planning and preparation, light housekeeping, caring companionship, shopping/errands, accompanying to medical and other appointments, as well as case management services.

Our services are available for long-term and short-term care needs from as little as a one 4 hour day visit a week to 24 Hour and Live-In Care.

We also offer Respite Care services to assist family caregivers going away or with caregiver fatigue.

It is our pleasure to assist our veteran clients with VA Aid and Attendance Benefit approval at no cost.

We have an extensive Directory of Online Senior and Caregiver Resources for the information you need.

Our service area is Boston, Norwood, Dedham, Westwood, Walpole, Canton, Sharon, Stoughton, Avon, Braintree, Easton, Milton, Quincy, Weymouth, and surrounding towns.

To schedule a no cost and no obligation full In-Home Assessment to determine the home care needs of you or your loved one please call us at (800) 296-9962 to speak to a Case Manager or fill out our Free Quote Contact Form.

Geriatric Care Managers What They Do To Help Seniors

 

Geriatric Care Managers: Helping Seniors and Their Families

geriatric care managers dedham

What is a Geriatric Care Manager?

Geriatric Care Managers are invaluable in helping seniors and their families figure out how to get the care they need.

Seniors health care policies are extremely complicated and to try and understand the benefits and exclusions of these policies can be challenging for seniors and their families.

These are trained professionals who can help you or your loved one with all aspects of the care management and caregiving process.

The Geriatric Care Manager Role

A Geriatric Care Manager works with the family and senior to create and implement a comprehensive short and long-term care plan which enables the senior to maintain their health and independence.

This is accomplished by putting in place staff and services with the highest quality care at the best price. Geriatric care managers have a specialization in caring for seniors, and some can also provide care to people with disabilities, no matter the care needs or age of the client.

Qualifications of a Geriatric Care Manager

Care managers typically have graduate-level degrees in nursing, psychology, social work, or gerontology, and most are certified or licensed.

The Process of Getting Help

When the Geriatric Care managers begin their work, they typically start with an assessment of the person’s needs, which includes exploring the available family and community resources, financial resources, as well as the physical and mental health of the client.

Once the initial evaluation is made and the care plan created, the Geriatric Care Manager continuously monitors and re-evaluates the plan by either advising the family about existing resources or by becoming a member of the long-term care team.

What Do Geriatric Care Managers Do

Generally, geriatric care managers will help with the following:

  • Screen and Assess care needs.
  • Determine the client’s eligibility for financial assistance, problems, and services required.
  • Arrange for and monitor in-home medical care and related services.
  • Provide counseling and support for families, client, and others involved in the caregiving process.
  • Provide advocacy for the client and/or family.
  • Assist a client in changing their living environment, if needed.
  • Assist with coordination and communication between family members and caregivers.
  • Offer crisis intervention, as needed.
  • Make referrals to specialists for medical, legal, dietary, or financial matters.

Custom Care

Geriatric Care Managers tailor each care plan to each individual’s custom needs. Therefore, it is important to make all of your needs known to the Geriatric Care Manager initially when you meet with them.

Benefits of Hiring a Geriatric Care Manager:

Convenience: Not all, but some are available around the clock

Continuity: It is easier for the caregiver to ensure continuity of care

Control of Costs: They coordinate to help keep costs down

Custom Care: Care manager tailors care to your loved ones needs

Flexibility: Having a person who is available at times when you need them, enables you to resume many of your normal activities

Higher Quality Care: Geriatric care managers are governed by standards of quality care set forth by the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers

About Unique HomeCare Services

Unique HomeCare Services provides in-home care for elders and people who are recuperating from illness, injury, or surgery.

We offer a full range of in-home care services such as personal care, grooming and incontinence care, bathing and dressing, post-hospitalization care, Alzheimer’s and Dementia care, and medication management.

We also provide non-medical support services such as meal planning and preparation, light housekeeping, caring companionship, shopping/errands, accompanying to medical and other appointments, as well as case management services.

Our services are available for long-term and short-term care needs from as little as a one 4 hour day visit a week to 24 Hour and Live-In Care.

We also offer Respite Care services to assist family caregivers going away or with caregiver fatigue.

It is our pleasure to assist our veteran clients with VA Aid and Attendance Benefit approval at no cost.

We have an extensive Directory of Online Senior and Caregiver Resources for the information you need.

Our service area is Boston, Norwood, Dedham, Westwood, Walpole, Canton, Sharon, Stoughton, Avon, Braintree, Easton, Milton, Quincy, Weymouth, and surrounding towns.

