by Just Like Family Home Care Calgary

Supporting an elderly loved one’s desire for independence and comfort at home can be challenging. If you’re navigating the complexities of in-home care for a family member, you’re not alone. Many caregivers face the same dilemma: finding trustworthy providers who can meet their loved one’s needs.

To ease your journey, we’ve created a straightforward guide on in-home care services and how to choose the best option for your family.

Understanding In-Home Care

In-home care is not just a single service; rather, it encompasses a broad range of support tailored to the unique needs of seniors.

Medical Care: This includes professional support from licensed healthcare experts—think nurses and therapists—who can provide specialized medical assistance, manage medications, and help with chronic conditions. Remember, this type of care often requires a doctor’s order.
Non-Medical Care: This focuses on everyday needs, promoting independence with tasks like bathing, dressing, housekeeping, and companionship. It’s about ensuring your loved one can continue living comfortably at home or assistance filling gaps if your loved one is in a facility or hospital.

Types of In-Home Care Services

At Just Like Family Home Care, Calgary, we understand that every senior has unique needs and desires. That’s why we offer a comprehensive and flexible suite of personalized care services designed to support well-being, promote independence, and enhance the quality of life for your loved one. Our compassionate and highly trained caregivers are dedicated to providing the highest standard of care, ensuring comfort, dignity, and peace of mind for both seniors and their families.

Personal Care Support

Maintaining personal hygiene and dignity is fundamental to overall well-being. Our caregivers provide sensitive and respectful assistance with a range of personal care activities, ensuring comfort and privacy. This includes:

Bathing and Showering: Assistance with safe and comfortable bathing routines, from sponge baths to full showers, respecting personal preferences and modesty.
Dressing and Grooming: Support with selecting appropriate clothing, dressing, hair care, oral hygiene, and other grooming tasks to help seniors look and feel their best.
Toileting and Incontinence Care: Discreet and compassionate assistance with toileting, including managing incontinence products, maintaining hygiene, and preventing skin irritation.
Mobility Support and Transfer Assistance: Helping seniors safely move around their home, including transfers from bed to chair, walking assistance, and proper use of mobility aids to prevent falls and promote independence.

Companion Care

Loneliness and isolation can significantly impact a senior’s mental and emotional health. Our companion care services and our free online calendar of activities aim to foster meaningful connections and provide essential emotional support, promoting a sense of belonging and reducing feelings of isolation. This can involve:

Engaging Conversation: Sharing stories, discussing current events, and listening actively to provide a comforting presence and mental stimulation.
Recreational Activities: Participating in hobbies, playing games, reading aloud, or watching movies together to encourage engagement and enjoyment.
Social Outings: Accompanying seniors to social gatherings, community events, or visits with friends and family to maintain social connections.
Emotional Support: Offering empathy, understanding, and a friendly presence to help seniors cope with challenges, anxieties, or feelings of sadness.

Household Support

Maintaining a clean, organized, and comfortable home environment is crucial for a senior’s well-being. Our caregivers assist with day-to-day home tasks, allowing seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own space without the burden of household chores. This can include:

Light Housekeeping: Dusting, vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping to keep living areas tidy and clean.
Kitchen Maintenance: Doing the dishes, wiping down counters, and ensuring a clean and hygienic kitchen space.
Waste Management: Regularly taking out the garbage and recycling.
Laundry Services: Washing, drying, folding, and putting away clothes and linens.
Changing Bed Linens: Ensuring fresh and clean bedding for comfort and hygiene.
General Tidying: Organizing common areas and maintaining a clutter-free environment.
Pet Care: Assisting with feeding, walking, and basic care for beloved pets

Lifestyle Support

Enriching a loved one’s day-to-day life goes beyond basic needs. Our lifestyle support services are designed to enhance overall quality of life by facilitating engagement in enjoyable activities, promoting health, and ensuring necessary appointments are met. This comprehensive support may include:

