When choosing in-home care services for seniors, know the questions to ask.
Discovering the right care solution for a senior loved one is one of the most important as well as overwhelming decisions you will face. Ensuring the safety of the senior is paramount, but there are a number of other things to consider as well, for example, if the senior’s quality of life and ability to thrive and continue to be independent will be a main priority.
AARP offers an invaluable checklist of questions to ask when investigating in-home care services for seniors, such as:
- Is the agency licensed?
- What services can be provided?
- How long before services can begin?
- