It’s a well-known cliché that none of us is an island and that we all need people, but it’s very true, nonetheless.  It becomes even more so as we age, and the world seems to shrink to the view outside the window as the gradual inability to get out and about becomes more and more difficult.

With budgets shrinking and the cost of living rising faster than the budget can grow, many families have opted to care for a parent or family member at home, but there’ll come a time when the main caregiver of the family will need help.

Homecare for the elderly, frail or disabled all fall under the umbrella of what a professional private home based care nursing agency in South Africa should be able to offer, and CareChamp ticks all these boxes, admirably.

There are many circumstances that contribute to the need to consider hiring a homecare professional caregiver, whether for yourself or to assist with caring for a frail, elderly or disabled loved one living at home.

There are many roles that professional caregivers play in assisting elders to age in safety at home, or with their family. Aside from the physical aspect of what a caregiver is able to do to help elderly, frail or disabled people, there’s also the human aspect of having someone around at this stage of life.

When frailty or disabilities make it difficult to get around at home or out and about as may have been the case, the world keeps getting smaller in direct proportion to the loss of mobility.

Although based in Cape Town, CareChamp is able to offer quality, professional home based assistance to elderly, frail and disabled people throughout South Africa.

This nationwide reach is made possible through the partnership between CareChamp and NIDO Nursing (Pty) Ltd, which is also where the caregivers are given world class health care worker training, putting caregivers from CareChamp in the top echelon of their industry.

The word ‘disability’ covers many different impairments in elderly or frail people, and it’s a term used whenever there’s a problem in the way the body functions, such as those that limit activity.

These physical impairments make trying to carry out daily tasks more and more difficult as time progresses, which is when decisions need to be made about finding professional in-home help in the form of disabled care, carried out by a registered caregiver.

If you and your family have decided to care for your elderly, frail or disabled parent at home you already know that it’s going to be a major challenge and complete change of life, for you and your parent.

You’ll experience a lot of ups and downs as you enter these uncharted waters, since none of us are ever fully prepared for this role of caretaker to our parents, and at some point you’re going to have to reach for practical assistance to ease the pressure on your parent and the family.

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be challenging at best. Patients with dementia related to Alzheimer's and other diseases have a lost connection between brain cells making it more difficult to remember things, communicate, think clearly and take care of themselves. Dementia can even cause changes in a person's behaviour and personality.

Not all families remain in close proximity of each other their entire lives. In fact, more often than not, families are scattered across the country. And while the advancements in technology make it possible to "see" each other via Skype or video calls, life can still get lonely. Especially, if you are older and less mobile.

We often place people with disabilities in one category but the truth is that every disabled person is different. Not only do they face different challenges, but they also require different care. And since the care they need varies considerably, finding the best solution for every individual will require a thorough assessment and evaluation of available resources.

When it comes to mobility aids, it's safe to say that one size doesn't fit all. What will work for some might not work for the next person. To top it off, your loved one might need some convincing before they agree to actually use a mobility aid.