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Wading through the top caregiver agencies to find the one that’s right for your parents may take some time, but you’ll be glad you did.

So, how do you know which one truly offers the best home care in Charlottesville?

In this article, we’re providing you with expert insight into the home care industry. We’ll walk you through how to find the best quality home care agency for your loved one.

Keep reading to learn more about in-home care and Alzheimer’s care in Charlottesville, VA.

When to Start Looking for “The Best Caregiver Agency Near Me”

Before we get into what to look for in the best caregiver agency for your loved one, it’s important to know when your parents might need in-home care.

With in-home care, an agency sends a trained caregiver to your parents’ home to assist them with their daily life tasks. Instead of being on their own, mom and dad have someone caring for them and providing a helping hand.

Here are three reasons you should consider home care in Charlottesville for mom and dad.

1. Your Parents Need Help with Daily Tasks

As we age, our health and mobility can gradually decline. This decline in health and mobility can make small, everyday tasks more challenging.

You may need to spend some time around your parents to assess their needs, but questions to keep in mind regarding mom and dad are:

• Do your parents have difficulty moving around the house and tending to chores?
• Have your parents mentioned a fear of driving or a sense of anxiety being behind the wheel?
• Can mom and dad still dress, bathe, groom, and cook for themselves?

These are just a few signs to look for, but there may be others that you recognize.

Ultimately, you’re looking for signals that your parents could use help with daily tasks 

2. Your Parents Have Dementia

Dementia is a progressive memory loss disease that affects nearly 6.2 million Americans aged 65 and older—it’s common for adult children to have a parent with dementia.

In its early stage, dementia symptoms are mild and the individual with dementia is still fairly independent. However, as the disease progresses, symptoms get worse and can start to affect functions like walking and swallowing.

In addition, people with dementia are prone to:

• Wandering and getting lost
• Sundowning (sudden mood and behavior changes in the evening hours)
• Sleeplessness at night

All of these complications can make it difficult for a family member to provide care to their loved one. Getting mom or dad Alzehimer’s care in Charlottesville can be a great way to relieve your burden of care and ensure that your parents receive expert, hands-on assistance as they live with dementia.

3. You Can’t Take Care of Your Parents Yourself

Lastly, you may not have the ability, time, or experience to take care of your parents as they age. Or, perhaps you live too far from your loved ones to provide them with hands-on care yourself.

You could move your parents into a nursing home or let them come live with you. However, elderly adults often prefer to age in the comfort of their own homes, especially if they already have medical providers and close friends nearby.

For adult children who can’t care for their aging parents but who have parents who want to stay where they are, looking into the top caregiver agencies near your parents is a good alternative.

With an in-home caregiver from one of the best home care agencies, you can rest assured that your parents will receive the care they need.

Now that you know when in-home care is necessary, let’s look at how to choose “the best caregiver agency near me.”

How to Choose Between the Best Home Care Agencies in Charlottesville, VA

When it comes to in-home care in Charlottesville, you’ll probably have a few options to choose from. But not all agencies are the same and there are certain characteristics that you’ll want to look for when choosing.

To help you in your search, here are three marks of good senior care options in Charlottesville, VA.

1. Whole-person Care Plans

First, the best quality home care agencies offer whole-person care to their clients.

Your loved one has more than just physical needs. Yes, they may need help with daily life tasks like cleaning or meal prep. However, your loved one also has social and emotional needs. 

Whole-person care integrates Care Management with caregiving. Before providing mom and dad with caregivers, Care Managers will run an assessment that takes into consideration your parents’ physical, emotional, mental, and social needs.

After the assessment, these Care Managers will create a personalized care plan for your parents that seeks to meet all their needs. They’ll also constantly monitor your loved ones and adjust the care plan as their needs change.

The best home care agencies have care managers that create a whole-person care plan that’s specifically tailored to each client.

2. Highly Trained Caregivers

The second characteristic of top caregiver agencies is their caregiver training programs.

Since caregivers will be the ones entering your loved one’s home and assisting them, you want these caregivers to have proper training.

So, what does good caregiver training look like?

Commonwise Home Care in Charlottesville, VA has its own in-house training program called Caregiver University. Every Commonwise caregiver must complete this online and in-person program.

Caregiver University equips Commonwise caregivers with all the knowledge and skills needed to provide quality care to elderly adults. They also receive ongoing training and support to ensure that your loved one is always receiving exceptional assistance.

A home care agency that invests heavily in its caregivers is an agency that’s committed to outstanding in-home care.

3. Flexible Care Options

Your parents’ needs can change over time, so you want to find an agency that offers a wide range of options and services that can be adjusted.

In the early stages of in-home care, your parents may simply need companionship services, like:

• Medication reminders
• Help with meal prep
• Assistance with housework
• Transportation to/from appointments

But as your parents age, they may need personal care or specialized services including:

• Assistance with transfers and ambulation
• Help with bathing, toileting, dressing, and grooming
• Dementia and memory care
• Exercise and range of motion support

In addition, the amount of time they need a caregiver may increase as they age. Whether your loved one needs care a few hours a day each week or care 24-hours a day, a home care agency should be able to meet their needs.

Get Expert In-home Care from One of the Top Caregiver Agencies in Charlottesville

As an adult child with aging parents, it can be tough to know when parents might need in-home care and what the best home care agencies look like.

Three signs that it might be time to start looking for senior care in Charlottesville, VA include:

• Your parents needing help with daily tasks
• Your parents showing signs of dementia
• You being unable to care for your parents yourself

Once you’re certain that your parents could benefit from in-home care, it’s time to start looking for the “best caregiver agency near me.” When choosing between the top caregiver agencies in Charlottesville, you’ll want to look for these three characteristics:

• Whole-person care plans
• Highly trained caregivers
• Flexible care options

If your elderly parents are residents in the Charlottesville area and you’re wondering, “What is the best home health care agency?” the answer is Commonwise Home Care.

At Commonwise Home Care in Charlottesville, VA, we strive to provide the highest quality elder care to aging seniors. Our Care Managers carefully craft customized care plans for each client based on their needs. Then, our trained Caregivers enter the home and put the plan into action. And as your loved one’s needs change, so do the levels of care that their caregivers provide. 

Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive in-home care services and how they can improve your loved one’s quality of life.

Are you an elderly adult looking for accessible physical therapy services in your area?

Do you have questions about physical therapy duration or the success rate of physical therapy for seniors?

As we age, mobility issues can begin to appear more frequently. Physical therapy can benefit any elderly adult who’s interest in:

• Reducing their risk of falling when moving around
• Receiving assistance using a cane or other assistive device
• Relearning to walk after a stroke
• Regaining strength after a surgery or injury

But after you begin your treatment, how long should you do physical therapy? 

In this article, we’re sharing all about PT for seniors and answering common questions. Some of the questions we’ll look at include:

• Is there an option for in-home physical therapy?
• How long does it take for physical therapy to work?
• What happens if physical therapy doesn’t work?

Join us to get an expert’s answer to all these questions and more.

5 Common Questions About Physical Therapy for Seniors

Are you looking for an answer to, “How long should you go to physical therapy?” or “How long can physical therapy last?”

Here are five of the most common questions about physical therapy for seniors.

Is There an Option for In-home Physical Therapy?

Yes, there are personal at-home physical therapy options for seniors.

With in-home physical therapy, a trained physical therapist (PT) goes to the client’s home and walks them through exercises. This kind of personal PT comes with many benefits for seniors, like:

• One-on-one attention with the physical therapist for the entire session
• A personalized action plan suited to the client’s lifestyle and home layout
• The convenience of not needing to leave the home

It’s crucial for elderly adults to get PT, especially after a serious injury or surgery. Otherwise, they may experience reduced mobility or complete loss of function in the affected body part.

In-home physical therapy makes it easy and convenient for seniors to get PT—wherever they call home.

How Long Does it Take for Physical Therapy to Work?

Once someone starts PT, they often want to know how long it will take for the therapy to work.

Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to “How long does it take for physical therapy to work?”

Instead, the length of time it takes for PT to bear fruit will depend on a few things:

• The injury and its severity: Some injuries or surgeries will take longer to recover from than others. For example, recovering from slight wrist pain will most likely take less time than relearning how to walk after a stroke.
• How many PT sessions you have each week: Second, the number of PT sessions you have each week will affect your recovery time. If you have three sessions each week compared to one, PT will probably provide positive results faster.
• Whether you do the exercise on your own between sessions or not: Lastly, doing exercises your therapist shows you on your own can speed up your recovery process. Even if you only see your therapist once or twice a week, doing exercise independently can greatly supplement your official PT sessions.

Before you officially start PT, your physical therapist will do an initial assessment to better understand your current condition. After the assessment, they can most likely give an estimate about your physical therapy duration.

How Long Should Physical Therapy Last?

Like the question “How long does it take for physical therapy to work?” the question, “How long should you do physical therapy?” doesn’t have a straight answer.

