Expert Level Support
Personal care is hands-on help with self-care and is required for fundamental functioning. The frequency in which we do activities of daily living, like maintaining proper oral hygiene or grooming, may decline with age. By neglecting these everyday actions, your family member and the people they interact with may be more susceptible to infection.
As personal care is crucial and intensive, Aultru requires all caregivers:
Have experience caring for someone with similar illnesses, diseases, or needs;
receive additional training from a registered nurse; and
check-in daily with their supervisor.
By including these three factors in our process, we ensure the highest quality of care.
Calm Insight™
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) is the fifth leading cause of death among adults 65 years and older. It is estimated that 5 million seniors in the United States were diagnosed with ADRD in 2014, and 13.9 million seniors will be diagnosed with ADRD by 2060.1 ADRD affects every aspect of a person's life. It can diminish someone’s ability to communicate and understand, alter their behavior, and affect their physical health.
Whether your family member has Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, or another type, our specially trained caregivers can help your family member live their best life, for as long as possible. Our proprietary ADRD specialty program, Calm Insight, uses a person-centered approach with evidence-based behavioral interventions. Our caregivers will deliver customized daily care, carry out our best practices for ADRD, follow strategies to decrease challenging behavior, and engage in meaningful activities with your loved one.
Grooming & Hygiene
Almost 25% of adults between the ages of 65 and 74 have periodontal disease, which is associated with chronic health issues such as diabetes mellitus, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory disease.2 Often, seniors are more prone to periodontal disease because of poor oral hygiene paired with potential dry mouth from medications.
To maintain your health as you age, practicing good personal hygiene is a necessity. Our trained caregivers can help with bathing, dressing, hair styling, toileting and incontinence care, and other hygienic needs. Through proper healthcare techniques in a one-to-one setting, we help safeguard your family member’s well-being, dignity, and grace.
Light Exercise
Five leading risk factors for death are high blood pressure, smoking, high blood glucose, physical inactivity, and obesity. A glance at these risk factors shows that high blood pressure, glucose levels, and obesity are connected with physical inactivity. The World Health Organization reported that around 3.2 million deaths each year are because of physical inactivity.3
If your loved one suffered an injury or disability or needs to improve their mobility and strength, we work with your occupational therapist/physical therapist. By learning your loved one’s limitations and continuing simple non-prescribed range of motion exercises at home, we promote their progress so they can get better.
Medication Reminders
Proper medication often preserves health and well-being. Unfortunately, 40-75% of older individuals reportedly make an error when taking their medications.4 When no routines are set in place, seniors are at a higher risk for medication poisoning—especially due to potential interactions that come with taking multiple prescriptions.
Our qualified caregivers work with client specific medication profiles to ensure all medication is taken as prescribed every time. A registered nurse also works with a geriatric pharmacist to screen for medication side effects.
Prostaf™
Prevention/Reduction of Slips, Trips, and Falls.
Falls are the number one cause of injuries and deaths from injury among older Americans.5 People over 65 are twice as likely to suffer a fatal fall at home as anywhere else.6
Our research-backed fall prevention program and strategies, Prostaf, help reduce falls and improve health outcomes. One of our highest priorities is safety. We offer general supervision and aid that brings awareness to trip hazards and also secures your loved one.
We begin by conducting a home safety inspection and a fall risk assessment for your family member. After discussing home safety improvements, a trusted, qualified caregiver is selected. If transitioning back home from the hospital, the caregiver receives special training. A registered nurse then conducts a needs-based assessment to create a client-centered care plan. Last, we do ongoing quality assurance to ensure continuity of care.
“We make sure your next step, is your best step.”
- Matthews, Kevin A. “Racial and Ethnic Estimates of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in the United States (2015–2060) in Adults Aged ≥65 Years.” Alzheimer's and Dementia, Alzheimer's Association, Jan. 2019.
- Senior Oral Health & Hygiene: Oral Health Care for Elderly Seniors.” SeniorLiving.org, 30 May 2019.
- Taylor, Denise. “Physical Activity Is Medicine for Older Adults.” Postgraduate Medical Journal, The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine, 1 Jan. 2014.
- Improving Medication Adherence in Older Adults: What Can We Do? VHQC for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, July 2010.
- Falls Are Leading Cause of Injury and Death in Older Americans | CDC Online Newsroom | CDC.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22 Sept. 2016.
- Vann, Korky. “Tips for Safe Spring-Cleaning for Seniors.” Chicagotribune.com, 8 Apr. 2015.