With an estimated 48 million people in the U.S. taking care of adult relatives or friends and 61% working fulltime while caregiving, it comes as no surprise that these people are having trouble balancing their competing responsibilities. What’s more, the sandwich generation – adults who care for their parents while still raising their own children – is growing faster than ever, putting increased pressure on individuals caring for family members of all ages, whether it’s assisting with daily activities, medical care, finances, and emotional support.

Combatting the Strain on Family Caregivers

Fortunately, there is greater recognition of the strain that caregiving can have on families, and industries are beginning to come up with new ways to help ease the burden. For example, some employers are starting to expand their benefits to help with elder care. According to a recent Mercer survey of companies with 500 or more employees, 34% currently offer or plan to offer within the next year elder care referrals or consultations; 20% offer access to back up elder care services; 17% offer concierge caregiver support; 16% offer care coordination navigation services; and 14% offer elder care leave. Not only will these benefits help keep workers in their jobs longer, but it acknowledges the important role of caregiving.

At the same time, there also are tried-and-true methods to help family caregivers, like home care. Not only can home care make a big difference by providing older adults with personalized, daily living support to help them maintain their independence at home, but it can offer respite to family members that their loved ones are being taken care of when they are not there.

The Impact of Home Care on Family Caregivers

Home care provides many practical benefits for family members who may not have the extra time to care for their aging parents on top of their other responsibilities like raising children and working a full-time job, including:

• Keeping loved ones out of the hospital. Research shows that when people can recover at home after a hospitalization, they recover faster. For this reason, home care can be especially helpful for older adults transitioning home after a hospital stay, as caregivers can help with daily activities like picking up prescriptions and preparing meals that allow them to get the rest and recovery they need.
• Providing peace of mind. The average family caregiver spends more than 20 hours per week caring for their loved one at home. Home care is an ideal solution for the sandwich generation and older adults who need help with daily living activities but can’t always rely on family members to maintain their independence. Caregivers can help with medical appointments, mobility around the home, medication reminders, and more.
• Improving mental health. A strong social life has been linked to many benefits for older adults, including a longer life expectancy, fewer health conditions, and improved well-being. Later in life, it can become harder to maintain the same levels of social connectedness that was once had. That’s where caregivers can play an important role by offering companionship, friendship, and warm conversation.
• Giving people more time to do what they love. As we age, it’s normal for activities to take a bit longer than they used to, and home care can help ensure the tasks of daily living don’t keep older adults from enjoying the activities that matter most. Whether it’s putting away groceries or hanging clothes in the closet, caregivers can help older adults complete tasks around the house safely and more efficiently, so they can spend more time focusing on their favorite pastimes.

The Family & Nursing Care Difference

Family & Nursing Care stands ready to support families and reduce their physical and mental load. As one of the most well-respected home care resources in the Mid-Atlantic region, we’ve made it our mission to help older adults live their fullest independent lives in the comfort of their own homes. For more than 56 years, we have helped tens of thousands of families by providing access to a network of over 1,500 experienced caregivers who can assist with a range of home care tasks, including:

• Activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, meal preparation, feeding, and toileting.
• Mobility assistance, including helping someone get up, walking, transferring into or out of bed or a chair, turning and positioning in bed, range of motion exercises, and more.
• Companionship, which includes taking walks, providing company at mealtime, social activities, family events and other functions, errands, accompanying on appointments, and transportation.
• Support services, such as doing laundry, washing dishes, taking out the trash, and light housekeeping.
• Nutrition and paying close attention to dietary needs, preferences, and restrictions by preparing meals and snacks, assisting with feeding, and encouraging fluids.
• Disease specific care, which can include specialized support for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, Parkinson’s disease, hospice and palliative care, pneumonia, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and depression.

To learn more about Family & Nursing Care’s leading home care services, visit the Home Care Services page on our website.

Imagine a family member goes to the hospital for a routine outpatient procedure. During the visit, your loved one encounters some unexpected complications, like their blood pressure rising or the doctor discovers something else during the procedure, and the hospital decides to keep your family member overnight for additional testing and monitoring. While many might think this person has been admitted as an inpatient, this person may actually be put on “observation status.”

Why Does Observation Status Matter?

The distinction between inpatient versus observation status can have a significant impact. Financially, for patients on Medicare, they are considered outpatients when on observation status, meaning there may be greater copays and other uncovered out of pocket expenses. Further, since outpatient status is not considered a hospital admission, this means patients won’t qualify to go to a rehab facility following their hospital stay. Only those formally admitted for three overnights are covered by Medicare for follow up care in a skilled nursing facility. Yet, these patients who were put on observation status may still require support at home, especially since the first 48 hours after discharge from a hospital are critical to their safety and health. That’s where home care can make all the difference.

Enter Family & Nursing Care

Regardless of status, Family & Nursing Care helps patients receive the crucial care they need as they transition home from the hospital. During the first 48 hours post discharge, when there is the most confusion and misunderstanding of needs and instructions and there are often delays in the start of Medicare or Medicaid services, there is a dramatic difference in successful transitioning between patients who utilize home care services and those who do not.

