Aged to Perfection

24/7 care, also known as around-the-clock care, is continuous care where a client is never left alone. A caregiver is always with them or immediately available, day and night.

At Warm Embrace, we provide 24/7 care through a dedicated team of caregivers. This approach ensures that each caregiver is well-rested, alert, and fully prepared for their shift. Our caregivers do not live with clients but return to their own homes and families after each shift, allowing them to maintain their personal lives while providing exceptional care.

Photo by Krivec Ales

The timing and length of each shift are tailored to the client's unique needs and routine. When Warm Embrace commits to providing 24/7 coverage, we take that commitment seriously, ensuring that care is scheduled continuously without interruption. Reliability is our priority, and we make sure that the client is never left alone.

When is 24/7 Care Necessary?

24/7 care can be necessary in various situations, whether temporary or long-term. It can be provided in a private home, condo, apartment, retirement or assisted living facility, hospital, or hospice. Wherever our clients need us, we are honored to provide around-the-clock care to meet their needs.

Here are some common scenarios where 24/7 care is particularly beneficial:

Temporarily During Recovery

After surgery or a prolonged hospital stay, adequate support is crucial to prevent hospital readmission. 24/7 care during recovery ensures the process remains on track. After a period of bed rest, people may be unstable on their feet, and nighttime trips to the washroom can pose a risk of falls. Having a caregiver present ensures safety during these times. During the day, a caregiver can prepare nutritious meals, encouraging better appetite and adherence to dietary needs, as well as assist with household tasks to maintain a safe and clean environment essential for optimal recovery.

Managing Chronic, Progressive Illnesses Such as Dementia or Parkinson’s Disease

Dementia and Parkinson’s disease are progressive illnesses that require detailed care as symptoms advance. These conditions often benefit most from non-pharmaceutical interventions, which are best supported by an empathetic caregiver who can guide daily activities and ensure overnight safety. One-on-one attention in a familiar environment can prevent escalating behaviors and provide reassurance. Staying in their own home with a dedicated caregiver can help prevent the decline that often follows a move.

Supporting Couples with Differing Needs

When a couple has different care needs, they risk being separated into different facilities to meet those needs. One might move to a retirement home while the other requires long-term care. 24/7 care at home allows the couple to stay together in the comfort of their own home, maintaining their routine and lifestyle. A dedicated caregiver can navigate the challenges of their medical conditions and ensure that each partner's needs are met. This approach is far less disruptive than relocating to separate facilities and allows the couple to continue living together, following their preferred routines.

Preventing a Move to Long-Term Care

If a resident of a retirement home experiences a significant decline in health, they might be required to move to a long-term care facility unless additional support is provided. With 24/7 care, it's possible for them to stay in the retirement home they've grown accustomed to. This is especially important for those who have lived in the same place for many years or are elderly and may find a move particularly distressing. Around-the-clock care addresses safety concerns and ensures that all needs are met while allowing the individual to remain in their preferred setting.

These are just a few scenarios where 24/7 care can make a significant difference. Whether it's temporary support during recovery, managing a chronic illness, or allowing a couple to remain together at home, Warm Embrace is here to provide the dedicated caregiving team required for around-the-clock care.

Get in touch with Warm Embrace now to learn more about our 24/7 care services. Your well-being is our top priority, and we're ready to be there for you every step of the way.

In our hustle and bustle culture, stress and burnout are intertwined and seem to be part of everyday work life. Most people don't recognize that there is a difference between stress and burnout. It's common to say "I'm stressed out" or "I'm exhausted" after another long day but what if you're teetering towards burnout?

What is burnout?

Stress is inevitable and part of everyday life but prolonged and constant stress leading to "a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion" is burnout. Indicators of burnout are if you're feeling an increase of helplessness, resentfulness, cynicism, pessimism, and reduction in productivity. The feeling of "you have nothing else to give" is when you're entering burnout territory.

Recognize the signs before you burnout

The reality is burnout spills over to every aspect of your life - work, home, and social life. So, it's best to recognize the signs of potential burnout before you're burnt out.

1. You're feeling as though "every day is a bad day."

Your perspective is shifting slowly and your definition of a "bad day" is changing. For instance, before you found indoor rock climbing exciting and a healthy challenge but now you describe it as difficult and overwhelming. When you're burnt out, negative emotions and thoughts increase and they begin to overshadow positive ones.

2. You're exhausted all the time

You're sleeping in on the weekends but you still can't shake off your exhaustion. No matter how much you sleep in you wake up feeling tired! If that's you, you could be experiencing emotional exhaustion - "the state of feeling emotionally worn out and drained." Feeling emotionally exhausted can lead to a lack of motivation, irritability, physical fatigue, and lack of sleep.

3. You're vulnerable to getting sick

You find yourself frequently sick with a head cold and you can't seem to recover fast enough. Before you'd have a cold for only two days but now it takes you a week to get over it. A common symptom of burnout is physical illnesses, like headaches, colds, and flu because prolonged stress has shown to lower immunity.

4. Your social life has changed

You love being around people but lately, you're isolating yourself from your friends and taking a little longer to respond to text messages/emails.  After a busy day of work, all you want to do is be alone and sleep so the last thought on your mind is hanging out with a friend. You're slowly changing and what you found exciting and life-giving is now draining and exhausting. However, you're feeling alone, forgotten, and unappreciated.

Burnout and stress are similar in symptoms but the major indicator of burnout is that you're feeling detached and depressed. If you're feeling burnt out, you're not alone. Reach out to a trusted friend or family member and express to them how you've been feeling. Your openness doesn't make you a burden - it makes you human. If you're a family caregiver and need support, you're not alone, contact us and we'll be there for you.

Resources:

Job burnout: How to spot it and take action

Burnout Prevention and Treatment

Emotional Exhaustion: What It Is and How to Treat It