Instead, treatment length varies based on your unique situation and needs. But here’s a quick overview to help you think about how long your PT might take:

• Minor injuries: 2-3 sessions 
• Soft tissue injuries: 6-8 weeks
• Chronic or serious conditions: 2-3+ months 

Just remember, every situation is unique and there’s no magic formula or medicine for quick healing. It’s always best to listen to your physical therapist’s recommendations and follow their instructions to ensure your treatment is successful.  

How Do You Know When to Stop Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy isn’t meant to be something that you do forever. Instead, there should come a time when you can stop PT.

There are two indicators that can help you know when to stop physical therapy:

• You’ve reached your PT goals
• You’re not seeing additional improvements

Here’s a closer look at these two indicators.

You’ve Reached Your Goals

At the start of your treatment, your physical therapist will help you set goals. These goals will be an indication to you and your therapist that the exercise plan is working.

Examples of goals might include:

• Regaining full range of motion in your arm after a shoulder surgery
• Being able to walk independently or with an assistive device after a stroke
• Having no pain in your legs or back after a fall

Your goals will be unique to your situation. But once you achieve your goals, you can stop scheduling official PT sessions.

You’re Not Seeing Progress

There are times when you may do PT for a few weeks (or months) and see no progress toward your goals. At this point, it may be wise to consider stopping PT.

 But before stopping PT, ask yourself a few questions:

• Am I doing exercises on my own outside of official sessions?
• Have I set realistic, achievable goals for myself?
• Is my PT aware of my lack of progress and are they making any adjustments?

If you answer “yes” to all of these and there’s still no progress, then it may be wise to talk with your PT about stopping therapy and considering other options.

What Happens if Physical Therapy Doesn’t Work?

We briefly mentioned this above, but sometimes PT won’t seem to be working. Your physical therapist will come over week after week and month after month, and yet you won’t see any improvements.

So, what happens if physical therapy doesn’t work?

If physical therapy isn’t working, there are few options you can consider:

• Continuing PT with new adjustments: Your PT may be able to make some adjustments and create a new plan of action. After a few more weeks, you can reassess the new plan and whether it’s working or not.
• Looking into surgery: Alternatively, your PT may suggest that getting surgery followed by more physical therapy is the best course of action. Surgery may help repair the injury and restarting PT after the surgery can provide renewed strength and mobility.
• Stopping PT altogether: Physical therapy isn’t a guaranteed fix for recovery. There are times when it won’t lead to complete restoration and you’ll simply have to stop. If you’ve considered or tried the first two options and you still aren’t seeing any progress, then it may be time to stop PT and start exploring other options for managing or addressing your pain.

It’s important that you stay in contact with your PT and any other medical providers as you make these decisions. They can advise you on the best way forward and help you know what to do when PT doesn’t seem to work.

But overall, the success rate of physical therapy is very high, especially for elderly adults who commit to attending every session and doing exercises on their own.

Professional In-home PT in Richmond and Charlottesville, VA

Physical therapy is a great way for seniors to:

• Regain strength after an injury
• Restore mobility after a surgery
• Increase confidence moving around

But when it comes to PT, you might have many questions about physical therapy’s duration and when to stop physical therapy.

Some of the most common questions that we addressed in this article included:

• Is there an option for in-home physical therapy?
• How long does it take for physical therapy to work?
• How long should you do physical therapy?
• How do you know when to stop physical therapy?
• What happens if physical therapy doesn’t work?

If you’re an elderly adult or an adult child with elderly parents looking for in-home physical therapy in Richmond or Charlottesville, VA, then Commonwise Home Care is the place for you.

At Commonwise Home Care, we provide all levels of care to elderly adults, including private physical therapy at home. Our physical therapists have their doctor’s of physical therapy degrees and have experience with a wide range of needs. Whether you simply want to reduce fall risks or need advanced assistance learning to walk after a serious injury or surgery, our physical therapists will create a personalized care plan for you.

Contact us today to learn more about in-home physical therapy and our other premium in-home elder care options.

When it comes to caring for an aging parent in your home, there are many things to consider and preparations to make. Additionally, you may not feel like you have the time or ability to take care of your parents in their old age.

With caregiving comes extra responsibilities, expenses, and stress.

So, how do you take care of things for elderly parents at home?

If you’re looking for elderly care tips, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we’re providing expert advice on how to care for an elderly person at home. As you read, you’ll receive some practical “taking care of aging parents” tips and learn about the benefits of professional in-home caregiving for adults over 60.

Taking Care of the Elderly in Your Home: 5 Elderly Care Tips

Elderly adults want to age in the comfort of their home, but sometimes that’s not possible. Often, the next best spot for them is in one of their adult children’s homes. 

But as an adult child, you may not know how to care for an elderly person (like mom or dad) in your home.

If you’re unsure how to take care of your parents in their old age in your home, here are five expert “taking care of aging parents” tips.

1. Assess Your Parents’ Needs

The first thing that you’ll want to do when helping to care for aging parents is to assess their needs. 

Take some time to observe your parents’ daily habits and ability to function on their own:

• Can your parents move around independently?
• Are your parents able to bathe, dress, feed themselves, and perform other daily tasks on their own?
• Do your parents have medications or serious medical conditions that require regular attention?
• Can your mom or dad still drive themselves to and from places?
• Are there any signs of dementia or mental decline?

Knowing your parents’ needs and limitations can help you understand what level of care they’ll need. The more assistance they require with daily tasks and activities, the more involved you may need to be in providing hands-on care.

2. Make Necessary Home Safety Adjustments

The second step you’ll want to take when caring for an aging parent in your home is to ensure your home is safe.

One of the most important safety adjustments to make is in regard to fall prevention. Falls are very common for elderly adults, as one out of every four seniors falls each year. In addition, falls can lead to serious injury or hospitalization, with more than 90% of hip fractures occurring because of falls.

Some elderly care tips to help prevent falls in your home include:

• Installing or tightening handrails on stairs
• Placing non-slip mats on stairs and in the bathroom
• Providing your parents with one-story living to avoid stairs
• Keeping rooms well-lit and free of clutter
• Helping them learn to use a cane or other assistive device

There are other safety issues that you may need to address, like taking the keys away from parents or monitoring them if they’re prone to wander. However, fall prevention should be a top priority when taking care of the elderly in your home.

3. Ensure Your Parents Medical, Social, Emotional, and Physical Needs Are Met

Now that you’ve assessed your parents’ needs and made your home safe for them, it’s time to help meet their growing needs.

• Medical: Medication reminders or transportation to/from doctor’s and dental offices.
• Social: Regardless of age, we all need opportunities to interact with others our own age. Help your parents find different ways to meet people and build relationships.
• Emotional: Depression isn’t a normal part of aging, but it is common in elderly adults. Monitor your parents’ mood to make sure they aren’t experiencing serious emotional fluctuations, and look for professional help if they do seem to have depression.
• Physical: A good diet and regular exercise are necessary for people of all ages, but they can be especially beneficial for elderly adults to help maintain overall health.

Your parents may have other specific needs and it’s important to take time to consider their whole person. 

4. Monitor Your Parents’ Health and Needs

Conditions and needs can change quickly, so it’s crucial to keep an eye on your parents’ overall health. 

• Is their mobility decreasing? They may need in-home physical therapy to maintain their strength. In addition, a cane or other assistive device could increase their confidence in moving around.
• Are they tentative to drive at certain times of the day or at all? It might be time to start talking with them about giving up their keys and making preparations for their transportation.
• Do your parents forget new names or places? They might be experiencing mental decline or the start of dementia.

The above questions are simply examples of what it might look like to evaluate your parents’ overall needs and concerns. 

As your parents’ needs change or health declines, they may need increasing levels of care—care that you may not be able to provide them on your own.

5. Seek Professional In-home Care

At some point, taking care of the elderly in your home may be something that you can’t handle on your own.

Fortunately, there are professional caregiving services for your elderly parents. These agencies provide your aging parents with a highly-trained personal caregiver.

In-home caregivers provide hands-on help to seniors. They go to the client’s home and assist with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).

ADLs are essential self-care tasks such as:

• Eating
• Bathing
• Dressing
• Toileting
• Mobility
• Grooming

IADLs are slightly more complex activities that are more auxiliary to life and include tasks like:

• Handling transportation
• Managing finances
• Housekeeping
• Meal prep
• Medication reminders

So whether your loved one requires assistance with ADLs, IADLs, or both, finding an in-home caregiver can greatly improve their quality of life.

In addition, in-home caregivers relieve family caregiver burden and stress. While the caregiver looks after your parents, you can focus on your own responsibilities and rest assured that mom and dad have an experienced caregiver looking after them.

The Best Caregiving Services for Your Elderly Parents

Taking care of elderly parents in their old age is something that many adult children find themselves doing. However, most people aren’t prepared when it comes to helping to care for aging parents.