Meal Preparation and Nutrition: Planning and preparing nutritious meals tailored to dietary needs and preferences, ensuring seniors receive proper sustenance.
Medication Reminders: Prompting seniors to take their medications on schedule and assisting with the organization of medication.
Light Exercise and Therapy Routine Assistance: Encouraging and assisting with gentle exercises or prescribed therapy routines to maintain physical health and mobility.
Transportation Assistance: Providing safe and reliable transportation to medical appointments, therapy sessions, social engagements, or errands.
Community Access Program Development: Collaborating with seniors and families to develop personalized activity schedules that encourage community engagement and enjoyment. This could involve:
○ Attending a movie or live performance.
○ Enjoying a scenic drive out to the country.
○ Visiting local farmers’ markets for fresh produce and social interaction.
○ Exploring art galleries, museums, or cultural events.
○ Participating in senior centers or community programs.

Transitional Care

The period following a hospital stay can be challenging and vulnerable. Our transitional care services provide essential extra support to ensure a smooth and safe recovery at home, reducing the risk of readmission and promoting a successful transition. This specialized care can include:

Post-Hospitalization Support: Assisting with follow-up appointments, medication management, and adherence to discharge instructions.
Monitoring and Reporting: Observing changes in condition and communicating promptly with family and healthcare providers.
Light Housekeeping and Meal Preparation: Alleviating the burden of household chores during recovery.
Mobility and Safety Assistance: Helping seniors navigate their home safely and prevent falls during recovery.

Respite Care

Family caregivers are the backbone of senior care, but they also need time to rest and recharge. Our respite care services offer a much-deserved break for family caregivers, allowing them to attend to their own needs, run errands, or simply relax, knowing their loved one is in capable and caring hands. This can be scheduled for a few hours, a full day, overnight, or even for an extended period.

Chronic Condition Care

Living with a chronic health condition requires specialized attention and ongoing support. Our caregivers are trained to focus on the unique needs of seniors with long-term health issues, working in conjunction with medical professionals to provide consistent and informed care. This includes:

Disease-Specific Support: Understanding and managing symptoms related to conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, dementia, Parkinson’s, and more.
Medication Management and Adherence: Ensuring proper administration and tracking of medications.
Symptom Monitoring and Reporting: Observing and documenting changes in condition for medical review.
Lifestyle Adjustments: Assisting with dietary restrictions, exercise recommendations, and other lifestyle modifications as advised by healthcare providers.

End-of-Life Care

During the challenging and sensitive time of end-of-life, our compassionate caregivers provide gentle and respectful support for families, focusing on comfort, dignity, and emotional well-being, offering:

Comfort and Pain Management Support: Assisting with medications and continuously assessing the client’s comfort levels to adjust care plans as needed.
Personal Care and Hygiene: Providing gentle assistance with bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene to maintain dignity.
Emotional Support for Families: Offering a comforting presence, listening, and providing practical assistance to allow families to focus on their loved one.
Respite for Family Caregivers: Allowing family members time to rest and attend to their own needs.
Spiritual and Emotional Comfort: Respecting individual beliefs and providing a calming and supportive environment.

At Just Like Family Home Care, Calgary, we are committed to providing personalized and compassionate care that truly makes a difference in the lives of seniors and their families. Contact us today to learn more about how our services can be tailored to meet your loved one’s specific needs.

The In-Home Care Solution: A Personalized Approach:

In-home care offers a compelling alternative, directly addressing the challenges associated with residential facilities by providing tailored support within the senior’s familiar surroundings. This approach prioritizes individualized attention, ensuring that care plans are specifically designed to meet the unique needs and preferences of each person. From assistance with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and meal preparation, to medication management, companionship, and transportation, in-home caregivers can provide a wide range of services. This personalized care fosters a sense of dignity and independence, allowing seniors to maintain their routines, continue pursuing hobbies, and remain connected to their communities. The familiar environment reduces anxiety and promotes emotional well-being, leading to a higher quality of life for the senior and greater peace of mind for their family.

