Understanding In-Home Care – Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding In-Home Care on Maui:

Frequently Asked Questions.

Not sure what In-Home Care is, how it works or where to start?

Let’s dive right in for some clear answers to help families understand their Home Care options and find the support they need when at home on Maui or on vacation!

If you’re starting to explore In-Home Care Maui, you probably have questions about what it is, what kind of help is provided, whether care should be short-term or long-term or even about vacation care.

This FAQ Guide answers some of the most common questions asked about In-Home Care including – how it differs from Home Health Care, when Temporary Care may be helpful, how caregivers provide additional support after surgery, illness or a hospital stay.

 

“When families begin to look for In-Home Care, they aren’t usually sure what services are available or where to begin.

We want families to know & understand their options!

Whether it’s ongoing care for a loved one, temporary assistance or care while visiting the island, when families understand the options, they can make better decisions and find the right support for themselves or their loved ones.“

~Jessika Galvez, Founder & CEO, Ohana Care Maui

4 Common Questions about In-Home Care

1:  What Is In-Home Care?     

In-Home Care usually provides personalized care and assistance in the place where your loved one already feels most comfortable: At Home. It may also be used while on vacation.

-Care may be short-term, such as help following surgery, an illness or a hospital stay or if you are need additional support while vacationing on Maui.

-Care may be long-term for someone who is aging, lives with a disability or chronic condition or simply needs additional support to remain safe and independent at home.

-Care may be used while travelling or if you need additional support while vacationing on Maui.

Depending on the person’s needs, In-Home Care can include:

• • • Personal care, including bathing, grooming and dressing
    • Meal preparation, hydration and feeding assistance
    • Medication reminders
    • Companionship and meaningful social interaction
    • Respite care for family caregivers
    • Light housekeeping and laundry
    • Errands and grocery shopping
    • Walking and mobility assistance
    • Help with transfers
    • Toileting and continence care
    • Bedbound care and repositioning assistance
    • Dementia and Alzheimer’s care
    • Short-term recovery support after surgery, illness or hospitalization
    • Overnight or 24-hour care
    • Non-medical personal care and companionship that can complement hospice services Overnight or 24-hour care
    • Additional care and support between **Hospice visits

** Hospice and In-Home care serve different roles. Hospice provides specialized end-of-life medical care, but hospice staff are not usually present in the home around the clock.  An In-Home Caregiver provides additional personal care, comfort, supervision and family support between Hospice visits.

At Ohana Care Maui, we customize every Care Plan around the needs of the individual and the family.

We support older adults, people living with disabilities or chronic conditions, those recovering from surgery or illness and temporary assistance for anyone who needs vacation & visitor care.

Some families need only a few hours of help each week. Others need more hands-on assistance, overnight support or 24-hour care.

The goal is always the same:  To provide the right level of support to help each person remain as safe, comfortable, independent and happy as possible at home.

– Learn More From Ohana Care Maui: 

• • • Hawai’i Department of Health Home Care Agency Licensing
    • Hawai’i Department of Health Home Health Agencies
    • Medicare Home Health Services

–  Additional Trusted Resource:

• • • Aging in Place: Growing Older at Home — National Institute on Aging

 

2:  Is In-Home Care The Same As Home Health Care?   

No. In-home Care and Home Health Care are different types of care and some people may even benefit from both services at the same time.

In-Home Care covers non-medical personal care and requires a Hawaii state Home Care Agency license.

Home Care helps with daily living and personal support, such as meals, bathing, dressing, companionship, errands, mobility, respite care, dementia care and more depending on the agency. In Hawaii, Home Care Agencies are licensed by the Hawaii Department of Health.

Home Health Care is a medical service that is ordered by a doctor and delivered by licensed healthcare professionals, like skilled nursing.

Services include wound care, injections, Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational or Speech Pathology Servcies.

Home Health is usually intermittent medical care, rather than having someone remain in the home to provide ongoing personal care and assistance.

That is why some families use both services at the same time!

