When your aging parents or loved ones are living their golden years in an empty nest, it's important to understand that it's not really empty at all.
Their home holds a lot of memories. It serves as familiar surroundings—encircled by their life's possessions—where they maintained their independence, raised family, and spent time with friends and neighbours.
So, when they can no longer do everything for themselves but are not ready to surrender their autonomy to a long-term care facility, home care is the perfect way to ease into supported living.
Bayshore Home Health (BHH) is a division of Bayshore HealthCare, one of Canada’s leading providers of home and community services.
Value-based, BHH enhances people's quality of life, dignity and independence with compassion, trust and respect and helps make a difference by offering customized care plans and support so people can age comfortably in their homes.
"Caring for people is so meaningful,” says Sarah Macey, local area director. "Our goal is making a positive difference in people’s lives, every visit, every time."
A good starting point
If you’re an adult caring for your parents or a senior looking for extra help, it can be challenging to identify where to start. BHH has many options for you to explore, especially if you're tentative about having a stranger in your family home.
"There's someone available to take their call 24/7, or they can reach out through the Care Planner or email, or however they want to contact us,” explains Macey. “We can do a free consultation, usually over the phone.”
"We arrange an in-person home visit to meet the people we're going to be caring for, to assure them, but also to ensure it's safe for our employees and highlight anything they need to know."
To begin, consider the type of assistance you need. From personal care services, such as daily tasks including grooming and hygiene, light housekeeping, meal prep and cooking, to medication reminders, wound care, fall prevention, and companionship for activities and outings.
However, overnight care is available if your needs are greater, for example, and you require round-the-clock support. BHH can also combine services to close the gaps and help complete the circle of daily living.
"It's all individualized, not a cookie-cutter approach," says Macey. "Every home and every family have different needs, and we're able to come in and take care of those needs. If they don't want much interaction but require someone for safety, we can sit quietly in another room and attend if needed—it's very personalized."
Macey adds, "The idea of Bayshore a resource and becoming part of the family network and the health-care team is such a relief for people. We help them understand and navigate the health care system, as well as develop a customized care plan that works for everyone.”
Home care benefits
Striking the balance of honouring your loved one’s independence with the need to keep them safe can be particularly delicate, especially at the onset of dementia.
Macey advises that a familiar routine is critical to their health, especially in the early stages. "The more we know about the person’s limitations or concerns, the better we are able to help everyone, including the family caregivers, who are often left wondering about next steps."
Caregiving is an act of love and sacrifice to care for those that cared for you. However, if you’re in your 50s, 60s or 70s and spend your days giving baths, making meals, and scheduling home care, that compassion can be reciprocated to you; it's about lightening your load.
"Caregivers don't know they're burnt out," says Macey. "You can't do it all. Let us assist and relieve that stress and worry and take care of all those things to give you peace of mind. It can be so helpful to have a team that wants what you want."
"We can provide a little bit of help that makes a really big difference," says Macey. "And then, we go from there."
For more information, visit Bayshore.ca.
