What to Look for When Looking for Elderly Home Care
Aging can a stressful process for everyone involved, from the person getting older to their loved ones. This process can become especially stressful if the aging person has to deal with a long-term illness. Often when an elderly person suffers from a long-term disease their condition becomes exacerbated. This can lead to the need for a caregiver or even an in-home caregiver. In fact, more than 60% of Americans will need long term care for some period after the age of 65.
No matter how common it is finally deciding to hire a home caregiver can be difficult. The search for the right home healthcare worker can be stressful and almost impossible. When considering who to pick there are many factors to consider, one of the most important being the needs of your loved one.
Assess the Needs of the Patient
The first thing to consider when looking for elderly home care is the needs of your loved one. Are they need of assistance with simple tasks around the house a few times a week? Or are they incapacitated in some way and require mobility assistance. If you are not already the primary caregiver for your loved one, it may help to follow them around for a few days to observe specific tasks they need help with. It is also important to determine how long the family member will need care.
What To Look For In a Caregiver
The in home senior care industry is a vast one, made up of many different home care agencies, independent workers, medical professionals, and even volunteers. A home care agency can help you to find the right person to provide care for your elderly loved ones. An agency can help you to find the most appropriate and qualified medical professional. Credible home care agencies do much of the beginning work for you because they take the time to perform background checks and preliminary interviews, which will save you time. Working with a health care agency can help ensure that you hire home care assistance that everyone in the family is comfortable with.
Extra Services
When looking at home caregivers you should also think about the other household needs your elderly family member needs. If you need someone to clean, do laundry, or care for a pet. These are things that some people will provide, while others may limit their services strictly to medical and health care needs.
Things to Consider in the Interview
Once you decide how you are going to find a home caregiver you will have to deal with the tedious process of interviewing candidates. When interviewing you may want to have your family member present. If they cannot or refuse to participate in the interview you still want to interview with your loved one in mind. Look at the temperament and the demeanor of the caregiver. Accepting home care can be humbling, you want the patient to be comfortable with their caregiver.
Deciding the bring elderly home care for yourself or a loved one is not a decision to be taken lightly. There are many things to think about and consider. Our final tips would be to never rush the decision or hire someone you are not 100% comfortable with.
More Stories