Personal Care Services
If you or a loved one needs help with daily activities, personal care may be the answer. Personal care services provide compassionate, hands-on support that helps individuals remain safe, comfortable, and independent in their own home while maintaining dignity and quality of life.
Personal care is often more accessible than people realize, and many families don’t take full advantage of the support it can provide to ease daily challenges and caregiver stress.
WHAT IS PERSONAL CARE?
What is Personal Care
Personal care is defined as non-medical, supportive assistance that focuses on comfort, safety, and quality of life for individuals who need help with daily living activities due to aging, chronic illness, disability, or recovery from injury or surgery.
A dedicated team of compassionate caregivers works alongside individuals and their families to support physical needs and overall well-being, helping clients maintain independence and remain in familiar surroundings.
PERSONAL CARE SERVICES PROVIDED
Our personal care services are designed to support daily living needs and overall well-being and may include the following, as appropriate:
Time and services of the care team, including trained personal care aides and caregivers who provide assistance at the client’s location
Help with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and mobility assistance
Assistance with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), including meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, and errands
Medication reminders (non-medical)
Companionship and emotional support to reduce loneliness and promote mental well-being
Safety monitoring and fall-prevention support
Assistance with transfers and mobility using walkers, wheelchairs, or other assistive devices (as directed)
Short-term or long-term respite care for family caregivers
Support coordination with other care providers or services as needed
Access to and frequency of services are determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the individual’s needs, goals of care, functional abilities, and family preferences.
THE FOUR LEVELS OF PERSONAL CARE
Personal care services can be delivered in different levels depending on the individual’s needs, preferences, and living situation. All personal care services listed below can be adapted across these levels as appropriate.
Routine Home Care
The most common form of personal care, routine home care is provided in the comfort of the individual’s home and includes scheduled assistance with daily activities and personal needs.
Respite Care
When a family caregiver needs temporary relief, personal care respite services can provide short-term support—either in the home or an appropriate care setting—to ensure continuity of care while preventing caregiver burnout.
Continuous Care Support
For individuals who require more frequent or extended assistance during certain periods (such as recovery from illness or increased functional decline), continuous personal care support can be arranged to meet those short-term heightened needs.
Inpatient or Facility-Based Personal Care Support
When home care is not feasible, personal care services can be coordinated in assisted living communities, long-term care facilities, or other residential settings to ensure ongoing assistance with daily living needs.
HOSPICE VS. PALLIATIVE CARE
As you navigate your care options, it’s important to understand the differences between personal care and specialized medical care.
Personal care focuses on non-medical assistance with daily activities, safety, and quality of life and can be provided at any stage of life or health. It works alongside medical care but does not replace it.
Specialized medical care (such as palliative or hospice care) involves clinical treatment and symptom management directed by healthcare professionals and is typically tied to specific medical criteria or diagnoses.
FAQS
When is hospice care appropriate?
Hospice care is typically recommended when a patient has a life expectancy of six months or less, as determined by a physician, and when curative treatments are no longer effective or desired.
Can hospice care be provided at home?
Yes, hospice care can be provided in the comfort of the patient’s home, a nursing facility, a hospice center, or even in a hospital, depending on the patient’s needs and preferences.
Does hospice care mean giving up on treatment?
Hospice care does not mean giving up on treatment but shifting the focus from curative treatments to comfort care. The goal is to manage pain and symptoms, ensuring the patient’s comfort and quality of life during the final stages of their illness.
What services are included in hospice care?
Hospice care services include pain and symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, assistance with personal care, respite care for family caregivers, and bereavement counseling for families after the patient’s passing.
Is hospice care covered by insurance?
Yes, hospice care is often covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans. Coverage typically includes the services provided by the hospice team, medications for symptom control, medical equipment, and supplies related to the terminal diagnosis.
How is hospice care different from palliative care?
Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness and is focused on improving quality of life while potentially continuing curative treatments. Hospice care, on the other hand, is reserved for the end-of-life stage when curative treatments are no longer pursued.
Can a patient leave hospice care if their condition improves?
Yes, patients can be discharged from hospice care if their condition improves or stabilizes. If curative treatments become an option again, the patient can stop hospice services and resume treatments.
How long does hospice care last?
Hospice care is intended for individuals with a prognosis of six months or less, but patients can continue receiving hospice services beyond six months if they remain eligible, meaning their condition still meets hospice criteria.
What kind of emotional support is available for families in hospice care?
Hospice care provides counseling, grief support, and emotional support for families both during the patient’s care and after their passing. Bereavement services often continue for up to a year after a loved one’s death.
How do I know when it's time to start hospice care?
Starting hospice care is a personal decision typically made when a physician determines that curative treatments are no longer effective, and the focus should shift to comfort. If a loved one is experiencing frequent hospitalizations, uncontrolled pain, or a decline in daily function, it may be time to consider hospice care.
Does hospice care include respite care for caregivers?
Yes, hospice care often includes respite care, which provides temporary relief for family caregivers. This allows caregivers to take a break while a hospice provider takes over care for a short period.
Can hospice patients continue taking their regular medications?
Hospice care focuses on symptom management, so medications for pain, nausea, anxiety, or other symptoms will continue. However, curative treatments or medications unrelated to comfort care may be discontinued, based on the care plan developed with the hospice team.
How can hospice care improve the quality of life for patients?
Hospice care prioritizes comfort and dignity by managing pain and other distressing symptoms. It helps patients live as fully as possible during their remaining time, surrounded by loved ones, while also addressing emotional, spiritual, and psychological needs.
