VNA Answer Nurse: Private Care

Paula Thibideau is a Licensed Practical Nurse with the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) and coordinates all aspects of community wellness for the non-profit home healthcare agency.

I’m considering hiring a companion for my elderly parents. They used to enjoy an active social life. Now, they spend most days at home. How can private care help?

It’s true, as we age, sometimes activities fall to the wayside due to illness and/or physical limitations. With private care services, mom and dad can remain independent and get back to living life while aging safely in the comfort of their own home.

Private care means a flexible schedule

Private care is a self-pay service. Clients create a schedule tailored specifically to individual needs. Whatever time of day that extra helping hand is needed, private care can be scheduled: morning, noon or night, seven days a week. Maybe help is needed for the morning routine or a visit is needed to prepare and serve the evening meal. Private care is the right help when it’s needed most. 

Transportation

There’s always a need for errands like shopping, picking up prescriptions, making sure appointments are kept or just planning a fun outing. Private care provides the transportation and services needed to manage daily life.

Light housekeeping

Tailored to each client’s unique needs, clients determine what they need most. It could be help with small chores like meal preparation, doing dishes or taking out the trash. Maybe your parents need help with laundry, changing linens or organizing a pantry. Whatever the need, there are extra helping hands available.

Companionship

Whether it’s daily companionship or a few hours of respite care weekly to take a much-needed break from caregiver responsibilities, companions become trusted friends and can be scheduled any time of day, any day of the week.

Safety

Part of making sure your loved one is safe means choosing a reputable agency, one that is licensed, insured and has their own staff. Ask about the policies and procedures in place which ensure the highest quality of care is provided. The benefit of hiring from an agency instead of a registry is knowing the individual looking after your parents, and their home, has been properly vetted, at the very least has completed a background check and drug screen. Part of safety is personal safety. Simple “safety checks” can be arranged to make sure mom and dad are eating properly, taking medication correctly or making sure their home is organized and clutter free.

This information is for educational purposes. Please consult your physician for any medical issues. The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) is committed to bringing trusted and quality private and home health care to Brevard County patients from Titusville to Barefoot Bay.

For more information about VNA services, call 321-752-7550 or visit www.vnatc.com.