Errand and transportation are two of the most popular senior services we offer to clients here at Families Choice Home Care. Our licensed caregivers are happy to perform these services as part of our general homecare services offerings and can take care of things with or without the client, depending on the client’s preferences.
The first step is to contact us and request an assessment. There, we’ll listen to your needs and provide input around how our caregivers can help.
If errand running and transportation are desired, we will include those as part of daily or weekly caregiving services, all of which are scheduled in 4-hour minimum shifts.
Errand Services for Seniors
The goal of errand services is to provide companionship and/or a helping hand so seniors can tackle their list of things to do without wearing themselves out or pushing themselves beyond their ability. This may mean that our caregivers run errands outside of the home and can also encompass specific household tasks that are outside the housekeeping realm but still need attention.
Errand running outside of the home
If your spouse, parent, or grandparent likes to get out and about to run errands but needs a helping hand, we’re here to be that hand. If your senior loved one prefers to remain at home while we do the running around, that’s fine too as long as s/he is safe to remain at home alone or a competent caregiver is there to support the client during our absence.
Some of the ways we help out with errand running are:
- Grocery shopping (which can be paired with meal and snack preparation as well)
- Banking
- Post office drop-offs or pickups
- Taking pets to the vet and/or shopping for pet food and supplies
- Picking up and returning library books or DVDs
- Shopping for clothing or household essentials
- Taking unused items to preferred donation drop-off locations
Sometimes our clients treat errand running as part of their respite care plan. Our caregivers are happy to take care of the routine, weekly errands so primary caregivers get a much-needed break. Just like our companion services, errand running services also provide spouse and family caregivers with the extra space and time in their schedule to spend quality time with their loved ones that they may not have had otherwise.
Errand services can include house chores as well
Sometimes our clients need support doing house errands that go beyond our light cleaning and housekeeping service options. Those extra chores may fall into the errands department as well.
Examples of errand services in the home include:
- Reorganizing closets and living spaces
- Making small changes that create a more safe and accessible living space
- Watering outdoor plants or light gardening tasks
- Putting up and taking down seasonal decorations
- Replacing light bulbs, batteries in smoke/CO detectors, etc.
Just about anything that would make it onto the average senior’s “to-do list” and that does not require a professional license or serious lifting/risk is likely to fall within our scope of errand running services.
Your case manager will review the list of items requested and let you know which ones we can provide. If there is a task that falls outside of our housekeeping, errand, or transportation realm, we will do our best to provide a referral.
Senior Transportation Services
Surrendering the right to drive and handing the keys over is one of the most painful decisions seniors and their families have to make. That decision is made far easier when professional transportation services are put into place.
Sure, our caregiving team is happy to provide transportation for “business purposes,” such as routine visits to the doctor, any relevant specialists, or the dentist’s office. However, we are also dedicated to ensuring our senior clients can get anywhere they want to go to maintain independence and a socially engaged lifestyle.
Our clients take advantage of transportation services to:
- Get to the barber or the beauty parlor
- Visit the nail salon for manicures/pedicures
- Go bowling, golfing, or attending community exercise classes
- Attend weekly or daily religious or spiritual services
- Maintain an in-person membership to clubs or social groups
- Get together with friends and family
- Attend family members’ extracurricular activities
- Take a favorite drive
- Dine out in favorite restaurants
- Go to the movies
- Spend an afternoon at a park, the beach, or another favorite outdoor location
See what we mean? The transportation services list offers a wide range of possibilities. The difference between being a housebound senior and one who has access to transportation is truly life-changing and keeps seniors feeling younger, more energetic, and part of the world around them.
Families Choice Home Care is devoted to keeping seniors as safe, secure, and as healthy as possible while also supporting their needs to remain socially engaged and to enjoy a high-quality life. Our flexible errand running and transportation services are two of the many ways we can do that for Inland Empire clients and their families.
Contact us to learn more about these and other senior home care services.