Common Misconceptions
“CAREGIVERS WORK HARD EACH AND EVERY DAY TO ENGAGE AND ENRICH THEIR CLIENT’S LIFE AND ENVIRONMENT. IT’S SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST SUPERVISING; IT’S BUILDING A COMPANIONSHIP WHILE PROVIDING QUALITY CARE.”
There are many misconceptions about home care, and our goal is to make sure our clients know fact from fiction. Here’s a list of some of the most common misconceptions and why they simply aren’t true.
Misconceptions:
1. Home care is only for sick people. Home care is not only for those who are sick; it’s for anyone who wants to maintain their independence in their home. Whether someone is recovering from an injury or just needs assistance in a few activities of daily living, our services can benefit a wide range of individuals. The amount of needed care can range from large to small amounts, and statistics show that people have more longevity when they are in their home environment.
2. Home care is expensive. Home care is not always 24-hour care, and even small amounts of care can go a long way. Home care will usually stand as the most cost-effective option when comparing the cost of services between home care and facility care.
3. Caregivers aren’t trustworthy. Oftentimes, people will question the reliability of the caregivers that will be entering their home. Caregivers through any home care agency are vetted carefully, with extensive background checks, drug tests, lifetime fingerprints, and a lengthy care specific questionnaire. This ensures that each caregiver entering your home has been thoroughly screened and has met high standards of character and professionalism.
4. Home care is only for those who lack independence. As a home care agency, it is our goal to secure your independence. Having an in-home caregiver does not mean sacrificing your impact and your independence. In many cases, utilizing home care has maintained that independence.
5. Home care is merely babysitting. Caregivers work hard every day to engage and enrich their client’s life and environment. It’s so much more than just supervising; it’s building companionship while providing passionate, quality care.
6. My family is already helping, so I don’t need in-home care. Anyone who has been in a caregiver position knows that a lot of time can be spent assisting with activities of daily living such as bathing, preparing meals, or monitoring medications. Having home assistance gives families more bonding time with their loved ones, and prevents them from being stretched too thin.
7. Home care is only for seniors. We provide care for a wide range of people recovering from various surgical procedures, such as knee replacement, hip replacement, and even C-sections. There are so many recovery platforms in which assistance with daily living can be very beneficial, not just with seniors.
8. Seniors who require 24-hour care are not qualified for home care. You are qualified for care, no matter how much care you need. From short-term to long-term, we are here to provide you with the care you need whenever you need it.
9. The client has no say over who is in their home. When introducing a new caregiver to a home, we always start with introductions. If a client does not like the set caregivers, we will replace them. Clients have total control over who is in their home, always.
10. An in-home caregiver will replace the role of my family and friends. While providing companionship, caregivers will only be taking on tasks that your family and friends are not comfortable with or unable to do.
11. An in-home caregiver will take over my loved ones’ care plan. We are employees, so we are only there to facilitate the care plans and wishes of families and not to institute our own. Your ability to make decisions and voice needs and desires will always be prioritized.
12. Caregivers don’t care about their clients. We love our clients. Across the board, caregivers have one trait in common: their love for the people they take care of. You can’t do this job and perform well without having true compassion for those in your care.
If you would like access to more information about the ins and outs of home care in our area, we recommend visiting The Southwestern Indiana Regional Council on Aging (SWIRCA) website. Here you can find a plethora of information and lists of agencies that provide care. They can also provide you with additional resources and funding programs.
Additional sources of reliable information include the Indiana State Department of Health the Indiana Association of Home, Care.com, and Aging.com.