| What does an in-home personal care attendant do for older adults? |
Search no more! Professional Care Match is your source for dedicated in-home caregivers. PCM specializes in all levels of in-home care for seniors who wish to remain at home. For personal care support, a PCA might be just what you need.
Live your best life, in your own home
In the US, the number of seniors who suffer from dementia continues to climb. Unfortunately, despite having relatively stable physical health, those with dementia have difficulty performing everyday activities due to cognitive impairments.
The CDC estimates that there are 5.8 million people in the United States with dementia. Women live longer than men and are at increased risk for dementia, as are people of color.
Many seniors who are cognitively intact still need help with daily activities and personal care tasks, making in-home help a blessing for seniors with physical limitations. Personal care attendants and homemakers make independence possible for so many seniors who look forward to aging in place.
Avoid hospitalizations
When elders don’t receive non-medical help early on, they often end up in the hospital for problems that could have been avoided. Inpatient medical care is very difficult to bounce back from when the elderly patient has dementia or is recovering from illness or injury.
According to a 2018 study, “Older people with a dementia diagnosis were at higher risk from death in hospital, nursing home admission, long lengths of stay, as well as intermediate outcomes such as delirium, falls, dehydration, reduction in nutritional status, decline in physical and cognitive function, and new infections in hospital.”
The key to preventing avoidable hospitalizations is ensuring that older adults receive the help they need to perform daily personal care. Strict attention to hygiene prevents numerous conditions that, left unaddressed, usually result in hospitalization, such as infections and bedsores.
Non-medical help in your home
Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia are incurable. People suffering with cognitive decline become dependent on others to ensure their needs are met. Without someone to regularly help them with activities of daily living, there is a high potential for illness or injury.
While they do not perform typical Home Health Aide duties, homemakers and home care attendants are still an invaluable resource for families and for their loved ones who wish to remain in their homes. Family caregivers become exhausted as they try to meet the demands of caring for their own families while also trying to keep their loved one safe and tended to.
Home care keeps older adults in their comfort zone. When your loved one needs assistance with activities of daily living and other everyday tasks, Professional Care Match is here to help! Extra help in the home is a big relief for adult children who have been ministering for their parents; some families have more than one elderly parent in need of attention.
Daily assistance allows personal care attendants to inspect and report skin injuries and other potentially life-threatening problems. Although PCAs aren’t trained clinicians, PCM’s nursing team is always available to investigate reports of possible problems.
What does the PCA do?
PCAs assist with bathing, dressing, incontinence care, and mobility support. Furthermore, their presence in the home promotes safety. In 2019 the US saw 34,000 falls resulting in death. Hospitalizations due to injurious falls cost $50 billion per year, 75% of which is paid by taxpayer-funded Medicare/Medicaid. In 2018 more than 32,000 seniors died from falling.
The second most common cause of hospitalizations in the elderly is urinary tract infections; these are often serious enough to cause complications including death if left untreated. Incontinence and urinary retention are the most common causes of UTIs. PCAs play an important role in ensuring adequate hydration and good hygiene, lessening the likelihood of UTIs and associated complications.
Seniors often experience weight loss, particularly for those who are unable to shop, prepare food, or feed themselves. Nutrition plays a critical role in the health and well-being of our elders. PCAs and homemakers assume responsibility for providing meals and fluids. They do grocery shopping and prepare meals. They do light housekeeping, laundry, and other household tasks that keep older adults safely in their homes.
Having a companion to talk to and socialize with is a crucial factor for stability in older adults. Nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated. Loneliness has been linked to numerous risks including depression and suicide, dementia, anxiety, heart failure, and stroke. Regular companionship promotes wellness and cognitive engagement. The familiarity and comfort of home lessens distress for elders with cognitive and mobility problems.
Professional Care Match welcomes the opportunity to serve you and your family. Whether your loved one requires round-the-clock care and supervision, or just a few visits per week, we are here to help!