A More Economical Choice for Families

Beyond the significant emotional and comfort benefits, in-home care can also present a more financially viable option for many families. As of 2025, the monthly cost of residential care in Alberta can be substantial, ranging from $2,000 to $9,000, depending on the level of care required and the type of accommodation. These costs can quickly escalate, making long-term residential care an unsustainable option for some families.

In contrast, in-home care services often offer greater flexibility in terms of hours and types of services, allowing families to customize care plans to fit their budget and specific needs. For instance, a family might opt for a few hours of care each day rather than round-the-clock supervision, significantly reducing overall expenses. This adaptability makes in-home care a more budget-friendly alternative, allowing families to allocate their resources more efficiently while still providing high-quality, personalized care for their loved ones. Ultimately, in-home care provides a holistic solution that supports both the well-being and the financial stability of families navigating the complexities of senior care.

Assessing Your Loved One’s Needs

Navigating the world of senior care can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with the diverse range of options available. The first crucial step in ensuring your senior family member receives the appropriate support is to conduct a thorough evaluation of their current health status, mobility levels, and their ability to perform daily living activities independently.

This assessment will serve as the foundation for choosing the most suitable level of care. Or you can contact Just Like Family Home Care, Calgary, to ask for a complimentary assessment or book your free in-home consultation online.

Prior to the assessment, consider the following questions. Your honest and detailed answers will provide invaluable insights into your loved one’s specific needs:

Medical Conditions and Ongoing Care Needs: Are there any pre-existing medical conditions, chronic illnesses, or cognitive impairments that necessitate supervision or specialized care? This includes conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or any other health issues that impact their daily functioning. Understanding the complexity and stability of these conditions is paramount.
Medication Management: A key indicator of independent living is the ability to safely and consistently manage medications. Can your loved one remember to take their prescribed dosages at the correct times? Do they understand the purpose of each medication, and are they able to refill prescriptions independently? Errors in medication management can have serious health consequences.

Mobility and Physical Independence: How mobile is your loved one daily? Do they require assistance with walking, transferring from a bed to a chair, or navigating stairs? Assess their gait, balance, and overall physical strength.
Fall Risk Assessment: Have there been any recent falls, near-falls, or recurring balance issues? Falls are a leading cause of injury and hospitalization among seniors and can significantly impact their confidence and independence. Identifying and mitigating fall risks is a critical component of their safety.
Home Safety and Accessibility: Is their current living environment safe and conducive to their mobility levels? Does the home have potential hazards like loose rugs, inadequate lighting, or slippery surfaces? Consider whether modifications such as grab bars in the bathroom, ramps for entryways, or stairlifts would enhance their safety and accessibility within their own home.

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): Can your loved one independently manage their daily activities, which are often categorized as ADLs?
○ Personal Hygiene: Are they able to independently bathe, shower, brush their teeth, and maintain personal grooming?
○ Dressing: Can they select appropriate clothing and dress themselves without assistance?
○ Meal Preparation and Nutrition: Are they capable of planning, preparing, and cooking nutritious meals for themselves? Do they remember to eat regularly and adequately?
○ Toileting: Can they independently use the toilet and manage personal hygiene related to toileting?
○ Running Errands and Transportation: Are they able to shop for groceries, manage appointments, and arrange for transportation when needed?
○ Maintaining a Clean Living Space: Can they independently perform light housekeeping tasks, manage laundry, and keep their living environment tidy and safe?

By carefully reflecting on these comprehensive questions and honestly evaluating your loved one’s capabilities and challenges, you will be well-equipped to make informed decisions. This detailed assessment will serve as a vital guide in choosing the right level of care and services, ensuring your senior family member receives the support they need to maintain their dignity, safety, and quality of life.

Conclusion

Finding the right in-home care for your elderly family member can be an emotional and complicated process, but with the right information and support, you can make well-informed choices. By understanding the types of services available and carefully assessing your loved one’s needs, you’ll be better equipped to ensure their comfort, safety, and independence at home. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey—many families share similar challenges and joys in caring for their loved ones.