If you’re caring for an aging parent in your home but aren’t sure how to take care of your parents in their old age, five actions you can take are:

• Assessing your parents’ needs to determine their care needs
• Making necessary home adjustments to ensure safety
• Ensuring your parents’ overall health needs are met
• Monitoring your parents’ health and needs over time
• Seeking professional in-home caregiving services

Taking care of the elderly in your home can often leave you feeling exhausted and burned out, especially as your parents age and their needs increase.

Fortunately, you don’t have to care for your parents alone. There are in-home care companies that know how to care for an elderly person when you don’t.

At Commonwise Home Care in Virginia and South Carolina, we specialize in providing elder care to aging seniors. Our Care Managers work with you to create a personalized care plan just for your loved one. Then, highly-trained caregivers enter into your parents’ home to put the plan into action. And with our list of comprehensive services ranging from respite care a few hours a week to 24/7 care, there’s no care need we can’t help meet.

Contact us today to hear more about how professional in-home caregiving services for your elderly parents can improve their quality of life and relieve your caregiver burden.

Caring for a loved one with dementia is challenging. It becomes even more difficult as dementia progresses and symptoms increase. In particular, sleeplessness and sundowning in dementia patients can become more common.

So, how do you help loved ones overcome dementia sleep issues, like sundowning?

In this article, we’re looking at sundowning and dementia. We’ll share how to help sundowners sleep and answer questions, like:

• What is sundown syndrome?
• Why do dementia patients not sleep?
• How do I get professional care for a dementia patient who’s waking up at night?

Continue reading for care approaches for sundowning.

What Is Sundown Syndrome?

Before we look at how to help sundowners sleep or care approaches for sundowning, let’s answer the question, “what is sundowning in dementia?”

Sundowning in dementia patients is a term used to describe a sudden state of confusion or behavior change. It often occurs in the late afternoon/evening, making dementia in the evening seem worse than at other times. 

Unfortunately, experts aren’t exactly sure what causes sundowning. Some factors that may increase someone’s risk of sundowning include:

• A disrupted internal clock
• Low lighting
• Fatigue
• Being too tired or having too much energy
• Unmet needs (e.g., hunger, thirst, etc.)
• Depression
• Pain

You can tell that your loved one experiences sundowning if they exhibit a quick increase in any of the following symptoms during the evening:

• Anxiety or worry
• Pacing or wandering
• Aggression or anger

In addition, because sundowning happens in the evening near bedtime, sundowning can affect the individual’s ability to sleep at night. And in turn, affect a caregiver’s nighttime sleep.

Dementia sleep issues, like sundowning, often leave caregivers tired, frustrated, and wondering how to help sundowners sleep.

Tips for Dealing with Sundowning and Dementia Sleep Issues

If you’re a family member caring for a loved one with dementia, you may be looking for some dementia and sundowning strategies.

Here are three ways to help curb sundowning and other dementia sleep issues.

1. Maintain a Nighttime Routine

Individuals with dementia can greatly benefit from a routine in general. But a consistent nighttime routine is especially valuable when it comes to sundowning or a dementia patient waking up at night.

Your loved one’s routine should involve low stress, low energy activities to help them relax and calm down before going to bed. 

You’ll want to avoid activities like watching TV or exercising. It’s also best to stay away from caffeinated or alcoholic beverages in the evening. 

Instead, some activities that can help sundowning in dementia patients include:

• Playing a simple card game
• Listening to their favorite music
• Talking about past memories

Ultimately, you want to suggest activities that will keep your loved one occupied and relaxed until they get into bed.

2. Monitor Daytime Naps

When it comes to the question of, “Why do dementia patients not sleep at night?” experts most highly suspect it has to do with a messed up internal clock. 

When someone’s internal clock is confused, they’re often awake during the night and sleep long hours during the day. 

To help someone reset their internal clock, you can monitor their naps to ensure:

1. They don’t nap too often: Try to keep your loved one from napping more than 3 times during the day.
2. Their naps aren’t too long: You’ll also want to keep track of how long they nap. Naps should last no longer than 30-60 minutes.
3. Naps happen at the same time each day: Lastly, keep them on a consistent napping schedule so that naps occur roughly the same time each day. 

Taking daytime naps is okay, but frequent, long naps during the daytime can further confuse their internal clock.

3. Get Exercise and Sunlight 

Getting physical exercise and being in the sunlight each day can also help with sundowning and dementia sleep issues.

Physical activity doesn’t need to be anything intense. It can be as simple as taking a walk outside each morning and each day after lunch, which will also provide an opportunity for sunshine.

Participating in regular physical activity can help your loved one use energy which promotes nighttime drowsiness. Being in the sun can help reset their internal clock and get them back in normal sleep rhythms.

Dementia and sundowning strategies ultimately come down to increasing the likelihood of nighttime sleep and decreasing their risk of agitation.  

Now that you know more about sundowning and some ways to alleviate it, let’s look at a question many family caregivers have, “How long does sundowning last in dementia individuals?”

How Long Does Sundowning Last in Dementia Individuals?

Sundowning doesn’t usually start occurring until the mid to late stage of dementia. However, once it does start, it’s something that can potentially happen every afternoon/evening.

Additionally, while a sundowning episode is happening, it can last for many hours or through the night. If it lasts through the night, it can greatly affect sleep for both the caregiver and person with dementia.

Because the person with dementia may be awake at night, the family caregiver will also need to stay alert in case their loved one wanders or experiences an onset of confusion.

It may be okay for the person with dementia to forgo nighttime sleep. But for family caregivers who may have other personal responsibilities, watching a loved one 24/7 isn’t possible. And even though we provided some ways to help decrease the risk of sundowning, these practices won’t be 100% effective.

So, how can you ensure high-quality around-the-clock care for a dementia patient who won’t sleep or regularly suffers from sundowning? 

Professional In-home Care for Sundowning in Dementia Patients

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be a challenge. When you add sundowning on top of it, it can become even more difficult.

If you’re wondering, “What is sundowning in dementia?” it’s a condition of where someone with dementia experiences drastic mood or behavior changes in the late afternoon/early evening.

Because sundowning happens later in the day and can affect nighttime sleep, it’s often seen as a dementia sleep issue. 

Fortunately, you can help alleviate the symptoms of sundowning in dementia patients by:

• Maintaining a consistent nighttime routine
• Monitoring your loved one’s daytime naps
• Ensuring your loved gets regular exercise and sun exposure

Unfortunately, these methods may not always work, and you’ll be left watching your loved one through the night. Providing 24-hour care for your loved one with dementia can lead to exhaustion and burnout.

One of the best long-term dementia and sundowning strategies is to get professional in-home care for your loved one. With full-time in-home care, your loved one will have a personal caregiver caring for them 24/7.

At Commonwise Home Care, we specialize in home-based elder care. We offer a comprehensive list of in-home care services, ranging from 4 hours of care once a week to 24-hour care every day of the week. So whether your loved one needs assistance with simple daily life tasks or is struggling with sundowning and dementia, we can provide the care they need.

Contact us today to hear more about how in-home care can relieve your caregiver burden and improve your loved one’s quality of life.

Are you wondering if there are physical therapists that come to the home?

Do you want to know how to do physical therapy at home?

At-home physical therapy makes it easy and convenient for elderly adults to keep their bodies strong and mobile. It’s also an accessible way for seniors to recover after an immobilizing surgery or illness.

If you’re an aging adult looking to increase your strength or mobility, home health care physical therapy could benefit you.

In this article, we’re looking at the benefits of in-home physical therapy for aging adults. You’ll learn about at-home physical therapy services and get insight into Virginia’s best in-home physical therapy providers.

Continue reading to get more information on in-home health and physical therapy.

What Is At-home Physical Therapy?

At-home physical therapy (PT) is physical therapy that you receive in the comfort of your home. Like in-office PT, trained physical therapists oversee the treatment plan and exercises, but they do it in the client’s home instead of a clinic.

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of home health care physical therapy for elderly adults.

The Benefits of Home Health Care Physical Therapy

As seniors age, they can experience a decrease in mobility. There’s often a link between a reduction of mobility and one or more factors, like:

• Lack of regular physical activity
• General wear and tear on the body over time
• An injury, illness, or chronic condition
• A surgery that leaves them bedridden or without the use of a particular body part for extended periods

One of the best ways to combat a decrease in mobility and recover from an injury or surgery is physical therapy. In-home physical therapy providers make receiving PT easy and convenient.

In addition to the ease and convenience of a home health care physical therapist, physical therapy at home can also benefit seniors by:

• Providing them with increased confidence moving around
• Teaching them how to use a cane or other assistive device
• Helping them regain independence
• Restoring their use of a body part after an injury or surgery
• Tailoring exercises to their specific needs and lifestyle

With a therapist that comes to the home, elderly adults can maintain mobility or regain strength—all in the comfort of their home.

If you’re an aging adult who’s interested in home health and physical therapy, you can start the process by following the steps outlined in the following section.

