Definition of Home Care Services

Overnights

Awake Night Shift

An awake night shift is where the Caregiver is expected to remain awake at night to assist with nighttime duties such as toileting or agitation. Note: Generally, awake night shift rates are more than the daytime rate.

Sleeping Night Shift

Sleeping night shift means that a Caregiver should be available in case of an incident, but that they don’t need to be awake and alert at all times. Note: Generally, sleeping night shifts rates are less than the daytime rate.

Live-In

Live-in Caregivers are paid a flat daily rate for 24 hrs. Usually between $160.00-$250.00 per day, for a Care Seeker to have a Caregiver at a live-in rate (which is usually cheaper than the hourly rate) is required that the live in Caregiver have at least 8 hours of rest and sleep during the night. And if the Caregiver can’t sleep through the night, then it should be the full awake night shift rate. Caregivers should discuss with the Care Seeker to find out what is expected of the family when it comes to meals. Most Caregivers will buy and prepare their own food if required.

Medication Reminders

Families typically need someone to support their loved one’s medication adherence, not to physically administer the pills. Medication reminders are a nonmedical service provided by a Caregiver. Caregivers do not administer medications-but they do ensure medication is taken safety and regularly. Remembering to take medications requires a regularly scheduled Caregiver to remind a forgetful client when it is time to take their medication. They can help with reading the instructions provided, assist with opening the blister pack and setting the client up to take their own medication. To ensure medications don’t run out, they can also go to the pharmacy or arrange for renewals. 

Meals

Caregivers working in home care perform a range of domestic duties to help their elderly clients continue to live comfortable, safe, and fulfilling lives in their own homes. In addition to assisting them with their activities of daily living, Caregivers often help plan, shop for, and prepare meals for their clients, ensuring that their diets are compatible with their health condition while providing fresh, nutritious, and tasty meals. Dietary restrictions and particular requirements when it comes to what individuals can eat is very important in preventing any complications from choking, diabetes, decreased appetite or weight loss.

Dressing & Grooming

Dressing and grooming are part of a person’s "Activities of Daily Living," or “ADL’s” and includes oral hygiene, denture care, shaving, hair care, make up, hearing aids, glasses and dressing. Assisting with ADL activities is one of the primary responsibilities Caregivers have when helping clients.

Personal Care

Caregivers trained to provide a range of essential daily tasks that are specialised to meet patient's personal care needs to make them more comfortable. Some of these include: personal hygiene such as washing and bathing, mouth care, preventative skincare; assistance with toileting; dressing; assistance with medication; transferring or positioning into a chair, vehicle or bed; assistance with eating; assistance in therapeutic exercises, companionship and emotional support.

Companionship

Companions offer non-medical home care services to older adults or people with disabilities. Companion care differs from personal care in that Health Care Assistants (also known as Community Support Workers) may provide the same services as companion care but also help with personal care and medications. Companions provide social and emotional support.

Companions perform some or all the following duties:

• Routine house cleaning

• Act as a partner for favorite pastimes such as board games or cards, walking and other leisure activities

• Shop for groceries and personal items

• Perform errands on behalf of the Care Recipient

• Meal planning and grocery shopping

• Prepare and serve meals, independently or with the Care Recipient

• Planning and scheduling appointments and social activities

• Transportation to appointments and other activities

• Socialization and entertainment

• Communicating with family members and other care team professionals

• Help with home organization

• Provide pet care

Housekeeping

Housekeeping serves to maintain a safe and comfortable home by helping with light duty cleaning in the Care Recipients home (National Occupational Classification). Housekeepers perform some or all the following duties:

• Sweep, mop, wash, wax and polish floors

• Dust furniture and vacuum carpeting and area rugs, draperies and upholstered furniture

• Make beds, change sheets and distribute clean towels and toiletries

• Attend to requests for extra supplies

• Stock linen closet and supplies area

• Clean, disinfect and polish kitchen and bathroom fixtures and appliances

• Pick up debris and empty trash containers

• Wash inside windows, walls and ceilings

• Report and store lost and found items

Transportation

This is not a standalone service. Please note that transportation services are ONLY included as part of a Caregivers home care services and they must have a valid driver’s license and clean drivers abstract. The Caregiver will be driving the older adult’s car and you’ll need to notify their auto insurance company. Your Caregiver can drive them but book a minimum two hour visit to transport your loved one to appointments, errands, shopping of all types, or an important event. The client must be able to transfer in and out of the car with some assistance, be able to ambulate for short distances and have a cashless way of paying for expenses.

Exercise

Senior citizens may have diminished physical health and mobility and they need a Caregiver to assist them to exercise. If in hospital, a patient is more likely to result in going home sooner knowing rehabilitation will continue following discharge. A post-discharge physical therapy program following hospitalisation, illness or injury under the guidance of a Physical Therapist can be helped by the Caregiver to set up exercise activities and join the client on outdoor activities

Pet Care

When a client becomes ill or they are unable to care for themselves, families do not have to make any hard decisions with separating a beloved pet from its owner. It is generally a good idea to allow that pet to remain a part of the care recipient’s life if it is safe to do so. WeBookCare recognizes this and identifies Caregivers who have a work environment preference for pets and can help with pet care as part of their home care service offerings.

Shopping (same as Transportation)

Respite

Caregiving for an elderly, ill, or disabled family member is a demanding job and no one should have to do it all alone. Finding respite care services can provide a vital break. Respite care provides one-time or regularly booked relieve for a family Caregiver, enabling much needed time off from the demands of caring for a loved one. Respite care can take place at the home car location, at a nursing facility or in the hospital. Overnight stays and day visits are the most common respite home care schedules. Whether it’s for just a few hours a week or for an extended period, seeking respite care can help ease the burden of family caregiving and help to relieve stress, restore your energy, and promote balance in your life. It can also prevent you from becoming exhausted, isolated, or even burned out. Respite care can benefit the person you’re caring for, too, providing them with variety, stimulation, and a welcome change of routine.

Seeking respite care and having time away to take care of your own health are central to preventing burnout as a Caregiver.  It is not selfish to need time to your self and you shouldn’t feel guilty. If you are overwhelmed by the daily responsibilities of Caregiver, your patience will wear thin and resentment may build. It will be harder on your relationship with the person you are caring for and you both probably feel unfulfilled. Book WeBookCare for a break to recharge your life. You’ll feel more energetic, organised and in control about your role as a primary Caregiver. You may even be able to get on with your life and enjoy new or old pastimes in your spare time. A refocus will help you to tackle common problems you face as a caregiver, helping to make the caregiving journey a more enjoyable and rewarding experience for both you and the loved one in your care.

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