Delaware Home Health Care

	SPONSORED LINKS:

Christiana Care Visiting Nurse Association
Specialized nursing care, social work, home health aides, home medical equipment, home infusion services and rehabilitation including physical, occupational and speech therapy.

Elder Care Delaware
Eldercare Convalescence Service - Home Health Care Specialists
3203 Concord Pike, Wilmington, Delaware 19803

Guava Homecare, Inc --› Quick Tips
Compassion, peace of mind and excellence in service
407 Valley Brook Drive, Hockessin, Delaware 19707

Nurses 'n Kids At Home Inc.
904 Churchmans Rd, New Castle, Delaware 19720

Odyssey Health Care of Wilmington
Our interdisciplinary teams of care providers serve patients in their own homes, nursing homes, long-term care or assisted living facilities or hospitals
1407 Foulk Rd, Suite 200, Wilmington, Delaware 19803

Kent County

Shorecare of Delaware
In-home health care you can trust.
885 S Governors Ave, Dover, DE

	SPONSORED LINKS:

Sussex County

Cheer
A non-profit organization proudly serving Sussex County mature residents for nearly 40 years.
546 S. Bedford St, Georgetown, Delaware 19947

Shorecare of Delaware
In-home Health Care Agency that provides care from as little as 1hr to 24/7 throughout all Delaware. Wheelchair transportation also available in and out of state.

Visiting Angels of Sussex, DE
Home care for seniors and disabled adults. We help people remain independent and in their own homes.
28350 Lewes Georgetown Hwy, Milton, Delaware 19968

	SPONSORED LINKS:

Home Health Care Advice from the Experts

I received the call early on Sunday morning. My father was undergoing emergency heart surgery. I felt helpless. My immediate reaction was to get on a plane and fly to Minnesota provide the support he needed, however the reality of the situation was much different. I am what is now coined as the classical “sandwich generation” working full time, single mother of three faced with caring for my parent. Since my mother had passed away at 54 and being the oldest sibling, the Catholic guilt took over as I took on the caregiver role. Thoughts of leaving my job, taking the kids out of school all become a part of my daily dialogue.

Then one day when talking to a friend, she stated “imagine how your father feels”. Those words were immobilizing. The once independent father that had cared for his wife and 5 children was now facing a sense of dependency. The dentist, golfer, fisherman had lost a part of his freedom. The man that stood so strong was now very weak and very dependent.

The plan was to divide the 8 weeks of recovery among the 5 siblings with the theory of divide and conquer! But as we all know when it comes to the family dynamics - theory and practice are two different animals. I found myself faced with an 8 week stretch and taking life one day at a time. My journey began as a learning experience. Through this journey I had the opportunity to reconnect with my father and meet some wonderful caregivers. This experience allowed me to take a closer look at the non-medical homecare industry and learn to ask some very fundamental questions when seeking care for a loved one. If I could not be there for my father, a trusted caregiver that loved the Minnesota Vikings would have to do.

Through my journey I have learned to ask some very basic questions.

1. Make sure that when looking into a homecare agency that they conduct personalized in- home assessments. Make your needs very clear to the individual conducting the assessment and do not be afraid to be very specific (dad wants his toast with butter and three slices of turkey- you know us Minnesotans love their butter). Although I was in Delaware I wanted to ensure he was taken care of in Minnesota. Make sure that your care giver is matched to your individualized needs personality counts and let me tell you when we had a caregiver that was not a HUGE Minnesota Vikings football fan - we had problems!

2. Make sure that the caregivers are screened, trained, bonded, insured, and the agency is licensed. I also requested that the caregiver document in a daily log the time spent with my father, what they did, what he ate and we kept this log on the kitchen table to review dad’s routine and make note of any changes in his routine.

3. Communication was a HUGE concern of mine. I wanted an agency that had a great reputation, came with references and was responsive to my needs when I called, I wanted answers from a real person to reassure me that everything was going to be fine. I also requested emails and a daily check in system when I was unable to be at the house.

I wanted to know the range of services provided and if they had meal preparation, transportation, housekeeping and what was really helpful was the healthcare advocate’s advice which helped eliminate frustrations encountered when dealing with the healthcare systems and all that paperwork! We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey, especially the goodness of the people we meet along the way. Appreciation is a wonderful feeling, don’t overlook it! I am happy to say that dad is stronger than ever, with the motto that life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, golf clubs in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming - WOO HOO- what a ride - life begins at 80!

About the Author: Mary S Schreiber, PhD
Founder GUAVA Healthcare
888-GUA-VA25
888-482-8224
www.guavahealthcare.com
mschreiberphd [at] guavahealthcare.com

Delaware Home Health Care

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