FAQs
Household Maintenance
Houses require a great deal of work to keep them in order. If it is difficult for you or your loved one to keep up with the various cleaning or maintenance needs of the household, then it may be important to get help to be able to stay on top of things.
Personal Care
There may come a time when everyday living activities become more problematic. You or your loved one may require support when taking baths, getting dressed, or preparing meals. Personal care can be provided on a part-time to full-time basis. They also help with some health needs such as medication reminders, taking blood pressure, and so on.
Global Health services and family support
Each individual has their own special family structure and support system. When making decisions that will affect both the individual and their support system, it is important to consider a few things such as: family structure, culture, and expectation of services. Jobs, distance, budge, or other family commitments may not allow for certain support options. The level of care needed also affects these decisions. That is why it is so important to have a discussion with the family so that the decisions made are the best one for everyone. Having the discussion before serious issues arise gives people the ability to be aware of what to do when needed. If there are questions as to what should be done, Global Health has care managers that will provide home assessments and then give their own opinion for the family to consider. Knowing and understanding the concerns of everyone gives one the ability to make the best choice possible.
While the family support system may be strong, many families seek outside help as well. It may feel uncomfortable at first having new people in the home, but having a family member as the primary caregiver is emotionally and physically tiring. It’s important that the primary caregiver is supported as well, so they can care for themselves during this time.
How do I know if a loved one or I could benefit from services offered by Global Health Care?
As we get older we become more set in our ways and there is a strong desire to stay in the comfort and familiarity of our home. For those who need a little help with daily living tasks, or is in need of after surgery care, getting some home care support is a very viable option. When life takes a turn many individuals make the hasty decision to move their loved ones or themselves out of their home. This can make the situation that much more difficult for your loved one to accept. It is important to consider all your options, your available funds, and available alternatives before making any decisions.
How can my loved one or I remain in the home?
As human beings we are accustomed to taking care of ourselves. We may depend upon our family or spouses to help us out on occasion, but we still want our independence. As life happens and things change it is important to know about the services that can help you stay in your home. Your needs or the needs of your loved one, is dependent on health conditions, the amount of support needed, the amount of support already in place, and budgetary restrictions.
I am concerned about the welfare of my loved one, is there something I can do?
It is possible that you have begun to notice some things that cause you to be concerned about your loved one, such as dirty clothes, a messy home, poor hygiene, or other unusual behaviour. There may have also been an incident where they fell or are starting to forget things.
It is scary and often difficult to watch a loved one lose the ability to care for themselves. Whether the change comes about slowly or suddenly it is hard to see a loved one suffer. Whatever the reason for the change, it is important to talk with them if you are concerned and try to work together to find the best solution.
Here are some suggestions for talking with your loved one:
If they are resistant, try to find the reason why.
It is possible that they don’t recognize they need help, or are afraid of losing their independence. It may be difficult for them to acknowledge and accept that they are in need of assistance. They may be lonely due to the loss of a loved one or the inability to get out and about. If that is the case, it is possible that they are suffering from depression as well.
Don’t accuse them, just address your concerns calmly.
It may make them less defensive and more open to the suggestion of getting some help. It would sound better if you were to say ‘I’m concerned that all your needs are not being met. Do you think we should try to work on taking care of you?’, instead of, ‘You obviously cannot care for your own needs anymore. So I’m going to get you help.’
Allow your loved one to participate in decisions so that they can maintain their independence.
There is no reason not to include your loved one in making decisions about their care unless they are mentally or physically unable to participate. Ask them what services they feel they need the most and what services would they feel most comfortable with. It may help if you position it as more of a temporary solution rather than a permanent one.
Get help from others.
If your loved one has friends or family that have gone through the same situation, it may help to have them come and talk to your loved one. Hearing people they know give positive reports could encourage them to take that first step. It may also help if you get their doctor to have a meeting with all of you, or to engage the services of a geriatric care manager. Hearing the facts from a person with no vested interest in the situation may allow your loved one to see things in a different light.
Is your loved one unable to make decisions?
If you are concerned that your loved one is endangering themselves or others due to memory problems or frequent accidents, then it is important to understand that this behavior may be due to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke, etc. If possible, you should have this conversation before your loved one reaches a point where they cannot participate.
You may also consider a Power of Attorney, which is a document that gives another party the legal authority to act on another’s behalf in order to manage legal and financial affairs. This way your loved one can rest easy knowing that their voice will still be heard even when they themselves are unable to do so. Without a power of attorney, you may be able to put in a request for guardianship or conservatorship. If you are confused about your options or about what is the best course of action you, should meet with an advocacy group and an attorney that practices elder law.
Costs of Home Care with Global Health Care
Determining the best course of action for you or your loved one is a big decision not to be taken lightly. It can cause emotional and financial stress. Thankfully, the advances in healthcare gives more options to choose from beyond residential nursing homes. Home care services are becoming a more viable option for many families. Global Health Care offers specialized in-home care and it doesn’t matter where the client lives. Our home care program permits our clients to stay where they feel comfortable while getting the care they need.
Home Care Benefits
Many seniors prefer to maintain their independence and not have to move in with a relative or into a residential nursing home. When living independently is not safe anymore, it is important to know that there is a service that can satisfy both the need for aid and the need for independence. In-home care can span from a few hours a week to requiring 24/7 around-the-clock care. At Global Health, we thoroughly vet and insure our providers, and train them to help with baths, exercise, medication, cooking, light cleaning, and transportation.
Global Health Care provides helpers that can be trusted, and offers flexibility in the level of care required by the client. By doing this, the client gets the care they need in the comfort of their own home. Clients can select the kind of help they need as well as the amount of time they need it. Best of all, clients save money compared to the costs of a nursing home.
Insurance
Advances in healthcare have greatly increased the probabilities of living to the age of 100 or more.
The Ontario government provides different healthcare options. Although they provide support in a great deal of areas, they may not fully cover healthcare services. Truth is, the government does not have to pay for assisted living costs. They may help struggling families pay a part of the costs, but the rest of it is covered by the family. There are some Life Insurance Policies that may reimburse for care services, and there are Long Term Care Policies that are designed to offer long term care services.