For the last couple of months, David III and I had been hesitating to hire complete strangers to help us taking care of Macrine. However, since Macrine's hospitalization, we decided it was time we really need help. So we did some inquiries on several home care agencies in our area. We decided the help of the Helping-Hearts.
My Federal Medical Insurance ( Blue Cross Blue Shield) does not cover home care services. However, David III and I decided we should hire the services of a home care agency to help us take care of Macrine's daily activities even for just 4 hours per day Monday to Friday as well as 8 hours on Saturday and Sunday. The weekends the wife of David's co-worker takes care of Macirne for 8 hours.
This will relieve me of lifting Macrine because my back is starting to ache and also help me with housekeeping duties. It is an additional expense to our budget, but if you die, you can not take the money with you anyway, so why not use it so I can also enjoy my aging years.
The Home care aides services include, but are not limited to:
*Helping a client bathe, dress or use the restroom
*Assisting a client with exercising,transferring, ambulating, and/or positioning
*Housekeeping duties and laundry
*Driving the client to appointments or to run errands
*Preparing meals and assistance with eating
*Keeping a client company and assisting with telephone calls
The aides are prohibited from arranging for medical services such as catheter care, physical therapy, bed sore treatments and other medical services normally provided by a visiting home care nurse. For more information on Helping-Hearts visit their site as follows:
https://www.helping-hearts.org/
Note: We requested for a Tagalog Speaking Aide if possible. It appeared we may not be able to get one. I can not believe that the agency with 55 aides do not have a single Filipino-American CNA.
First Day of Service: No regular aid available, sent somebody from the office(Black Lady). She was ok. Did some minor housework( throwing the garbage and arrange closet) besides taking care of Macrine personal hygiene needs. Happy with the service.
Second Day of Service: A regular Aide ( Black Lady). Very Happy with service and taking care of Macrine needs including legs,neck and shoulder massage. Wash and shampoo her hair. Vacuum bedroom and family room. Requested that she be Macrine's regular aide. However she is not available on Wed and Thurs, but will be available this coming Friday. I hope she will be available next Tuesday. Macrine's likes her.
Third Day- A regular Aide-a Latina. She said she will be our Aide on M, W and F. She is ok. Wash the dishes, change Macrine's diaper and keep her company. She seemed to be caring, and a little bit talkative. Volunteered to clean the kitchen floor before she check out. Macrine is practicing her Spanish with her.
Fourth Day: At 9AM the agency called the aide assigned to Macrine call in sick. The agency said they will try to look for a replacement. By then 10:30AM no one showed up so I decided to cancel todays shift.
In the meantime I started calling home health agencies in our area to ask for a female tagalog-speaking aide. I have talked to five agencies and no luck as of today. One agency informed me they have a male aide who speak tagalog. I decline their offer of service.
Fifth Day of Service: The Latina aide came right on time this time. Macrine likes her as they both enjoyed listening and singing along with Julio Iglesia.
I am happy with the MWF service, but still hoping they can provide the same aide on Tuesday and Thursday.
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