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What type of care is available for seniors who need long-term care and assistance as they age? Or seniors who have an impairment?
There is a wide range of choices available. The best choice for you or your loved one depends on your specific needs and desires.
For seniors or disabled individuals with chronic medical needs that require 24 hour medical attention, the choices include nursing homes and some adult family homes
For seniors or disabled individuals who do not need medical assistance on a daily basis, the choices include retirement homes, assisted living facilities and home care agencies. Companion Care, Inc. is a home care agency.
What differences can I expect between a retirement home, assisted living facility and a home care agency?
Home care agencies, such as Companion Care, Inc. , offer one-on-one assistance and companionship that allow seniors or the disabled to remain independent and "in charge" while continuing to live in their own residence.
Retirement communities offer an alternative residence for seniors or persons who have disabilities where meals, laundry and housekeeping, as well as a range of social and recreational activities are provided. Moving into a retirement community eliminates the ongoing work of taking care of a home and provides opportunities for social interaction.
Assisted living communites offer the same services as retirement communites. In addition they offer personal care services that can include medication management, and other services to support the individual in completing activities of daily living. Some facilities offer Alzheimer or dementia care and can also serve as an alternative to nursing homes care for those who hzve cognitive impairments.
Home care agencies provide the same type of services as offered by assisted living facilities. In fact, Companion Care Inc. provides care for residents in various assisted living facilities when the resident requires one-on-one attention. The care provided can range from 1 hr to 24 hours a day.
For those who prefer to stay in the comfort of their own homes, home care agencies, such as Companion Care Inc., offer one-on-one assistance and companionship that allow the elderly and the disabled to remain independent and "in charge" while continuing to live in their own homes.
What services do home care agencies offer? How do they fit my long-term care needs?
Companion Care, Inc. offers hourly care and services that support the senior or disabled individual to live in their own residence. Services include:
Personal Care (Bathing, Toileting, Dressing)
Assistance with ambulation
Incontinence care
Diabetic care
Memory Care (Alzheimer’s, Dementia)
Safety Supervision
Shopping
Running errands
Meal preparation
Feeding assistance
Doing laundry
Light housekeeping
Medication reminders
Help with organizing the household,
Transporting and accompanying the client to doctor or business appointments,
Life enrichment activities such as trips to a senior center, malls, local nurseries, movie theaters
Indoor activities such as playing cards, writing letters, creating scrapbooks and photo albums)
Gardening
Pet care
Respite care
Nurse Delegation
Companion Care Inc. can also team up with home health care and hospice agencies to ensure that the care provided meets all of the client's needs.
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Are there other advantages to using a homecare agency?
Yes. Because you remain in your home, you are the person who makes the decisions. Your companion is there to be with you and to help you through the day, but not to direct your life according to a plan or schedule made by someone else. The caregiver is your companion, taking care of only you, not somebody else.
Unlike assisted living facilities, our caregivers provide one-to-one individual attention, only for you. Nobody else is calling for the companion's time or attention.
You select the person to be your caregiver from the home care agency staff. Once you make that selection the same caregiver will come to your home regularly. You will get to know each other. We have learned that often both the caregiver and the client look forward to their time together. This is one of our goals.
Companion Care offers hourly care with a minimum of 4 hours per visit whether the services are needed only one day or every day of the week.
Having a caregiver at home can also be more affordable if the client does not need us 24 hours a day or if we are providing respite or simply filling a shift when the family can't be there. Companion Care,Inc. offers hourly care with a minimum of 4 hours per visit whether the services are needed once a week or every day of the week.
Why do I need a home care agency? Can I hire a caregiver on my own?
The home care agency is there to protect you. In the State of Washington, each home care agency must establish policies and procedures to meet the requirements of strict Home Care Rules issued by the state. These policies and procedures must be specific and must provide instructions for screening job applicants, providing service to clients, keeping records and ensuring the safety of the clients. To do business in Washington, a home care agency must establish these policies and procedures in order receive a license. The state issues the license and audits the agency every two years before renewing the license.
The agency must be insured and should be bonded to protect you in case of loss or accident caused by the caregiver.
Every caregiver hired by the home care agency must pass a criminal background check. Agencies may then make additional reference checks. Companion Care, Inc. requests three professional and two personal references for each applicant.
