What Is Home Care?
The term home care actually describes two very different types of care:
- Home health care provided by licensed medical professionals, in which you need a prescription.
- Non-medical home care, such as personal care, homemaker or companionship services provided by professional caregivers.
In broader terms, home care that seniors require often revolves around the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). These are provided under non-medical home care.
ADLs are basic activities and functions performed on a daily basis that are usually done without assistance. The six ADLs are:
- Eating
- Dressing
- Bathing
- Toileting
- Transferring
- Continence
IADLs, on the other hand, are those activities instrumental to our daily routines such as:
- Driving
- Preparing Meals
- Doing Housework
- Shopping
- Managing Finances
- Managing Medication
- Using The Telephone