As a regional leader in providing access to compassionate and reliable home care services since 1968, Family & Nursing Care’s Hospital to Home program helps ease the transition for patients after a hospital stay in the following ways:

• Easy and quick access to experienced and compassionate caregivers can provide clients a safe and comfortable environment for recovery at home.
• Family & Nursing Care liaisons are available to visit with patients and their families while the patient is still in the hospital to help them understand their options for coverage and care at home.
• Support can be obtained on a short-term basis to help with the transition home or on a longer-term basis as needed.
• No up-front deposits or long-term commitments are required.

Family & Nursing Care is always willing and ready to help people even at a moment’s notice when they leave the hospital. With responsive and supportive staff and access to compassionate and reliable caregivers, Family & Nursing Care can truly make a positive difference in older adults’ lives while offering their families peace of mind.

The Family & Nursing Care Difference

With 75% of Family & Nursing Care clients needing in-home care within 48 hours, we pride ourselves on being nimble enough to get a caregiver in the door within that immediate timeframe. These caregivers can help in many ways, including:

• Managing tasks of daily living, such as errands, medication pick-up, groceries, meal preparation, bathing, dressing and support for those who may be at risk for a fall, as well as helping clients digest all the information thrown at them upon discharge from the hospital.
• Assisting with specific client needs by ensuring they adhere to a special diet, practicing breathing techniques and required exercises, reminding them to take medications on time, and more.
• Using their knowledge and to recognize “red flag” symptoms, such as edema, shortness of breath, and fever.

The bottom line is regardless of whether a patient is on observation status or considered inpatient, when they are discharged from the hospital, Family & Nursing Care stands ready to provide the resources needed to help them recover in the comfort of their own home because when hospital readmission statistics are lowered, everyone benefits.

To learn more about how Family & Nursing Care can help clients with their transition home from the hospital, visit the Home Care Services page on our website.

As home care needs increasingly become more urgent and unpredictable, families often find themselves grappling with the challenge of securing reliable caregiving assistance at a moment’s notice. With the home care industry evolving into a 24/7, 365 days-a-year necessity, the demand for swift, effective crisis care solutions has never been more critical.

At Family & Nursing Care, nearly 75% of individuals reaching out to us are urgently seeking a Caregiver within the next 48 hours, particularly following a hospital discharge or after a fall occurs. Recognizing this growing need, we pride ourselves on being equipped with the staffing, resources, and services to respond promptly and proficiently in any situation. In fact, in January 2024 alone, we provided 55 clients with access to a Caregiver within 24 hours. Some of these clients needed assistance for a few days, others for much longer, all of which we accommodated.

“In a landscape where the need for crisis care continues to escalate, Family & Nursing Care strives to go above and beyond in our response to clients and their family members facing crisis – from the first point of contact with us and throughout the entire care journey,” says Mitch Markowitz, Vice President of Business Development at Family & Nursing Care. “Our unwavering commitment to excellence, coupled with our strategic approach to supporting clients, ensures that families receive the assistance they need regardless of the situation.”

Addressing the Urgent Need

At Family & Nursing Care, we understand the urgency and stress that accompanies the quest for immediate caregiver support. That’s why we offer unparalleled care solutions and a diverse set of teams to address any home care need, especially the escalating demand for crisis care:

• Expansive Caregiver Network: With over 1,500 experienced Caregivers in our pool, Family & Nursing Care offers families an extensive selection to choose from. Each Caregiver undergoes rigorous screening to ensure they possess the skills and compassion necessary to deliver exceptional care.
• Dedicated Coordination Team: Our robust team of Care Coordinating Managers is adept at managing complex scheduling demands and swiftly matching Caregivers with families based on their unique requirements. From coordinating last-minute placements to facilitating seamless transitions, our Coordinators are committed to delivering personalized support every step of the way.
• Client Services Managers: Our Client Services Managers work closely with families to understand their preferences, values, and specific care needs. By fostering strong relationships and open communication, they ensure that client expectations are not only met, but exceeded.
• Comprehensive Intake Process: Our intake team is trained to ask the right questions and gather essential information to assess each client’s situation comprehensively. By understanding the nuances of their needs and preferences, we can tailor our care solutions to provide the highest level of support and comfort.

The Family & Nursing Care Difference

We specialize in navigating the complexities of crisis situations with precision and efficiency, and our approach is rooted in strategic planning, rapid response, and effective coordination. Outside of our unparalleled strategy, we encompass a holistic approach to enhancing quality of life and fostering independence. Whether it’s providing access to Caregivers to assist with daily activities, companionship, or medication reminders, Family & Nursing Care is dedicated to empowering individuals to live life on their own terms, in the comfort and familiarity of their homes.

With a vast network of experienced Caregivers – in addition to our Care Coordinating Managers, Client Services Managers, and Intake teams – Family & Nursing Care can mobilize quickly to meet urgent care demands. Whether it is providing round-the-clock assistance following a hospital discharge or helping to address unexpected health complications, we work to help ensure that families receive the support they need, when they need it most.

To learn more about Family & Nursing Care’s crisis care offerings or any other services, contact us or visit our Home Care Services webpage.