The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the lives of many seniors upside down and made many families question how to best care for their elderly loved ones. However, one of the best things you can do for the senior in your life is to hire a private caregiver.
Private caregivers are great alternatives to nursing homes, especially right now. This is because of how they can provide expert care during the pandemic in a safe and efficient way. Here’s why hiring an in-home caregiver is a good idea during COVID for the senior you love.
Limited Exposure to Outside Germs
Compared to a retirement home, nursing home, or assisted living facility, it’s a lot easier to control your exposure to the outside world with a private caregiver. Moreover, you can trust a caregiver for the elderly as a professional who is exclusively dedicated to just one person. They are not sharing among many residents in a group home. Better yet, families can come to an agreement with the caregiver about limiting in-store shopping. Also, they can agree on wearing masks and performing health assessments.
Personalized Care for Unique Needs
Something else beneficial about hiring an in-home caregiver is that the professional can provide personalized and customized care that is exactly what a senior needs. For example, a private caregiver will be familiar with the senior’s pre-existing health conditions and ability levels. This means an appropriate amount of care can be provided. At the same time, independence can be encouraged and dignity can be respected. Caregivers who work in group home environments must split their attention among many residents. However, with an in-home caregiver, seniors will get the individual attention they need and deserve.
The Opportunity to Stay in the Senior’s Home
When you hire a private caregiver, you also have the option to choose a professional who stays in the senior’s home full-time on a live-in basis. This arrangement will dramatically limit the senior’s exposure to the virus. As a result, it provides peace of mind. Someone is always available if concerning symptoms begin to occur.
When looking for a caregiver to stay in the senior’s home, look for an experienced professional who takes hygiene seriously and who can cook and clean well. In this way, the caregiver can ensure that delivery orders and surfaces are properly sanitized to reduce the risk of viral spread. This will also take that burden off of the senior’s mind.
Much-Needed Social Interaction
Isolation is an issue for many seniors even during non-pandemic times. This is true now more than ever with visitations and travel being limited. An in-home caregiver can provide a senior with companionship and conversation to offer comfort and ease the emotional pain of being separated from family members. More specifically, a caregiver for older people commonly spends quality time with the senior by playing board games, watching movies, reading books aloud, and doing puzzles together.
Household Staffing International COVID Prevention Protocols
We are committed to preventing the spread of COVID-19 while providing seniors with the care they need during these difficult times. This involves pre-hire COVID testing, wearing masks, frequent hand-washing, temperature checks, and other prevention strategies to keep vulnerable clients safe and healthy. To learn more about our COVID prevention protocols, please visit our website or call us at 212-683-7722.
Since 1974, Household Staffing International has been the most trusted name in domestic staffing, and these pandemic times are certainly no exception. Although our offices have reopened, we encourage clients and candidates to continue utilizing virtual means of interviewing as much as possible to limit the risk of COVID exposure.