How to Do Physical Therapy at Home

Finding “in-home physical therapy near me” and starting a PT program can be challenging if you don’t know what to do or what’s involved.

Here’s a rundown of how to find at-home physical therapy services and what to expect from at-home physical therapy. 

1. Contact Local Home Care Agencies or PT Clinics

The first step in receiving in-home physical therapy is to locate in-home physical therapy providers in your area.

Some ways to track down a home health care physical therapist are to:

• Search online for “in-home physical therapy near me”
• Contact local PT clinics or healthcare facilities
• Reach out to in-home care agencies

Searching online is a great preliminary way to find local physical therapy clinics. And once you locate some offices, contacting them is the next logical step. However, finding an in-home care company that also offers at-home physical therapy services is often the best option.

In-home care agencies specialize in providing care to elderly adults, so getting PT through them ensures that the care is senior-focused.

But if you can’t find a local home care company that provides in-home physical therapy, contacting any PT clinic that offers in-home PT should suffice.

2. Schedule Your Initial Assessment

Once you’ve found a physical therapist that comes to the home, you can schedule your first appointment with them.

The first thing the in-home physical therapist will do is assess your current physical condition. Then, they’ll ask you some questions and have you perform some physical exercises to gauge your level of mobility.

This initial assessment will help your physical therapist understand where you are in your strength and mobility journey. It will also allow them to create a personalized care plan tailored to your needs and goals.

3. Receive Ongoing PT and Support 

Once you’ve completed the initial assessment and your PT has created your care plan, you’ll start doing at-home physical therapy with your therapist and on your own.

Sessions With Your Home Health Care Physical Therapist

Depending on your goals and insurance coverage, you may meet with your physical therapist once or a few times each week.

Those who want to recover more quickly and have better coverage may meet with their therapist more than once a week. Others who don’t have insurance covering multiple visits each week or who have less severe mobility issues might only meet with their PT once a week.

Regardless of how often your physical therapist comes to your home, your PT will introduce you to a series of exercises. They’ll walk you through these exercises and ensure that you do them correctly.

As you regain mobility and strength, your physical therapist will introduce new exercises and increase their difficulty.

Performing Exercises on Your Own

Meeting with your physical therapist is important with home health and physical therapy. However, it’s also vital that you perform exercises independently, especially if you only see your PT once or twice a week.

As your PT teaches you exercises, they’ll expect you to perform them independently between sessions. Doing exercises alone will help you regain strength and mobility more quickly.

Therefore, it’s essential to pay attention when your physical therapist shows you exercises. That way, you’ll know how to do physical therapy exercises at home correctly and without risk of injury. 

In addition, getting into the habit of doing exercises on your own can help you continue at-home physical therapy on your own once you stop meeting with your physical therapist.

By meeting with your physical therapist regularly and performing exercises on your own, you’ll see rapid mobility and strength improvements.

Now that you know the benefits of a home health care physical therapist and how to do physical therapy at home, are you ready to learn where to get “the best in-home physical therapy near me?”

Virginia’s Premier In-home Physical Therapy Providers

Do physical therapists come to your home? 

Yes, there are in-home physical therapy providers with physical therapists that come to the home. So instead of having to leave the house and drive to a clinic, at-home physical therapy services allow seniors the comfort and ease of PT in their own homes. 

At-home physical therapy is an excellent resource for elderly adults looking to regain mobility or strength. It’s especially helpful for recovering from an injury, having just had surgery, or simply wanting to maintain their lifestyle.

A home health care physical therapist can help seniors:

• Regain confidence in their mobility
• Teach them how to use a cane or other assistive device
• Help them become more independent
• Restore the use of affected body parts
• Create a personalized care plan

The way that in-home physical therapy works is:

• You contact an in-home physical therapy provider
• Schedule an initial assessment
• Receive ongoing PT and support

If you’re a senior who’s ready to regain mobility and strength in your body, then it’s time for you to find “in-home physical therapy near me.”

At Commonwise Home Care, we specialize in providing exceptional elder care to aging seniors. In addition, we offer professional in-home physical therapy to elderly adults in the Richmond and Charlottesville, VA areas. Our doctorate-level physical therapists come to your home, create a tailored plan to help you reach your goals, and work with you to ensure you regain strength and mobility.

And when money is involved, it almost always creates mixed motives and stirs up suspicions, even in the best of families. The decisions involved in protecting elderly parents’ money can cause disagreements among siblings and lead to strained relationships.

So, how do you protect your parents from other family members and navigate sibling relationships?

In this article, we’ll be exploring the complicated issues of:

• How to prevent family disputes with elderly parents
• How to deal with “greedy siblings”
• How can I protect my elderly parents’ money
• How to stop siblings from spending your parents’ money
• How to restore relationships strained by disputes about family finances

Read on to learn about how to restore your family’s peace while also protecting your parent’s money, health, and wellness.

Protecting Elderly Parents from Siblings

First of all, the desire to protect elderly parents from potential abuse (e.g., physical, emotional, financial, etc.) is a common occurrence. 

Further, the abuse of elderly parents can come from multiple sides:

• Adult children who are not the parents’ primary caregivers may be concerned that the sibling who is the primary caregiver is misusing (or even abusing) their access to their parents’ money. 
• The sibling who is the primary caregiver may be concerned that other, “less helpful”, siblings are trying to manipulate the aging parents, attempting to interfere without knowledge of what’s actually going on, or even without caring about what’s best for the parents.

Misuse and abuse can happen from either side of the equation. Concern for parents’ welfare is valid, whether you’re the primary caregiver or not. 

However, it’s easier and less destructive to prevent a messy, family crisis than to resolve one.  For this reason, let’s look at what can be done to proactively prevent or (if necessary) resolve issues of siblings taking advantage of elderly parents.

Preventing Family Disputes with Elderly Parents

The best way to prevent siblings from spending parents’ money is to have thorough discussions about aging parents’ care in advance and agree to a plan. 

Consider this very common progression of events:

• One sibling is more suited/available/willing to take on a majority of the burden and costs of caring for the elderly parents. 
• The sibling providing a majority of the care becomes burned out and resentful toward the “unhelpful” siblings. 
• The primary caregiver feels entitled to use their access to the parent’s money to compensate themselves for the sacrifices they’re making, without including other siblings in that decision. 
• This all results in accusations of misuse of funds, greed, and elder abuse. 

Ultimately, the above scenario can be prevented by thorough discussion and plan-making ahead of time. 

Here are two practical steps you can take toward an end-of-life plan for aging parents.

1. Preparation

It may seem like a lot of work, but it’s best to take preparation for the end of life seriously. 

A few practical steps you can take to prepare for your parents’ old age include: 

• Consulting an elder law attorney
• Doing research on end-of-life topics
• Mapping out kinds of care that may be needed, including what it may cost
• Taking a class on caregiving

This kind of preparation will equip you to be able to form a knowledgeable and workable plan.

2. Communication

The next step to making a plan is to have some honest conversations as a family. 

Many families shy away from talking about aging, health, and finances. But these are the topics that must be explored in order to avoid future mismatched expectations, frustrations, and disputes. 

Here are some hard questions that you can discuss as a family:

• What are your parents’ preferences and desires regarding their care and their estate?
• Among the adult children, what would be an equitable sharing of caregiving responsibility/burden? 
• What if one sibling won’t help with the elderly parents’ care? Is there another way they can contribute/stay involved?
• Who gets to make decisions regarding the parents’ money and health care? 
• If certain adult children are sacrificing financially to take care of their parents, are they entitled to some form of compensation/reimbursement? 

It’s much better to get these topics out in the open before they become an urgent concern. Or worse, once the money’s gone and relationships are strained. 

So far, we’ve addressed basic questions siblings with aging parents must consider. 

Things have the potential to get really messy, however, if one or more siblings are spending parents’ money without proper consent. So, what do you do when a sibling is taking advantage of elderly parents?

How to Deal with “Greedy Siblings”

Things get more complicated when one adult child is dependent on their aging parents in some way or selfishly takes advantage of parents’ money.

Some common scenarios of a “greedy sibling” include an adult child:

• Frequently looking to their parents for financial assistance, gifts, or “loans” in order to maintain their lifestyle.
• Living with their aging parents and dependent on them for housing.
• Having a cognitive or physical disability, and their parents are the primary caregiver.

In each of these scenarios, the aging parents’ resources are being used disproportionately to support one of their adult children, and that child may feel a strong need for the parents’ continued financial assistance. 

As uncomfortable as it might be to talk about, this is a family issue that could easily become a crisis if unaddressed. Some questions that must be answered as a family include:

• What’s the plan for the aging parents’ care after their financial resources are exhausted?
• How do we handle the dependent sibling’s care once the parents’ are no longer able to help them?
• Would it be better for the adult child to become independent in advance?
• Is it acceptable for the aging parents to choose to give away (to the dependent sibling) the money that would’ve become an inheritance left to their other adult children? 

