And How to Judge if An Agency is Suited to You
Many seniors and those who love them think about asking for assistance with in-home care. In fact, according to the ageless AARP, 75% of adult children think about their parents’ ability to live independently. Question is, when is it the the right time to reach out to get that needed help? Is it after a call from the hospital that your loved one fell and no one was there to help? Is it when mom or dad is discharged from the hospital and someone is needed at home to be on safety watch and help with the recovery process?
How do you know if home care is appropriate for your mom or dad? If you can say yes to any of these situations, in-home care may be a good choice for you.
- Has there been an acute healthcare crisis — unexpected illness, injury, recent surgery, or diagnosis of long-term health problems?
- Is your loved one unsafe at home or at a risk of falling?
- Has a doctor told you that mom or dad isn’t safe at home?
- Are you seeing signs of memory loss, Alzheimer’s or dementia?
- Do they need help with grocery shopping, making a healthy dinner, washing sheets or doing light housekeeping?
- Are they forgetting to take medication?
- Do they have difficulty driving?
- Is your loved one becoming isolated? Do they need or would they blossom with some companionship?
- Would you like some extra help taking your loved one to a special event or at a holiday gathering? Imagine being able to enjoy the day without care duty? That would be truly worthy of “Thanks-giving.”
Do You Need Non-Medical Care or Skilled Care?
If your home care needs are more serious you may need skilled nursing care provided by an RN or you might need a skilled physical therapist. As you might expect, these services cost more. However, you may only need non-medical in-home care providing help with every day acts of living like bathing or dressing, transportation, shopping, cooking meals and companionship. Non-medical, in-home care agencies provide caregivers, certified nurse’s assistants and certified health aids that you can hire per hour or around the clock.
Non-medical care, does have some requirements, like a client needs to be able to swallow on their own. If you’re not sure if non-medical care is appropriate, ask an agency you’re considering. Which takes us to one of the most important questions
How Do Your Choose the Right Non-Medical Agency?
Here are 4 criteria to use when determining which non-medical in-home care is right for you: 1) call the agency, 2) do online research, 3) speak with staff and 4) meet the agency and caregiver(s).
Quality of Care for Patients
Each state has different laws and regulations pertaining to in-home care agencies. California and Illinois uphold the strictest regulations with license requirements and surveys done by the state to ensure the highest quality and standards. Be sure to ask if the agency is licensed by the state and insured and bonded for your protection and quality assurance. Illinois requires among other things, non-medical in-home care agencies to provide eight hours of staff training each year.
Quality of Care for Caregivers.
How the agency cares for its caregivers is a statement on agency integrity and what they value. Caregivers are often overworked and under paid. Make sure that the agency you choose value their employees and choose people for whom care is a career and calling. Ask the agency what they do to keep their caregivers happy such as bonus programs or advancements opportunities.
Do Your Homework and Online research
Use search engines not only to find local non-medical care agencies, but to check reviews. Google, Yelp and Care.com are super where this is concerned. Care.com is a website dedicated to matters only pertaining to caring for the elderly or any individual that cannot care for themselves. That’s a valuable resource for reviews.
Call the Agency
After narrowing your search, call the agencies you are considering. If you leave a message, notice how long, it takes for your message to be returned. Inquire about state license, insurance and bonding and how they care for their caregivers. Explain your situation and ask as many questions as possible to get a sense the agency’s ability to meet your specific needs. Inquire about their price per hour and minimum number of hours. Most importantly feel out the agency when speaking with them, see how helpful they are in providing answers.
Meet the Agency and Caregiver
Meet the owners of the agency and the caregiver or caregivers they select. It’s common and important to bring your loved one along to get a sense of caregiver personal qualities and compatibility with mom or dad. If you are not comfortable with their choice for any reason, ask to meet someone else.
Remember, while you are hiring a caregiver, the agency you’re hiring is equally if not more important. It will be a complete and continuing team resource for you. All agencies should ensure training, background checks, and quarterly visits to make sure caregiver and client are doing well. During your first meeting, your agency should do an assessment and present a clear and detailed Care Plan detailing scheduling and services. It is not uncommon for the agency representative to come to your loved one’s home and if they do, show them around and see if they pay attention to details in the household that merit attention, especially any potential safety hazards. See if they point them out to you.
Letting a stranger care for your loved one is not an easy task. Ask the right questions and do the research, but ultimately go with your gut, heart and head. Best wishes and thank you for your attention.
About Picket Fence Services
Picket Fence Home Care is proud to offer clients state-of-the-art and state-of-the heart treatment services in the peace and safety of home sweet home. We are a non-medical service provider that treats our clients like family, helping them to overcome hardships and live rich, fulfilling, independent lives. For those recovering from surgery, disabled individuals or seniors who need help with acts of daily living, we strive for and provide the highest possible quality of life with a warm touch and unsurpassed compassion. Contact us.
Resources:
http://www.iyhusa.com/AginginPlaceFacts-Data.htm
http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2011/04/when-is-homecare-appropriate.html