The home care agency protects you in other important ways. The agency must be insured and should be bonded to protect you in case of loss or accident caused by the caregiver. The agency provides workers' compensation insurance, pays into Social Security, Medicare and unemployment compensation funds for the caregiver, which protects you, as well as your caregiver. Although the caregiver is there for you, you do not have the responsibility of being the caregiver's employer. If the caregiver isunable to come to work one day, the agency will send a qualified person to help you in place of the caregiver. The home care agency is the employer and is responsible to make sure that you are satisfied with the services that the caregiver provides for you.
Since the services are non-medical, can I work with a caregiver even if I have some health problems?
Yes. Our caregivers help seniors and the disabled with a variety of health concerns. For example:
- When recovering from illness or when newly released from the hospital or a rehabilitation center, a caregiver can provide assistance while the client regains strength.
- When a senior is cognitively impaired, our caregiver can help the senior focus on the present and stay safe whether they are still living at home or in an assisted living facility.
- A senior or disabled person may be depressed or isolated from other people because of reduced mobility. A caregiver can be the person who brings outside contact back into the senior's life.
- A senior who is at risk of falling, whether it is at home or in an assisted living facility, can use our caergiver's help to prevent serious injury.
I want to take care of my parent but I have to work during the week or I live too far away. How can Companion Care help me with their long-term care needs?
Whether it is morning, afternoon, evening or overnight, Companion Care can be there for you.
Companion Care can provide respite care for family members during the day or on weekends. Whether it is morning, afternoon, evening or overnight, Companion Care can be there for you. . We provide hourly care with a minimum of 4 hours per visit. Companion Care caregivers are available 24 hours per day, everyday including weekends and holidays. We keep our overhead cost low so that we can offer these services at an affordable rate in line with family budgets. So you define the schedule, and we will take care of the rest. Our reasonable hourly rates are listed on the ServicesPpage.
How can I pay for long-term care?
Home care services are not covered by Medicare. Typically these services are privately paid unless the senior has long-term care insurance. You will need to check with your long-term insurance provider to see what services are covered. Companion Care accepts long-term care insurance.
If you need more information, please call us or use the Contact Form to send us an email. We'll be happy to answer any other questions that you may have about home care companionship.
Driving Directions
Companion Cares home office is located in the Creekside, A Merrill Gardens Community in Woodinville, Washington, just two exits off I-405 at Exit 23.
Our address is 18200 Woodinville-Snohomish Rd NE Woodinville, WA 98072.
Directions from 405
Directions from Renton, Kirkland, or Bellevue via I-405 North:
Take Exit 23 (Route 522) east toward Wenatchee / Woodinville.
On Route 522 proceed to second exit (195 St/Duvall) and take a right off at that exit. At the first stop light take a right onto Woodinville-Snohomish Rd. You will pass by Golds Gym on the left before you reach a Y in the road. At that corner is The Creekside. Take the road to the right and then take an immediate left into The Creekside parking lot. Our office is to the left of the main door. The entrance has an awning with with our name Companion Care, Inc
Directions from Lynnwood via I-405 South:
Take Exit 23A (Route 522) towards Monroe.
Then follow the directions from above for On Route 522.
Directions from Edmonds via Lake Forest Park:
Take Exit 174 from I-5 North and proceed east onto Highway 104. Follow Highway 104 to Lake Forest Park where you will cross Route 522 (Lake City / Bothell) Way. Turn left onto 522, and follow it through Bothell. Continue on Route 522 toward Monroe / Wenatchee. After you pass I-405, continue to the second exit (195th St/Duvall). Then follow the directions from above for On Route 522.
Directions from North Seattle via I-5 North:
Take Exit 171 (Route 522) and follow Route 522 through to Bothell. Continue on Route 522 toward Monroe / Wenatchee. Once you pass I-405 continue to the second exit (195th St/Duvall). Then follow the directions from above for On Route 522.
Directions from the Snohomish Area:
Take Route 9 South. Continue pass the 405 interchange where the road changes it's name to Woodinville Snohomish road. Continue on taht road. You will pass by Golds Gym on the left before you reach a Y in the road. At that corner is The Creekside. Take the road that veers to the right and then take an immediate left into the Creekside parking lot. Our office is next to the main door. The entrance has an awning with our name.
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