Confused If Home Care Is The Right Option?

When frailty, an accident or an operation causes a need for additional care at home, determining the kind and amount of care someone requires is a difficult task. Each person’s situation is unique, and there is no “one size fits all” answer to elder care. American Companion Care is qualified to assess for home care needs and hopes that by understanding the benefits of a thorough assessment prior to determining a care plan, you will call American Companion Care as a first step when care needs present, to determine what kind of home care or elder care is needed for someone in the Kansas City area.

Downloadable Tools and Tips:
Click the links to view or right click to print or save to your computer.

• Why Ask for a Geriatric Care Assessment?
• ADL / IADL Checklist

Web Resources:
Click the link below to access resource websites to learn more about the basics of home care.

Understanding the Language of a Basic Assessment for Functioning
Usage of some standard tools to assess activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living has become a starting point for one assessment of determining care needs. Many types of care, medical, non-medical and insurance coverage oftentimes use these tools as a starting point.

From a Nursing Perspective, Ramifications of Aging and Functional Assessments
The health care delivery system in America is fragmented and in a state of change. This interesting article covers how the changing demographics are affecting health care, and details some interesting facts relating to assessments for care.

Classic PowerPoint from a US Medical Viewpoint on Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments (Delivered in Europe)
Warning that some might find this PowerPoint ageist, but it was done by a physician who is an award winning geriatrician and contains great statistics on the positives of a comprehensive geriatric assessment as well as an early insight into the benefits of using a comprehensive geriatric assessment.
NOTE: You will need a Google Docs account in order to view this article. To sign up for a free account, click here.
Or you can view an article in the New England Journal of Medicine that draws similar conclusions.

The Importance of a Care Assessment
This site provides information on the importance of a care assessment as well as how to arrange for an assessment and what to expect during and after the assessment.

Study on Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments Finds Success in Reducing Disability
This classic article uses coordinated multidisciplinary geriatric assessments to see if rehabilitation services can reduce disability.

A comprehensive geriatric assessment of overall health status begins with a screening process using simple, rapid, inexpensive, and internationally validated scales to rate cognitive function, affective status, gait (walking and balance), autonomy, and nutrition. Assessments are available through American Companion Care. These resources and links are provided as an educational resource for those who are interested in answers to some home care questions.