When having these difficult conversations, remember that a win-win solution is one in which the needs of each family member (aging parents, supportive adult children, dependent adult children) are all accounted for. Keep this goal in mind when thinking through practical solutions.

End of life, aging, health, and finances are all potentially awkward conversation topics, but unless these conversations happen ahead of time, you may end up with broken relationships and messy legal battles.

How Can I Protect My Parents’ Money

When it comes down to it, only so much can be prevented through family discussion. It’s also important to take practical steps towards protecting elderly parents’ money. 

Here are our top five tips for protecting your parents’ money if you suspect one of your siblings is spending your parents’ money unnecessarily.

1. Get Legal Documents in Order

Getting all of your parents’ legal documents in order may seem intimidating, but it’s a crucial first step in preventing any form of abuse. 

Some specific actions you can take in regards to getting legal matters in order include:

• Talking to an elder law attorney, probate, and/or fiduciary
• Establishing a medical power of attorney
• Designating a financial power of attorney
• Creating a living will, a will, or trust 

An important way of protecting elderly parents’ money is to include legal provisions to make it difficult for a single, outside person to later make changes to these legal documents. 

For example, state in the original document that in order to make changes, someone must contact the attorney who originally drafted the document. Additionally, state that there must be the agreement of multiple witnesses who aren’t named in the will (or the trust) in order for the documents to be changed.

2. Maintain Strict Transparency

For any sibling who’s making decisions on their parents’ behalf, maintaining strict transparency is a must. This will calm suspicions and protect against accusations.

In general, transparency refers to hiding nothing—making all information openly available. In this context, maintaining transparency means having all the details regarding finances, health care, and legal decisions recorded and available to all parties who have an interest. This allows for accountability to the law. 

In order to maintain transparency, put everything in writing. Taking over elderly parents’ finances legally by becoming the power of attorney is better than simply adding names to bank accounts. There should be a paper trail for all financial transactions. Avoid cash transactions and gifts. 

For more guidance on how to maintain transparency, consult an attorney or fiduciary. All of this avoids contentions and prevents legal battles. 

3. Talk to a Representative About Medicaid

Medicaid is a government assistance program that can cover significant amounts of elder care, for those who qualify. However, the application process is complicated, and it’s possible to fail to qualify because you fill out the forms incorrectly.

The way this ties into protecting your parents’ money is, Medicaid has a 5 year “look back” period. This means that gifts, “loans”, payment to family members for services, and/or transference of assets within the past five years can all disqualify a senior. 

If a gift to a family member does disqualify the parents from Medicaid, it will mean large expenses back on the family’s plate, which the aging parents might have otherwise been able to cover themselves. It’s better to avoid large financial gifts entirely when getting close to a time in life when your parents may need Medicaid. 

If you think Medicaid might be an option for your parents – now or in the future –  it is critical that you receive guidance from a professional representative. 

4. Repair Relationships

Money is a contentious subject and even well-meant decisions can lead to offense.

Though protecting elderly parents from siblings is important, harmony and peace within the family are highly valuable. Whichever sibling serves as power of attorney should try to make it clear to the rest of the family that they’re not taking on all this work for themselves, but for the sake of the parents.

Maintain a high value for forgiveness and reconciliation within the family as you navigate difficult situations as a family. Even though your siblings may be in the wrong at times, consider extending them extra grace, and asking for their patience as well. Maintaining peace within the family and avoiding messy lawsuits may be worth some compromises along the way. 

As you repair relationships and work toward peace, you may find that it can lead to more open discussions and less financial abuse in the future.

5. Seek Outside Assistance 

Though our hope is that it would never come to this, there may be times when you have done all you can and your sibling still seems to be taking advantage of your elderly parents. 

You may ultimately need an elder law attorney’s help in taking over your parents’ finances legally and stopping your siblings from spending your parent’s money. In extreme cases, if you suspect emotional or physical abuse, it may even be necessary to report your family member to adult protective services.

Expert Care When Siblings Won’t Help With Elderly Parents

When it comes to protecting elderly parents from siblings, there’s no easy answer. Sometimes you can talk as a family and work through family disputes with elderly parents. Other times, it may require more serious action, like getting power of and taking over elderly parents’ finances legally.

In this article, we provided some insight into:

• Preventing disputes within families
• How to deal with greedy siblings
• Protecting elderly parents’ money

But if you’re the primary caregiver to elderly parents and need help providing their hands-on care, we’re here for you.

Commonwise Home Care has been serving seniors and their families in Virginia and South Carolina for almost a decade. We dedicate ourselves to providing compassionate care to aging adults, allowing seniors to age in place comfortably at home. In addition, we train our Caregivers to spot elder abuse and our Care Managers know how to take action.

If you’re interested in finding top-quality in-home care for your loved one and relieving some of the burden off yourself or a sibling, speak to a Commonwise Care Advisor about how we might be the senior care solution for your family.

As adults age, they can need increasing levels of care and assistance. For some, they may need someone to help with household chores a few hours each week. Others might require a 24-hour caregiver for help during the day and night.

Are you an adult child with aging parents who need hands-on care?

If you are, then you may also be wondering, “How much does 24/7 in-home care cost?”

In this article, we’re providing you with an elderly care cost comparison. We’ll give you an in-home care cost estimate and answer the question, “Is home health care cheaper than assisted living?”

Keep reading to learn about the cost of 24/7 care at home.

Elderly Care Cost Comparison

It’s difficult to make in-home care cost estimates because prices vary depending on: 

• The agency
• Geographical location
• Type of care

The distinction between “kinds of care” is important because medical insurance will often cover costs of in-home health care, but usually doesn’t cover anything that’s considered companion care (or “custodial care”). 

In-home companion care is any form of non-medical assistance, such as grooming, transportation, assistance moving around, housekeeping, companionship, etc.

Home health care is medically necessary assistance prescribed by a doctor. This includes such things as in-home physical therapy, assistance with feeding tubes, COPD care, assistance administering medication, etc.

In-Home Care Cost Estimate

The average cost of elder care varies from state to state, ranging from $16/hr in Louisiana to $28/hr in Washington. (For the remainder of this article, we’ll look specifically at Virginia.) 

In Virginia, the average in-home care cost estimate is $22/hr for companion care and $23/hr for home health care. 

This means that in Virginia, the average cost of in-home elder care adds up to $180 for an 8-hour day, $880 for a 40 hour week, and $3,520 for a month of care.

But if an aging loved one needs care during the day and night, there are also 24-hour caregiver options available.

Average Cost of 24-hour Home Health Care vs. 24-hour Companion Care

One major benefit of in-home elder care is that it’s adaptable to the needs of each senior. Since in-home care is scheduled hourly, you only pay for exactly the amount of care you need. 

But sometimes, an elderly adult needs hands-on assistance all day and night. 

So, how much does 24/7 in-home care cost?

The average cost of 24/7 care at home stacks up to around $15,000 a month, whether that’s 24-hour companion care or home health care. 

Most people don’t need 24 hours of care until much later in life, but it’s good to know about it so you can start planning early. 

Alternatives to Having a 24 Hour Caregiver

Apart from an in-home 24-hour caregiver, there are other ways to ensure your loved one receives the care they need. The primary alternative to in-home care is residence in an elder care facility. 

Here are the three major options when it comes to alternative living facilities:

1. Assisted Living Facilities: These eldercare residences primarily provide assistance with activities of daily life and personal “custodial” care but don’t provide as much skilled nursing care. 
2. Nursing Homes: In addition to providing assistance with activities of daily life, nursing homes provide comprehensive medical support, with nurses on hand 24/7.
3. Memory Care: People with any form of dementia need special kinds of care, whether it’s provided by an in-home caregiver or through a facility. Most nursing homes (and some assisted living facilities) are equipped for this kind of care, for an extra fee.

And, here’s a quick cost breakdown for each of these eldercare residences:

In assisted living facilities, “memory care” for those with dementia incurs an additional monthly fee of $1,000-$4,000. However, memory care for those with dementia does not affect the hourly rate of in-home care or nursing home care. 

After all these elderly care cost comparisons, you may still be wondering, “Which is cheaper, home care or an assisted living facility?”

Is Home Health Care Cheaper than Assisted Living?

When it comes to end-of-life care, finances are only one of many factors to consider. 

But from a purely financial perspective, here is an elderly care cost comparison:

• Up to 55 hours a week, in-home care costs less than assisted living 
• Up to 100 hours a week, in-home care costs less than living in a nursing home 
• If 24/7 nursing care is needed (168 hours a week) then living in a residential facility will probably be less expensive 

Though in-home care isn’t necessarily always the cheapest option, it’s often the best. With in-home care, your loved one will receive focused one-on-one attention from a trained caregiver—something most facilities can’t provide.  

The bottom line is that 24-hour nursing care has a cost no matter which route you take, so let’s consider how to pay for senior care costs.

