Do I need a nurse or can I use Home Instead Senior Care?

We are licensed by the State of Oregon as an In-Home Care Agency; Home Instead Senior Care has some internal "lines in the sand" which help us to determine if we are the resource you need. If we cannot help, we will refer you to nursing agencies with whom we have worked successfully in the past. 

The following are criteria we use to differentiate between medical and non-medical home care services.

Bathing:

  • We can assist the client in and out of the tub or shower to prevent falls.
  • We can operate the overhead spray to help the client rinse off soap and shampoo. 
  • We can remain nearby for security, keeping washcloth and towels readily available to the client.
  • We can give bed baths, or physically bathe a client in the tub or shower.

Administering Medications:

  • We can remind the client to take their medications.
  • We can take the medications from a pill box that has been set up by a family member or a nurse, and monitor that the client takes the medication.
  • We can take the medications directly from the medication containers and place them in a mediset when our Certified Medication Aids do the task. 

Lifting:

  • We can stabilize the client while he or she uses their leg and arm muscles to lift their body. To do this, the caregiver uses his or her lower arms as a brace.
  • We cannot lift the full weight of a client.

Incontinence:

  • We can dispose of soiled adult undergarments and assist the client in putting on a new pad.
  • We cannot do peri-care (personal hygiene). If client is incontinent, he or she must be able to handle his or her own personal hygiene.   The exception to this is for the dementia clients that can no longer think their way through elimination.

Injections and vital signs:

  • We cannot administer injections or conduct procedures to monitor vital signs or blood sugar levels.

Nail care:

  • We can arrange for house visits by a podiatrist or nurse practitioner.
  • We can escort the client to a salon, which provides nail services.
  • We cannot groom fingernails or toenails. 
  • We can remove or apply polish.

Tell me about your caregivers?

We have an amazing group of caregivers. Some have had careers in business and industry, deciding now to work part time; working with their hearts. One of our caregivers is a former model who is currently in medical school. Another is an artist and writer whose work is isolating and finds care giving fills the "people void" in her life. Many of our caregivers are experienced, either caring for family members or having worked for other agencies. With non-medical care giving, the major criteria we look for are common sense, dependability, intelligence, sensitivity, and social skills.

Our screening is in four phases.

We do a telephone screening, sending an application to those who come across as people we would like to talk with. When we receive an application we do six reference checks. If the candidate has positive references, we call them for a personal interview. If the interview goes well, we do an orientation to care giving and the necessary paperwork for employment. We send their release of information off to our investigator who does a complete background check which includes, criminal, driving and credit history.

Caregiver Training.

The caregivers have training video’s on Infection Control, Medication Management, Helping a Client in a Wheelchair and Fall Prevention.   All written and video trainings are followed by a test to verify the caregiver’s full understanding of the materials.

We offer six hours of continuing education each year which is the rule for licensing by the State of Oregon Health and Human Services.  These CEU meetings are also times for the caregivers to socialize, share ideas, become familiar with the office staff and most importantly, feel part of a company, which honors their work

What are the rates for your services?

Caregiver Services

$20.00 per hour

Weekends, add

$1.00 per hour

Sleepover (12 hr shift)

$195.00 per shift

24 hour Care

Varies, 3 levels

Special Services Rates

Short Notice

$25 per hour with less than 24 hour notice.
Rate effective for the first day only.

Rise and Shine/Tuck In

Rate sheet available

Dementia Care

$21.50 per hour