Are you looking to hire an in-home care provider for your loved one? Are you not sure which in-home care service to choose?
Hiring the right senior in-home care service can be tough. You need to find a team that’s experienced, trustworthy, and knowledgeable. Where do you begin your search?
What do you look for?
Check out this guide to discover how to choose the best senior in-home care services.
1. Figure Out What Type of Help You Need
First things first, you need to figure out the type of help you need for your loved one. In-home care teams offer a wide range of services, but each elderly person has different needs.
Plus, if your parent wants to maintain as much independence as possible, they may not want to take advantage of all the services the home health care team has to offer. That said, most in-home care teams offer help with:
- Bathing, dressing, and hygiene
- Grocery shopping and meal prep
- Coordinating doctors’ appointments
- Doing chores and household maintenance tasks
- Managing medications and helping with medical equipment
- Transportation
In some cases, you may need the caregiver to stay overnight. You may also need someone who can exercise with your loved one or help keep their memory active with puzzles and games. Look for a caregiving agency that has a solid assessment process to help them evaluate the level of care and companionship your loved one needs.
2. Ask About Employee Training
Before you hire a caregiver team, you also need to ask about employee training. If someone is going to be spending time alone with your parent, you want to make sure that person is trained in CPR and First Aid.
Ideally, you want to find an agency that only hires caregivers with previous elderly care experience. You also want to make sure the agency conducts thorough background checks on all of its employees.
Ask the agency how their screening and hiring process works. How do they evaluate caregiver and patient compatibility? Do they have special training programs or certifications they require the caregivers to complete before they start work?
You should also ask the agency if any staff members have medical or nursing qualifications.
3. Understand the Cost
While hiring an in-home care team isn’t cheap, it’s generally way more affordable than nursing home care. When you hire an in-home care service, you only pay them for the exact number of hours they work.
That being said, you still need to make sure you understand the costs before you sign any paperwork. Generally speaking, long-term care insurance will cover part of the cost of home health care, but not all of it. Medicare can also help with some of the cost, but not all of it.
Also, make sure you understand the contract you’re signing. Don’t lock yourself into a long-term contract, and ask what their policy is on terminating future sessions.
Senior In-Home Care: Time to Hire an In-Home Care Team!
Now that you’ve read this guide on senior in-home care, it’s time for you to hire an in-home care team! Soon enough, your loved one will be getting the care they need.
Check back in with our blog for more senior care tips and tricks!