To schedule a no cost and no obligation full In-Home Assessment to determine the home care needs of you or your loved one please call us at (800) 296-9962 to speak to a Case Manager or fill out our Free Quote Contact Form.

Is a Home Care Agency or an Independent Personal Attendant Better?

 

Is a Home Care Agency or an Independent Personal Attendant Better?

Many families find themselves trying to determine which is the better decision, to hire an independent personal attendant which may have a lower cost versus hiring an agency.

The decision to hire a home care agency or an independent personal attendant should take into account all the factors outlined in this article.

homecare agency

Quick Response

A home care agency has the resources to be able to fill your request more quickly because they have more staff to draw from. Unlike a single person who may be booked with other clients, or unavailable when you need them due to illness or vacations.

Protection

A home care agency is bound by state and federal regulations and standards to which they must comply. All home care agency staff are bonded and insured and have Liability and Workers’ Comp. insurance. So, in the rare case that a caregiver would hurt themselves in your home, they would not sue your homeowner insurance policy. The single independent personal attendant may not have that coverage.

Quality Control

A home care agency typically has a supervisor who manages all cases and supervises all staff to ensure the client and family are satisfied with the care provided.  Family members are communicated with and updated on a regular basis.  The independent care provider reports to no one and may not be held to the same standard of care and communication.

Ongoing Care Training

Most Home care agencies offer continuing education caregiver training as a benefit for employees and as a way to keep quality of care high.  For many agencies, this training is mandatory. The individual personal care attendant may or may not continue to build upon their skills and knowledge.

Background Checks

Home care agencies routinely screen applicants carefully at the time of hire.  Many have several types of background checks. For independent personal attendants, it is your responsibility to check the background of the individual.

Variety of Care Available

With Home Care agencies you have access to a full range of care providers as the needs of your loved one change.   If the amount of care or the level of skill needed changes-home care agencies can fill your needs.  With the independent care provider- the skills are fixed to the particular individual, so if the needs of your loved one change you have to search for additional providers to help. This is not always practical in an emergency situation.

About Us

Unique HomeCare Services provides care for seniors and people who are recuperating from illness, injury, or surgery. We offer a full range of personal and in-home care services such as personal care, grooming and incontinence care, bathing and dressing, post-hospitalization care, Alzheimer’s and Dementia care, and medication management.

We also provide non-medical support services such as meal planning and preparation, light housekeeping, caring companionship, shopping/errands, accompanying to medical and other appointments, as well as case management services.

We can also assist you with VA Aid and Attendance Benefit approval.

Our service area is Boston, Norwood, Dedham, Westwood, Walpole, Canton, Sharon, Stoughton, Avon, Braintree, Easton, Milton, Quincy, Weymouth, and surrounding towns.

To schedule a no cost and no obligation full In-Home Assessment to determine the home care needs of you or your loved one please call us at (800) 296-9962 to speak to a Case Manager or fill out our Free Quote Contact Form.

In Home Care for Seniors: Why It’s So Important

 

In-Home Care for Seniors Is Essential As Seniors Age

 

in homecare for seniors dedham

In-home care for seniors is one of the most essential services these days for helping seniors live at home for as long as possible.

Home Care Enables Seniors To Live Independently

Many seniors fear going into a nursing home or other institution and want to live at home for as long as possible.

You may have noticed signs that your loved one needs help.

Home care agencies provide a full range of in-home care services that enable seniors to live at home for as long as they are able. For some seniors, living at home gives them greater choice and freedom.

About Unique HomeCare Services

Unique HomeCare Services provides in-home care for elders and people who are recuperating from illness, injury, or surgery.

We offer a full range of in-home care services such as personal care, grooming and incontinence care, bathing and dressing, post-hospitalization care, Alzheimer’s and Dementia care, and medication management.

We also provide non-medical support services such as meal planning and preparation, light housekeeping, caring companionship, shopping/errands, accompanying to medical and other appointments, as well as case management services.

Our services are available for long-term and short-term care needs from as little as a one 4 hour day visit a week to 24 Hour and Live-In Care.

We also offer Respite Care services to assist family caregivers going away or with caregiver fatigue.

It is our pleasure to assist our veteran clients with VA Aid and Attendance Benefit approval at no cost.

We have an extensive Directory of Online Senior and Caregiver Resources for the information you need.

Our service area is Boston, Norwood, Dedham, Westwood, Walpole, Canton, Sharon, Stoughton, Avon, Braintree, Easton, Milton, Quincy, Weymouth, and surrounding towns.

To schedule a no cost and no obligation full In-Home Assessment to determine the home care needs of you or your loved one please call us at (800) 296-9962 to speak to a Case Manager or fill out our Free Quote Contact Form.