Part 3 – PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR HOMECARE

PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR HOMECARE

There is actually very little you likely need to do to prepare your home for a caregiver, however there are many things you can do to make your home more accessible for you or your aging loved one.

Safety Assessment

Before a caregiver can come out into your home, a safety assessment will be completed. Most likely this will be done by an AHS case manager, but private agencies do them as well. During this safety assessment they will be looking initially for obvious things, like pets, unsecured firearms, mold, rodents, pests, fire hazards, bio hazards and general community safety. They will also look for simple things, like tripping hazards in the home, smoking in the home or whether there are assistive devices present, like grab bars in the bathroom, walkers, canes, raised toilet seats, etc. Their role is to identify and reduce risk of injury for both the client and the caregivers who will provide care in the home

Pets

Pets can be an amazing source of comfort and companionship for those who have them. Should you have a pet in your home, know that AHS and the traditional home care model agencies have policies that require pets to be secured away from their caregivers during their visits. Securing your pet in a crate, in another room, with a baby gate, or outdoors will be required. Please consider where you will keep your pet during your visits.  This can prove to be a challenge for some clients with mobility issues, especially if their agency has variable visit times. You may have to work with your caregiver to call when they arrive to limit the time your pet is secured.

Should you choose the client directed model, there are agencies who will allow friendly pets to be free during care and some that can even offer pet care as part of their visits. Be sure to ask about pet policies if this is important to you.

Slips Trips and Falls

Slips trips and falls are the most common type of injury for homecare workers, as well as our clients. A lot of that is due to our weather! We get lots of melt and thaw cycles in Edmonton, and it can be hard to keep up with the Ice.

No matter the homecare model you choose, you will need to ensure you have reliable snow removal. If you have financial constraints, there is a program called SPECIAL NEEDS ASSISTANCE FOR SENIORS through the Gov of Alberta which can cover up to $1200 per year for snow removal and landscaping.

Your case manager can also help you with making sure you have the right equipment in your home. Grab bars, shower chairs, walkers, wheelchairs and lifts are all things which can reduce your risk of falls, but also help your worker stay safe. There is funding available for Albertans through Alberta Aids to Daily Living. If you want to go this route, please do not purchase your assistive devices prior to speaking with them and getting approval.

Helpful Technology

There are a few things you can invest in to make your life a bit easier aging in your home. While none of these are required, sometimes having them can make things more comfortable.

Ring doorbells are doorbells with microphones and cameras built into them. When someone comes to your door and rings the bell they will pop up onto your mobile phone. This way you can see who is there, and speak with them if you are not sure who you’re looking at. This is great for homecare because you will see your staff and be able to identify them before letting them in.

Simple things like having a light with a motion sensor outside can not only dissuade criminals, but be useful for your caregiver. You do not have to remember to turn on the lights when it gets dark because it will turn on for you once your staff arrives, keeping them safe after hours.

If you have a loved one with dementia, we have certainly noted lots of families having issues with them turning the thermostat up or down in the home. If this person lives alone, that can be a big problem. Something like a NEST thermostat can be set remotely and locked to prevent people from having issues with their homes comfort.

Also, a NEST smoke detector can connect to a loved ones phone. Again, if you have a loved one with dementia living alone, it may be helpful to have that installed so families will be made aware if it goes off (it works for both carbon monoxide and smoke)

Dementia can also pose problems with wandering. It can be very scary to have a loved one who wanders and may not find their way home. There are lots of options for wearable GPS trackers which also include fall detection which can be put on belt buckles, watches or necklaces.  The Livingwell Companion Go is just a good example of one available in Canada for a reasonable price point.

The University of Waterloo has a comprehensive list of devices on their website here: Locator devices for people at risk of going missing | Aging and Innovation Research Program (AIRP) (uwaterloo.ca) should you wish to compare.

Agency Needs

While an agency wont need too much changed in your life to get started, they do need a few things available for their staff. Take a look at the list below for a breakdown of what a caregiver needs to provide care:

• A place for your caregiver to wash and dry their hands
• If you have oral medication, agencies typically require they be bubble packed by your pharmacy
• Some clients may need a door or medication lock box
• Staff typically need a safe place to park their vehicle
• The tools you need for them to provide care (For example, stockings if you require stocking assistance)

Aids to Daily Living

This is a program through the Alberta government that can help seniors with medical expenses. A comprehensive list of things that can be covered is available here: AADL – Benefits covered | Alberta.ca. This is a cost sharing program where clients pay 25% of the cost up to $500/year. However low income seniors do not have a co-pay. There is no income cap for this program, so it is beneficial for all seniors to take advantage of it!

You must be assessed by your case manager to qualify so don’t hesitate to speak with your AHS case manager about accessing funds if you need them.