What are the types of services offered in home care?

Finding the right home care service can feel overwhelming. With so many options available, how do you choose a service that is right for your loved one?

Home care agencies offer a wide range of services. Whether your loved one needs occasional assistance with household chores, or hours of specialized care to help with a chronic condition, you’re sure to find a solution that works for your family’s needs.

In-home caregivers are trained to offer everything from companionship to medical support. Most importantly, they provide your loved one a sense of independence, allowing them to stay comfortably in their own home for as long as possible.

Let’s take a look at the different types of home care services available. Understanding all your options can help you make the best, most informed decision possible.

Types of Home Care Services Offered

Services to Support an Aging In Place Lifestyle

Most people want to remain independent, live in a familiar home setting and be able to perform their usual daily activities for as long as possible.

Some people assume that in-home caregiving is only for medical reasons. This isn’t true. Home care services are also about supporting a healthy aging in place lifestyle. Caregivers can help support all aspects of a healthy independent lifestyle, and visits can be short – under an hour long, in some cases.

Companion care, for instance, helps keep clients connected to the world socially through conversation, games and other shared activities. Loneliness is a serious challenge for many seniors, especially those who have physical limitations.

Maintaining an entire home can be a struggle for many people over time. Household support services help with daily chores like laundry, organization, meals and pet care, so your home is kept safe and clean.

Lifestyle support services help keep people active and engaged on a day-to-day basis by managing all the little details of their lives. Caregivers can help with running errands, transportation to appointments, taking medication and encouraging an active, social life.

Support for Life Transitions

Growing older comes with many joys, but it can also be a time with a lot of challenges and transitions. Dealing with changes in health can be difficult, but with an added support system in place, your loved one can regain their confidence and continue to live an independent lifestyle.

Personal care services help clients with essential daily activities that have become difficult due to age or disability. For example, a caregiver may help with tasks like bathing, dressing, bathroom needs and mobility assistance.

Returning back home after a stay in a hospital or nursing facility can feel overwhelming to many people, especially if there are new routines and physical limitations to get used to. Transitional care makes it easier to settle into a new routine and feel more comfortable re-acclimating to their home.

Caregivers can also provide extra support throughout the day, such as physical therapy exercises, which promotes a faster, healthier recovery.

Care for Chronic Conditions

If your loved one has a chronic condition like diabetes, COPD or heart disease, properly managing symptoms is crucial to remain independent. Caregivers can help assist with administering medication, encouraging physical activity, helping with healthy meal prep and monitoring for symptoms that may require further medical attention.

People with dementia and Alzheimer’s face unique challenges, and caring for them requires a compassionate, specialized approach. It’s especially important to hire a caregiver who provides a safe, structured and cognitively engaging routine.

Hiring through an agency with rigorous training programs helps ensure that you’ll be placed with a caregiver who has the proper training and experience in working with individuals with chronic conditions.

Respite Care

As of 2024, two-thirds of all family caregivers say that they find it difficult to balance caretaking duties and their jobs, so much so that they simply don’t have time to rest. Many family caregivers are under an immense amount of pressure and struggle with burnout.

Respite care is here to complement your care, giving you a chance to recover and handle other parts of your life. Professional caregivers can handle physically or emotionally challenging tasks, as well as help you manage your loved one’s conditions. Always remember that your needs, health and well-being matter too.

End of Life Care

End of life care provides peace and personalized care to clients and their families during a difficult, emotional time. Caregivers help manage pain and other symptoms, ensuring that your loved one is comfortable and well-cared for in a familiar home setting.

There’s no doubt that end of life can be challenging for everyone, and a caregiver can help address the emotional needs of the individual and their whole family.

Visit Types

How long will a caregiver visit be? How often will a caregiver visit during the week? It all depends on you or your loved one’s needs, and the requirements of the agency you go with.

Before hiring a caregiver, talk to an agency representative so you fully understand what a visit will be like. Many agencies have different requirements: some may require a minimum number of hours per week, or a minimum amount of time per visit, even if you don’t necessarily need that level of care.

Quick Assistance Visits

Need help with essential daily tasks like taking medications, preparing a meal or hygiene care? A quick visit typically takes under an hour and gives you that little bit of extra support you need to carry on with the rest of your day.

Extended Support Visits

If you or your loved one requires extra help throughout the day, extended support provides several hours of care. A caregiver can help support more complex tasks like running errands.

Respite care also falls under this category. A caregiver will provide your loved one with hours of care, so you have time to rest and manage the rest of your life.

On-Demand Care

Care needs aren’t always predictable. That’s where On-Demand Care comes in.

Tandem Care’s unique service allows clients to pay a small monthly fee, enabling them access to care at a la carte rates during regular service hours. It’s the perfect solution for individuals who don’t require regular care but want some occasional help with tasks like running errands or getting to appointments.

Interested in learning more about Tandem Care and our available home care services? Reach out to us today and learn how our services can be tailored to your family’s unique needs.