Ways to Pay 24 Hour Nursing Care Costs

There are some ways that individuals can get assistance paying for home care costs. Five of the most useful resources are:

• Medicare
• Medicaid
• The Aid and Attendance (A&A) Benefit for Veterans
• Long-term Care (LTC) Insurance
• Life Insurance Settlement

Here’s a look at these resources in more detail.

1. Medicare

Medicare is the health insurance provided by the government to all seniors age 65+. Medicare covers most home health care services, including:

• Nursing care
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Medication administration. 

However, to be covered, the home health care must be considered, “intermittent care”, which is defined as “less than 7 days each week or less than 8 hours each day.”

Medicaid doesn’t necessarily cover in-home custodial care and has limits to its assisted living facility coverage. So, you’ll want to look into your specific plan to see what it covers.

2. Medicaid

Medicaid is a form of government assistance that’s only available to those who qualify via low income or disability. 

Like Medicare, Medicaid covers all short-term medically prescribed care. In some states, there are waivers extending Medicaid benefits to cover non-medical care expenses. 

Unlike Medicare, Medicaid can help cover residence in a care facility for those who qualify. If you think you might qualify, you should talk to an agent or look up details on the website.

3. The Aid and Attendance (A&A) Benefit for Veterans 

A&A provides Veterans with a monthly stipend that can be used to pay for long-term care, including in-home care. However, the veteran is required to show that they need in-home care in order to qualify.

4. Long-Term Care (LTC) insurance  

LTC insurance is a form of insurance that specifically covers long-term care services, such as in-home care. Policies must be originated before long-term care commences, so it pays to look into it sooner rather than later. 

5. Life Insurance Settlements

Some life insurance policies allow you to claim your settlement before death. If you take your settlement early, it’s often less than the full policy amount but can be a reasonable means of paying for end-of-life care.

Some other helpful resources regarding paying for elder care you can look into are: 

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Long-Term Care Hub
• AARP Home Care Payment Resource Guide
• National Council on Aging Benefits CheckUp
• National Institute on Aging- Aging in Place Guide
• State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP)

Any financial help you can receive will make getting quality care for your loved one that much easier.

Best 24 Hour Caregivers in Virginia

In this article we’ve explored the costs of end-of-life care, seeking to answer the question “is home health care cheaper than assisted living?” 

Though there’s a lot of variation in cost, up to 100 hours a week of in-home care is often less expensive than living in a nursing home. However, the average cost of 24 hour home health care may be higher than the cost of living in a residential facility. 

Regardless of which option you choose, 24-hour nursing care can be costly. Some common ways people pay for end of life care include:

• Medicare
• Medicaid
• The VA Bill
• Long Term Care Insurance
• Life Insurance Settlements

Though this article focuses on the financial element of elder care, money isn’t the only factor to consider. Sometimes, the extra cost of 24/7 care at home is worth the benefits of aging in place and receiving intentional care from a trained caregiver.

Are you looking for compassionate, in-home care services in Virginia or South Carolina? 

Commonwise Home Care is a premier home care agency providing high-quality care and memory care to aging adults. We offer a comprehensive list of home care services, including:

• 24-hour caregivers
• Memory (dementia) care
• In-home physical therapy  

Speak to a Care Advisor today to hear about how in-home assistance could be a perfect fit for you and your family.

The US population of adults 65+ is expected to double from what it was in 2012, so there’s a huge need for in-home caregivers. There are already more jobs than caregivers, and the need is growing.

Are you wondering how to become an elderly care provider?

Do you need more information on senior care provider certifications?

Have you looked into in-home caregiver training classes?

Many people looking into a caregiving career ask, “Do you need a CNA license to be a caregiver?” or “What companion care certification do I need to care for the elderly?”

In this article, we’re sharing inside information about how to acquire caregiver training. You’ll learn about senior care worker qualifications and different work environments for caregivers.

Keep reading to get greater insight into home care training programs.

What Are Senior Care Worker Qualifications?

When it comes to qualifying for a career in caring for the elderly, there are two main parameters:

• Personal fit
• Caregiver training

Let’s look at how these two elements play a role in becoming a senior caregiver.

Personal Fit

Being a caregiver is a rewarding but also challenging career, and not everyone is cut out to be a caregiver. The ideal elder care provider is someone who:

• Wants flexible, nontraditional hours
• Desires to work in a home context
• Is motivated by human connection and compassion 
• Enjoys interacting with the elderly 
• Values excellent service 
• Likes being part of a compassionate community/team

In addition, caregivers often possess certain qualities and character traits that help them on the job. Some of these characteristics include:

• Compassion
• Empathy
• Patience

If you don’t possess all of these traits, that’s okay. Some of these qualities can be learned and developed over time.

Caregiver Training

A common question regarding becoming a caregiver is, “Do you need a CNA license to be a caregiver?”

The answer is, no. You don’t need a CNA license or another type of certification to get a job as a senior caregiver. These certifications can be useful for acquiring caregiver skills and making you stand out when applying to these jobs, but they’re not necessary.

Instead, there are certain caregiver training classes and programs that better prepare you for the role of a caregiver.

Caregiver Training Classes That Set People Up for Success

The best way to acquire caregiver training is through an in-home care company. In-home care companies provide care specifically to elderly adults, so they know what it takes to care for aging seniors.

However, not all home care training programs are created equal. Surveys of caregivers have found that the most beneficial elderly caregiver training programs involve the following three factors.

1. Online and In-person Training

Courses to take care of elderly adults should include online and in-person training opportunities.

The online portion is usually an 8-hour course that teaches you the skills needed to be a caregiver. However, instead of long pages of text or extensive videos, the online training provides engaging micro-learning content in the form of:

• Videos
• Flashcards
• Games
• Interactive activities

Once you finish the online training, you’ll perform various skills and walk through job-specific scenarios with trained eldercare professionals. They’ll offer you helpful feedback and tips to better prepare you for looking after elderly adults.

2. Hard and Soft Skills Training

Whereas CNA courses only teach practical skills, the best caregiver training classes teach both practical skills and hospitality skills. 

Training for practical skills include:

• How to help someone with limited mobility
• Basic first aid knowledge
• Information about common medications
• What is included in “light housework” and how to perform common household tasks

Hospitality skills, on the other hand, are softs skills that allow a caregiver to truly care for and treat each client with honor, respect, and compassion. 

Some of these hospitality skills include:

• Communication skills
• How to soothe a person with dementia
• Emotional intelligence

Home care training programs need to include these soft, hospitality skills as well as cover practical, hands-on topics. 

3. Ongoing Training and Support

Once you acquire initial caregiver training, you’ll need ongoing training and support.

For example, Commonwise Home Care provides their caregiver with “Level Up Days.” These days are unique times throughout the year that allows their caregivers to receive training in specific areas, like dementia care. And when caregivers complete this training, they also receive increased pay.

In addition, ongoing support from other trained eldercare professionals is necessary for you to succeed in your career. Some days are difficult and you’ll encounter situations you may not be prepared for. Support from others can help you overcome these challenges.

How to Become an Elderly Care Provider

There are several contexts in which to work with the elderly, each with its own pros and cons. 

Here are some of the main options for becoming an elderly care provider:

1. Advertise Yourself as an Independent Caregiver

One way to become a caregiver is to advertise your services directly on websites such as Indeed or Yelp. 

Some of the pros of this route include:

• It’s more direct than going through a company
• You can set your own pay rate and your own hours
• You can keep all your earnings

However, there are also some cons:

• You will be competing with many other caregivers who may be better qualified
• No company assistance with finding/vetting clients, negotiating contracts, providing substitutes if you want a day off, etc.
• No company protection such as insurance, advocacy, or providing an alternate client if the fit is not right, etc. 

Though it may be appealing to cut out the middleman, being an independent caregiver is a lot of work for one person, and includes a fair amount of risk.

2. Work in an Assisted Living Facility 

Another option is to get a job working in an assisted living facility. 

Some of the pros of this route include:

• Easy onboarding process
• No special qualification requirements
• Team environment 

However, there are also some cons:

• Low pay
• Limited training
• Poor ratio of staff to elderly people

Working in an assisted living facility is a straightforward way to work with the elderly, but the working environment may not be as empowering as in other eldercare contexts.

3. Work in a Hospital

You can also work with the elderly in a hospital or healthcare environment. 

Some of the pros of working in a medical facility include:

• Furthering your medical career 
• Providing you with specialized experience
• Working with other medical professionals

As with all options, there are also some cons:

• May require qualifications such as medical degrees/certifications/experience 
• Limited interaction with the elderly 
• Medical focus rather than general elder care

Working in a hospital may be a great fit for some people. However, if you’re seeking a career-focused specifically on the elderly, an in-home context might be more appealing. 

4. Work for a Private Home Care Company 

A final way to become an elderly care provider is to work for a private home care company as an in-home caregiver.

