August 4, 2025
Home care often brings to mind the elderly, but it benefits many, from post-op recovery to chronic illness management, helping maintain independence. This common misconception hinders families from realizing their potential.
Informed decisions are crucial for loved ones. Understanding home care options goes a long way toward easing the burden families often feel when their loved one starts to struggle with independence. To help, we’ve created a guide debunking myths and answering FAQs, empowering you to make confident choices.
Home Care Mythbusting
Here at Accessible, we want to be sure that our families fully understand our services and capabilities. It is our duty to serve all their needs, even in the early stages of decision-making. To help you better understand if home care is the right move for your family, we’ve highlighted some of the most prominent myths and explained why they aren’t entirely accurate.
Myth 1: “Home care is only for people who are bedridden or severely ill.”
False. Most home care providers offer more than strictly medically related services. Often, you can find assistance with these bigger needs such as full-time care as well as smaller needs, such as medication management, companionship, and transportation services, and daily living support.
In fact, Accessible offers long-term, memory loss, companion, transitional, and respite care services to all of our families. We even offer services to families who have children with multiple medical needs.
Home care can be for anybody and for a variety of services, from the small to the complex.
Myth 2: “Home care is too expensive and only for the wealthy.”
False. When you look at facility-based care, the cost is typically on a one-size-fits-all basis. There isn’t room for modification or individualization. Conversely, with home care, you can pick and choose which services your family needs. Therefore, if your loved one only needs part-time or partial care, the cost could be considerably lower.
While cost is a concern that all families should consider when deciding which care setting is best, they should also account for options that help lessen the cost. Things such as insurance, VA benefits, and Medicaid waivers are all there to help families navigate the steeper costs of care for their loved ones.
Myth 3: “Bringing a caregiver into my home means losing my privacy and independence.”
False. Of course no one wants to think about someone they don’t know very well coming into their home regularly. It’s unnerving and can understandably cause anxiety about further decreasing your loved one’s independence and privacy.
However, the goal of home care is actually the opposite. Caregivers are there to come into a person’s safe space, where they feel most comfortable, and utilize that feeling to ensure their care can occur with the least amount of stress on their shoulders. A home caregiver is there to provide the care a person needs with as little intrusion on their privacy as possible.
Always remember: this is your home. We are here to provide what you need on your terms based on what you’re most comfortable with.
Myth 4: “All home care agencies are the same.”
False. Not all home care agencies offer the same types of care. Some agencies provide only companion care—offering help with daily activities, errands, and companionship—while others are licensed to provide skilled medical care such as medication administration, wound care, and nursing services.
While there are healthcare standards that must be met, the scope of services, quality of care, and overall approach can vary significantly from one agency to another. Just because two agencies appear similar on paper doesn’t mean they’ll deliver the same experience.
That’s why it’s essential to research all the home care options in your area. Look into customer reviews, ask detailed questions about available services, and take the time to understand each agency’s mission, culture, and qualifications. Choosing the right agency can make a meaningful difference in your loved one’s care and comfort.
Myth 5: “Home care is only for the elderly.”
False. Much like we discussed with Myth #1, home care can apply to a wide variety of individuals. Whether your loved one is an adult, child, or even a senior there are home care agencies with services for all audiences. It is important to do your research ahead of time to determine which agency is best suited for the type of services you and your loved ones need.
Home care can be crucial to the continued quality of life for individuals with chronic pain conditions, chronic illnesses, disabilities, or terminal illnesses. There are many ways that home care can support families who need an extra set of hands. If your loved one only needs a respite caregiver to give you a break and help prevent burnout, home care can provide the relief and support you need.
Anyone and everyone can reap the benefits of assistance from a home care provider.
Myth 6: “My family can handle everything; we don’t need outside help.”
False. While we do believe that you are your loved ones’ best advocate for their needs, there is going to come a time when even your best isn’t going to be enough, especially when you consider the level of commitment required to be a full-time caregiver for a loved one. Burnout is real and you should always keep that in mind when considering your options.
Some home care providers offer a service called respite care because they know that families might want to take care of their own, but still need a break every once in a while. Home care providers can also step in and guide you to determine when it might be best to enlist the help of other caregivers.
Most home care agencies will support you in whatever level of care assistance you wish to have them provide. Home caregivers can do as much or as little as you want. It is their responsibility to provide care and support to ease your burden.
FAQ: Home Care Edition
As a home care agency, Accessible Home Care is very aware that there are many things to consider when starting the home care journey. We’ve compiled a list of some frequently asked questions to help guide you and your family toward the best solution.
Q: How do I know if home care is right for my loved one (or me)?
Admitting that you need assistance is the first step. Home care can help if you are starting to see warning signs, such as struggling with ADLs (Activities of Daily Living), for example, bathing, dressing, or meal prep. Other indicators include increasing social isolation, recently worsened health or mobility after a hospital stay, or the family caregiver experiencing burnout from feeling overwhelmed.
The only way to know is to ask. We recommend you have a no-obligation consultation with a home care expert to navigate your way through your own set of circumstances and options.
Q: What types of services does Accessible Home Care provide?
At Accessible Home Care, we tailor our services to meet the unique needs of each client. Our offerings are designed to support independence, safety, and well-being at home. Common services include:
- Personal Care: Assistance with bathing, grooming, dressing, and mobility.
- Medication Reminders: Helping to ensure medications are taken on schedule.
- Meal Preparation: Planning and cooking nutritious meals.
- Light Housekeeping: Tidying up, laundry, and keeping the home environment clean and safe.
- Companionship: Providing social interaction, engaging in hobbies, and reducing loneliness.
- Respite Care: Temporarily giving family caregivers a break to prevent burnout.
- Transportation: Assisting with errands, appointments, and social outings.
- Skilled Nursing Tasks: Available only at locations operating under the name Accessible Home Health Care. Contact your local office to learn what services are offered in your area.
Q: How are your caregivers screened and trained?
Every Accessible Home Care caregiver is specifically selected through a rigorous credential process that involves thorough national background checks, certification reviews, and multiple reference checks.
Furthermore, in addition to the initial vetting process, our caregivers also undergo continuous professional training in safety regulations, dementia care, and empathy training in order to be prepared with the latest skills.
Q: Can I choose my caregiver?
Absolutely. We consider the relationship between the caregiver and our clients to be the basis of good home care. Our Access Match Caregiver Program is designed to get a great fit right from the beginning.
We take into account your needs, character, and style, and then we acquaint you with a caregiver that, in our opinion, would be an excellent match. It is essential for you to take an active part because we want you to be satisfied and comfortable with the caregiver who comes into your home.
Q: What if I only need care for a few hours a day or week?
Home care is meant to be adaptable. We realize that everyone has different needs. Whether you need only a few hours a week of respite care or someone to be with your loved one around the clock, we can provide a schedule to suit your family’s lifestyle.
Accessible’s Commitment to You
We realize that home care is a unique and worthwhile resource that’s often underappreciated. Our promise to the families in our communities is to be providers of accurate information. We invite you to ask questions and consider all of your alternatives. Home care is a viable, effective, and accessible solution that enables individuals to keep their quality of life, their dignity, and their independence.
If you’re interested in discovering how our services can benefit you or your family member, contact Accessible Home Care to schedule a free consultation today.