For example: A Home Health professional may visit for skilled medical or rehabilitation services, while an In-Home Caregiver provides the everyday personal care needed between those visits.

If you are not sure what your loved one needs, Ohana Care Maui can help you better understand your options, connect you with appropriate resources and answer questions on what might be best for you and your family.   You may also reach out to your physician, discharge planner other healthcare professional to determine if Home Health services are needed.

– Learn More:

• • • Ohana Care Maui In-Home Care Services

– Additional Trusted Resource:

• • • Hawai’i Department of Health Home Care Agency Licensing
    • Hawai’i Department of Health Home Health Agencies
    • Medicare Home Health Services

 

3:  Can In-Home Care Be Temporary?  

Yes. In-Home Care can be used for short-term or long-term care and  also Vacation Care.

Some families may need help for only a few days or weeks for the following:

• • • After surgery or a hospital stay
    • During recovery from an illness or injury
    • While a family caregiver is away or needs a break
    • When temporary additional support is needed at home
    • While on Maui for Vacation, if you need assistance for yourself or a loved one

Other families begin with only a few hours of help each week and adjust the amount of care over time as their loved one’s needs change.

This flexibility is one of the biggest benefits of In-Home Care! The amount or level of care can be increased, decreased or adjusted as circumstances change.

The Goal?   To have the right amount of care, at the right time for you and your loved one.

– Learn More From Ohana Care Maui:

• • • Ohana Care Maui In-Home Care Services                                
    • Ohana Care Maui – Vacation With Loved Ones Who Need Assistance

– Additional Trusted Resource:

• • • What Is Respite Care? – National Institute on Aging

 

4:  Can In-Home Care Help After Surgery Or A Hospital Stay?

Yes. Short-term In-Home Care can be especially helpful after surgery, illness, an injury, a fall or a hospital stay.

Coming home can be a relief, but the first days and weeks of recovery are usually when someone needs extra help with everyday activities

A Nurse Aide can provide practical support while you or your loved one follow the recovery plan provided by their healthcare team.

Short-term Care can give your loved one the support they need, ensure recovery stays on track and give family the peace of mind they need.

A Nurse Aide may assist with:

• • • Meal preparation and hydration
    • Bathing and dressing
    • Getting safely in and out of bed or a chair
    • Walking and mobility
    • Toileting
    • Medication reminders
    • Grocery shopping and errands
    • Light housekeeping and laundry
    • Hydration and regular meals
    • Transportation or accompaniment when included in the care plan
    • General safety and supervision

They can remind and encourage the client to complete the prescribed exercises as directed by the physician or therapist.

An In-Home Caregiver does not replace a Physical or Occupational Therapist and should not independently prescribe or change rehabilitation exercises or medical treatment.

Short-term care can be especially valuable when family members work, live off-island, have physical limitations of their own or simply cannot provide all the hands-on care needed during recovery.

Some people need help for only a few days. Others benefit from several weeks of assistance before returning to their normal routine.

The Goal Is Simple:  The right amount of everyday support to recover safely and comfortably at home while following the care and rehabilitation plan established by their healthcare providers.

– Learn More From Ohana Care Maui:

• • • • In-Home Care or Assisted Living: Which One Is Best?
      • How to Age in Place Safely

– Additional Trusted Resource:

• • • • • Medicare – Home Health Services

 

✨ Still Not Sure Where to Begin? ✨

Every family’s situation is different.  

At Ohana Care Maui we are happy to answer all your questions about In-Home Care, discuss your family’s specific needs and help you understand which services or community resources may be the best fit you.             

 Sometimes you know help is needed right away. Or maybe you just started to explore your options for Home Care. Either way, learning what support options are available can make your next step feel so much easier!

                

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• • • • For More Information on related topics, click below:

✅ Choose Your Home Care Agency Wisely

✅ In-Home Care or Assisted Living: Which One is Best?

 

* The information in this blog is for educational purposes only and cannot replace a recommendation from your healthcare professional.*

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