Working for a home care company has a lot of pros: 

• Many companies are looking to hire 
• No prerequisite experience/certifications needed 
• Most companies provide in-house training 
• In-home work environment 
• One-on-one care for the elderly
• The company provides administrative support and protection

Depending on the company you work for some cons to this route may include: 

• Low pay
• Working alone rather than with coworkers
• Insufficient training

However, some companies highly value their caregivers by providing ongoing support, training, and livable wages. 

Caregiver University: One of the Best Elderly Caregiver Training Programs

When it comes to senior care worker qualifications, there are two main elements:

• Possessing the right desires and traits of a caregiver
• Receiving proper caregiver training

Once you’ve decided that you want to pursue caregiver training, you need to find good caregiver training classes. Three marks of good training include:

• Online and in-person training
• Hard and soft skills training
• Ongoing training and support

After your training is complete, you can start working as a caregiver. A few of the most popular environments for eldercare workers are:

• As an independent caregiver
• In an assisted living facility
• At a hospital or medical facility
• Through an in-home care company

If you’re interested in working for one of the top home care companies in Virginia and South Carolina, Commonwise Home Care is the place to go.

Commonwise Home Care is a private home care company that prides itself on having the best caregivers in the industry. One way Commonwise invests in their staff is through their proprietary, in-house training program, Caregiver University. 

Caregiver University is unique from other home care training programs in a few ways:

• Hospitality skills are included along with all the necessary practical skills
• The course includes both an engaging online component and an in-person workshop where trainees can practice what they learned online
• Ongoing training through “level up” days, through which caregivers can continue to build their skills and increase their pay

However, don’t just take our word for it. Here’s a testimonial from one of Commonwise’s caregivers:

“Before joining Commonwise, I was nervous because I had never provided care to someone in their home. The Caregiver University onboarding program was really helpful because it helped me fine-tune my personal care skills, but also prepared me for the other types of challenges that I faced when I started entering people’s homes.”
– Emily, Commonwise Caregiver

If you want to receive ongoing training, higher than average wages, and a work culture of excellence, then come to work at Commonwise Home Care—the best private elder care company in Virginia or South Carolina.

As we age, it’s not uncommon to need physical therapy after an injury or surgery. It’s also a great way to regain strength, restore flexibility, or manage chronic pain. But for elderly adults, getting to and from a PT appointment can be challenging.

Fortunately, there are geriatric therapists that will perform physical therapy in the comfort of an aging senior’s home.

In-home geriatric physical therapy (physical therapy for older adults) provides a host of benefits for older people, ranging from:

• Maintaining fitness 
• Preventing falls
• Reducing symptoms of arthritis
• Assisting with recovery from a stroke

Are you interested in learning more about physical therapists that come to your home?

In this article, we’ll explore the field of geriatric physical therapy and answer questions such as:

• Are there different types of physical therapy for elderly adults?
• What is geriatric physical therapy?
• How does physical therapy for elderly patients benefit seniors?
• Is physical therapy for seniors covered by insurance?

We’ll also introduce one of the best options for “In-home physical therapy for seniors near me” in Richmond and Charlottesville, VA. 

Keep scrolling to learn all about in-home geriatric physical therapy.

The Different Types of Therapy for the Elderly

The field of physical therapy (PT) is broad and can focus on particular therapeutic needs. Some examples of physical therapy subtypes include:

• Occupational Physical Therapy: Occupational therapy promotes recovery from work-related injuries, restoring mobility necessary to perform occupational tasks.
• Hand Physical Therapy: This kind of therapy includes everything from the hand to the upper arm. Anytime someone has an injury to their hand or arm, hand physical therapy can help regain full use and range of motion. 
• Rehabilitative Physical Therapy: Rehabilitation focuses on recovery after a surgery or injury to help regain muscle strength and range of motion.
• Neurological Physical Therapy: This kind of physical therapy helps those with dementia or other neurological conditions improve their mobility, coordination, and balance as their brain changes.

However, in our article, we’re focussing specifically on geriatric physical therapy—physical therapy for older adults. PT for elderly adults often includes aspects of each type of PT talked about above.

What is Geriatric Physical Therapy?

The goal of physical therapy for older adults is to keep elderly seniors healthy, active, and strong as they age. Geriatric physical therapists assist elderly people in exercises, stretches, and activities that help retain or restore mobility and strength. 

First, these eldercare physical therapists assess their patients and create a personalized care plan specific to the clients’ needs. Then, they introduce a series of exercises to help the client reach their goals. 

Geriatric physical therapists make it easy and safe for aging seniors to perform exercises by:

• Providing special equipment
• Spotting during exercises
• Guiding the pace appropriately

Though physical therapy is usually performed in an onsite clinic, some PT practices offer the convenience of in-home physical therapy for seniors.

What is In-Home Physical Therapy for Seniors?

In-home physical therapy for seniors is a form of PT in which a physical therapist goes to a client’s home instead of the client going to an office. It allows the aging adult to get hands-on help and assistance in the comfort of their home—the place they spend the most time.

PT at home is convenient for aging adults, especially those who: 

• Can’t drive themselves to physical therapy
• Find it difficult to leave the house
• Need exercises that translate well to their home environment

The ease and convenience of in-home physical therapy make it a valuable service for elderly adults.

The Top 5 Benefits of In-home Physical Therapy for Seniors

Geriatric physical therapy addresses elderly physical therapy needs. Sometimes these needs are brought about by an accident, injury, or illness. Other times, it’s simply age-related.

Regardless of why an elderly adult requires PT, there are many benefits of physical therapy for older adults.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the primary benefits of physical therapy for seniors.

1. Maintaining Mobility

As adults age, it’s common to grow stiff and start to lose coordination, strength, and agility. Additionally, if an individual’s lifestyle becomes more sedentary, it’s easy to lose muscle tone, bone density, and flexibility. 

Elderly physical therapy helps aging adults maintain:

• Muscle strength 
• Balance
• Flexibility 
• Range of motion
• Bone density

Staying fit goes a long way in maintaining health and independence—allowing seniors to age in place more comfortably. 

2. Compensating for Age-related Conditions 

The second benefit of geriatric physical therapy is to help with certain health conditions common in older adults. 

For example, physical therapy for seniors can help reduce the symptoms of: 

• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Some cancers
• Stroke

When a senior engages in elderly physical therapy, they’re taking both preventative and proactive measures against these common conditions.

3. Managing Pain

Another benefit of physical therapy for older adults is pain management. 

Many older adults endure chronic pain as a result of various health conditions. Physical therapy can reduce pain symptoms, which in turn, can reduce dependence on medications. Some doctors even prescribe physical therapy for elderly patients instead of pain meds. 

Utilizing physical therapy for pain management means fewer pills to keep track of and fewer prescriptions to pay for. 

4. Preventing Falls 

Falling is one of the greatest dangers aging adults face, as:

• 1 out of 5 times a person falls, it causes a serious injury (e.g., broken bones or head trauma)
• Injuries from falling send 3 million older adults to the emergency room each year
• It causes more than 95% of hip fractures

The best way to avoid falling is to prevent it before it happens. 

So, how can elderly adults go about taking proactive measures against falls?

One great way to prevent falls is through geriatric physical therapy. Physical therapy for seniors helps them stay strong, keep their balance, and maintain their fitness.

In addition, a physical therapist that comes to your home can teach an elderly adult how to walk with a cane or other assistive device properly.

5. Recovering After an Injury or Surgery

When a senior does break a bone or need surgery, the affected limb is often immobilized for some time. This extended immobilization can often lead to:

• Loss of muscle strength
• Reduced bone density
• Stiffened joint 
• Decreased endurance

Physical therapy for seniors helps is an excellent way to restore and rebuild strength and mobility, as it can help an elderly adult regain full use of their limb after a surgical procedure.

Is Physical Therapy Covered by Insurance?

Geriatric physical therapy provides many benefits to seniors, but the cost may be an issue for some older adults.

So, is physical therapy for older adults covered by insurance?

The good news is that outpatient physical therapy is covered by Medicaid and most other insurance providers in Virginia. As long as a doctor prescribes PT, most providers cover:

• Short- and long-term therapy
• Physical therapy in a medical setting
• Physical therapy in a home setting

However, it’s always best to check with your own insurance provider to confirm what is or isn’t covered. 

Get In-Home “Geriatric Physical Therapy Near Me” Today

Physical therapy is a way for individuals to get professional assistance with mobility, strength, and endurance exercises, and geriatric physical therapy is PT specifically geared towards aging adults. 

In addition, in-home therapy for seniors makes physical therapy more convenient and accessible for adults as they age. It allows them to get valuable hands-on help as they recover from surgery or learn to walk with a cane.

With geriatric physical therapy at home, elderly adults receive expert assistance:

• Maintaining mobility
• Compensating for age-related conditions
• Managing pain
• Preventing falls
• Recovering after an injury or surgery

If you’re looking for the best “in-home physical therapy for seniors near me” in the Richmond or Charlottesville areas, Commonwise Home Care is here for you.

