In-Home Care Defined

January 30, 2011 · Posted in home remodel · Comment 

In-Home care is defined as the type of care given to elderly seniors by personal caregivers in the convenience of their own home rather than moving into a residential, long-term and institutional-based facility. In-Home Care Agencies not only provide personal care but also a range of companionship and supervision. If given the chance to choose, fact is, many people would go for In-Home care over an institutionalized facility.

Getting an In-Home Care service from a professional agency is the best thing to do especially if your family member or loved one needs ongoing care but would rather stay at home. Because the mental and physical capabilities of older people are getting poor, more and more people are receiving In-Home care services.

A combination of health care services and non-medical living services are inclusive in Home care. Interchangeably, people have been using the phrases In-Home Care, Home Health Care, and Health care regardless of the kind of care a person needs. These days however, a distinction has been put in between Home health care and in-home care. Home health care is about skilled nursing while in-home care is non medical and custodial type of care. Knowing the difference between these types of care is very vital for this will be the basis on how to determine the level of care needed and the actual cost for the care giving services.

Daily living tasks like meal preparations, laundry, errands, housekeeping and a lot more are inclusive in the non medical type of care together with companionship and supervision. The six basic Activities of Daily Living (ADL) are the following: bathing, dressing, transferring, using the toilet, eating and walking. The eligibility for a Long term insurance is determined by the severity of your loved one’s ADL assistance needs and also serves as the basis for the in-home care agencies in determining the service charge.

The six basic daily tasks (housekeeping, preparing meals, grocery shopping, answering the phone and managing the budget are what we call the instrumental activities of daily living. While there are differences in the terms describing aspects of in-home care or home health care, in reality, most elderly individuals needing one type of care, will eventually need both at some point.

For you to get a high quality of care for your loved ones, there are a lot of things that you need to consider if you are thinking about hiring an in-home care agency to help them stay in the convenience of their home.. You want to select a qualified in-home care agency that will provide the services you need at the cost you can afford. In-home care agencies can truly help you in taking care of your loved ones’ needs and give you ease and peace of mind.

More About The Power Wheelchair

July 13, 2010 · Posted in home remodel · Comment 

The world’s first known wheelchair was developed in China in the 6th century. Today, there are manual and power wheelchairs. Mass manufacturing of wheelchairs was first performed by two engineers who developed a collapsible chair. Harry Jennings and Herbert Everest, who suffered a serious neck injury in a mining accident, also developed the “x brace” support system still used in today’s chairs.

The advancements in the modern-day power wheelchairs have greatly benefited today’s disabled patients. As a result, global demand for the chairs has soared making power wheelchair manufacturing a truly international endeavor.

Today’s power wheelchairs are either lightweight or heavyweight. Lightweight power wheelchairs are designed to transport a maximum of 300 pounds, including the weight of the chair. Lightweight chairs offer several options but all use cost-effective two-pole motors to move the chair.

The less expensive lightweight chairs utilize a two-pole motor where the heavyweight chairs use a four-pole motor. Power wheelchairs use wither front or rear wheel drive to accommodate flat or raised elevations. Computerized upgrades have been added to many of today’s power chairs.

Passive Standing Technology

Due to the growth of the industry, there is great pressure to develop standards and impose basic registration criteria for global manufacturers. In the United States, legislation entitled the Consumer Protection for Wheeled Mobility was passed in 2003. All manufacturers are required to participate in continuing education and to achieve “Assistive Technology Supplier Certification.”

The new passive standing position power wheelchair is the direct result of new technology. These chairs provide significant benefits to the user by permitting the patient to get out of the tiring seated position to a more natural erect position. Patients receive the following health benefits:

* Reduced seating pressure * Decreased bone deterioration * Bladder normalcy * Improved circulation * Improved muscular conditions * Overall improved functional conditions

Demand for these passive standing power wheelchairs currently outweighs supply so interested persons should make arrangements to meet with manufacturers as soon as possible.

Other technology advances include various tilt and level options that add comfort to the seat. Computerized systems to steer, drive and ease navigational challenges are other major advances. Computerized eye motion technology has made power wheelchairs available to just about all disabled persons.