Living with a senior at home can be quite challenging. The elderly should be taken care of and they need help with their day-to-day activities. If you have an elderly parent living with you, you cannot fully devote your time to taking care of them as you also have a job, a family of your own, and other things to attend to. The best solution is to hire a home care agency.
An in-home caregiver not only takes care of your elderly parent, but also helps with the daily tasks: some housekeeping, grocery shopping, meal preparation, medication, and more. However, you need to ensure that you get the best for your parents, someone professional, well-trained, honest, well-supervised, and trustworthy.
Here are some tips you can take into account, provided by “At Home Care Service“, a reliable agency that can provide you with the right care that your loved one deserves.
Assess what you need in-home care for
There are many types of in-home care. Some are merely companion care, while others require doing some errands and housekeeping. There are even others who require nursing skills to take care of seniors with health conditions. With this in mind, assess your needs first and start from there.
Choose a home care agency
While you can directly hire an individual caregiver without resorting to an agency, it is better that you go through a home care agency. This is because a caregiver who comes from an agency is certified, background-checked, well-trained, and supervised. You won’t need to oversee everything since the agency already exercises supervision over the caregiver.
Background check
This is very important. You don’t want your elderly parent to end up in the hands of an abusive or incompetent caregiver. Hire the best for your elderly loved one. Ask the agency about how they screen and background check their caregivers, what methods they use, and so on.
Training and certification requirements
Ask the company about their standards and requirements when hiring their caregivers, what training do they undergo, and what certifications do they hold. For instance, it is a big bonus if the caregiver has basic certifications for First Aid and CPR. Just ask for the certifications and see if they meet your standards as well.
In line with this, the agency must also have the necessary requirements and certifications required by the State. Ask for their State Certification status to ensure that they are legitimate and regulated. You can also inquire about this at the Area Agency on Aging in your locality.
Evaluate the agency’s supervision
One important aspect of hiring from an agency is that you won’t need to supervise the caregivers yourself. The agency will shoulder that. Hence, it is important that you evaluate the supervisory oversight of the agency. Ask about their methods and procedure in overseeing their caregivers and keeping them in check.
Consider the cost
This is the practical thing to do: to ask the agency about their rate for the services they render and their billing practices. Aside from this, inquire if the home care services are covered by insurance, Medicaid or Medicare. There are also other ways to pay for home care such as long term care insurance, out of pocket, special programs for veterans, and more. Do you research and find the best way to suit your needs.
Matching caregivers and clients
You don’t need just a well-trained and capable caregiver, you need someone who is a match to your family and your elderly loved one. Ask the agency to meet potential caregivers ahead of time just to see and assess them before their first shift.
Ask for referrals
One way of checking whether a particular agency is reputable is through referrals. What the past and current clients say about the agency will help you assess whether or not they are the right agency for you. Most agencies provide referrals, so make sure to ask them.
Discuss a care plan
Once you have chosen an agency, discuss the care plan or home care services you’ll need. Inquire about how the agency keeps in check with the caregiver’s progress and the completion of the care plans you have discussed with them.
With help from a reputable home care agency, you will feel more secure and assured for your family and your elderly loved one. While choosing the right agency can be time-consuming, if you just follow the tips provided here, you will do just fine. Soon, your loved one and family will get the help and care that you deserve.