Commonwise Home Care offers exceptional in-home physical therapy for seniors. We have a team of licensed geriatric physical therapists that come to your house and create a personalized care plan for you. Whether you’re recovering from an injury or simply want to be more confident moving around, our PT clinic is fully licensed and offers a broad range of therapies.

Stop searching for “geriatric physical therapy near me” and contact our Richmond or Charlottesville branches to get the best in-home PT for elderly adults in the area.

If you’re considering caring for your aging parents in your home, you’re not alone. A study from Boston College found that about 17% of adult children care for their parents at some point. 

As adults get older, they often look to their adult children (or other family members) for help. One way adult children may provide support is by letting their parents move in with them.

Even though living with elderly parents can be a challenge, it can also be a wonderful experience when done well. 

In this article, we’ll be taking an honest look at how to cope well with elderly parents moving in with you. We’ll be sharing:

• The benefits of living together with aging parents
• The challenges of caring for an elderly parent in your home
• Top tips for living together well  
• Options for additional help caring for your loved one

Read on to learn all about living with elderly parents well.

What to Do When Parents Can’t Live Alone

Most adults want to age comfortably in a familiar place and don’t want to move into a nursing home or assisted living facility. However, elderly adults often need increasing amounts of assistance as their lives go on. 

So, what can adult children do when their parents can’t live alone?

One solution is for aging parents to move in with their adult children. This arrangement has the potential to be wonderful, with benefits for everyone. However, it can also involve some challenges.

Here are some of the benefits and challenges of caring for an elderly parent in your home.

Benefits of Living with your Elderly Parents

When it comes to living with your aging parents, there are many benefits. Three of the top benefits include:

• Minimizing expenses
• Convenience of care
• Mutual assistance

Here’s a quick look at these pros in more detail.

Minimizing Expenses

One potential benefit of living with your aging parents is minimizing expenses. 

Not only does combining households avoid the potential expense of residential elder care facilities, living together can be more financially efficient than maintaining two separate houses. 

Convenience of Care

Another big benefit of caring for an elderly parent in your home is the convenience of not needing to commute back and forth to help out. Instead of a 15-minute drive to mom’s house to check on her, mom could be two rooms over. 

This benefit is especially significant if you and your parents live far from each other.

Mutual Assistance

Additionally, aging parents can sometimes offer help to their adult children. Elderly parents can assist with light chores around the house or provide babysitting services for you and your spouse. 

But perhaps best of all, living together provides a special opportunity for aging parents and adult children (and grandchildren) to have a closer relationship during these later years of life.  

Challenges of Caring for Parents in Your Home 

It will come as no surprise that living with elderly parents can be difficult. There are certain challenges you’ll need to navigate in order to have a positive experience. 

Some of these challenges may include dealing with:  

• The loss of privacy at home 
• An impact on the adult child’s marriage
• Aspects of caregiving you may not be comfortable with
• Feelings of obligation / guilt / resentment
• The child/parent relationship in the adult child’s home

Some other issues that may arise are:

• What if it’s more work than expected?
• How to adapt to changing needs?
• How to handle elderly parents with dementia?

All these situations and challenges are a normal part of the picture when caring for parents in your home. However, these difficulties can be anticipated and overcome in a way that proves positive for everyone. 

4 Tips for How to Deal with Elderly Parents Living With You

Are you thinking about living with your aging parents but unsure how to cope with elderly parents moving in? 

Fortunately, having a positive experience living with elderly parents is totally possible.

Here are four expert tips for setting yourself up for success when caring for parents in your home.

1. Establish Realistic Care Expectations

The first thing you can do when caring for an elderly parent in your home is to assess the level of daily care your parents need in order to continue living healthily and happily. 

Some likely examples of care that your parents may require include:

• Safety/accessibility adjustments to the house
• Help to prepare food
• Assistance keeping track of medications
• Aid dressing/bathing
• Transportation to/from doctor’s appointments and outside activities
• Company/socialization
• Support moving about the house
• Encouragement to stay physically/mentally active 
• Someone to be home in case of an emergency etc

Once you’ve finished the assessment, consider and state clearly which kinds of help you can and cannot provide. This will reveal gaps in the level of care you can reasonably provide your loved one. 

Discovering gaps in care might seem like a bad thing, but it’s actually very important. Identifying care gaps allows you to start making alternative care arrangements to meet these needs.

Be honest with yourself about what care you can and can’t provide. . You don’t have any obligation or responsibility to agree to more than you can handle.

2. Set Boundaries

Boundaries are important in all relationships, but certain boundaries will significantly help when considering how to cope with elderly parents moving in. 

Here are three important boundaries to put in place for living with aging parents.

Maintain an Adult Relationship

First, maintain an adult relationship, even though they are your parents. 

Some practical examples for ensuring an adult relationship are:

• Preserving your right to privacy (e.g., you don’t have to answer questions about your phone calls or private conversations with other family members, etc.)
• Scheduling and following through on independent plans 
• Making your own decisions without their permission

It’s important to respect your parents, but it’s also necessary for you to maintain your own adult independence.

Protect Your Relationship With Your Spouse

Secondly, it’s vital to protect and prioritize time with your spouse. 

A 300 person study found that 80% of marriages were negatively impacted by having parents move in.  You can Avoid becoming part of this statistic by taking proactive steps to strengthen your marriage, like going on a date once a week or setting aside 10-20 minutes every night to connect about your day.

The presence of an aging parent in the home will naturally encroach on the amount of quality alone time available at home, but there are ways to continue prioritizing your spouse. 

Preserve Your Lifestyle

Lastly, it is valuable to prioritize living the same lifestyle you lived before your parents moved in—don’t put your life on hold. 

Your active lifestyle will:

• Help your parents stay active
• Act as a self-care opportunity for you
• Prevent you from becoming resentful 

Maintaining your previous lifestyle will provide benefits for you and your parents.

3. Think Ahead 

When it comes to caring for an elderly parent in your home, a little preparation can go a long way. You’ll want to spend some time thinking about how to set yourself and your loved one up for success. 

Here are some things you may want to consider before (or during) the process of living with elderly parents:

• Talking with an elder care lawyer to make sure your parents’ finances are in order
• Getting long term care insurance before needing expensive end-of-life care
• Knowing your options regarding elder care alternatives
• Putting safety precautions into place (e.g., installing railings and removing  trip hazards) 
• Organizing a list of your parents’ doctors and medications
• Considering creative activities for homebound adults to keep your parents active
• Finding a personal therapist or family counselor to support you and your family through the ups and downs

In addition to practical preparations, it’s also important to prepare for the emotional realities that may come with caring for a parent in your home. Give yourself permission to admit uncomfortable feelings such as disappointment, frustration, and grief. Those kinds of feelings are normal, and they don’t negate the authenticity and depth of your love for your parents.

4. Get Help: Part-time or Full-time In-home Caregivers 

Just because you and your parents share an address, doesn’t mean that you’re responsible to meet all their needs yourself. As your parents’ needs change over time, it’s likely that their care needs will go beyond what a family member can provide. 

Private in-home caregivers can provide supplemental assistance to make living with your elderly parents sustainable and positive. 

Private in-home caregivers can help with: 

• Personal body care (bathing, dressing)
• Companionship
• Transportation
• Medication reminders
• Overnight supervision in case of emergencies/wandering

Private caregivers can be hired by the hour, so they’re flexible and cost-effective to match your situation. For example, respite care is a service where a caregiver comes for 4 hours at a time to give family caregivers a break. While the respite caregiver spends time with your loved one, you can tend to yourself and other personal matters.

Caregiver assistance is also a great option if you’re unsure how to handle elderly parents with dementia. In-home caregivers have specific memory care training and can be hired to help with all aspects of dementia care. 

Regardless of your parents’ care needs, you don’t have to meet them alone. Hiring a private in-home caregiver, either part-time or full-time, is a great option for supplemental care. 

Expert Help for those Living with Aging Parents

As parents age, many family caregivers consider living together with their elderly parents. However, caring for your parents in your home comes with both benefits and challenges.

Some of the benefits of living with elderly parents include:

• Minimized expenses
• Greater convenience
• Opportunity for a closer relationship 

On the other hand, some of the challenges of living together include:

• Loss of privacy
• Impact on the adult child’s marriage
• Feelings of obligation/resentment

In order to mitigate these challenges and have a positive experience caring for an elderly parent in your home, some tips for how to deal with elderly parents living with you are:

• Establish realistic care expectations
• Set boundaries
• Think ahead
• Get expert help

If you’re still not sure what to do when your parents can’t live alone, we’re here to help.

Here at Commonwise Home Care, we offer professional in-home care services to elderly adults. Whether you’re looking for respite care, 24-hour care, or dementia care, we’ve got a care solution for you. We want you to have a great experience living with your elderly parents, and our friendly, professional staff is ready to walk alongside you. 

If you live in Virginia or South Carolina, give us a call to explore how we can help you and your aging loved one.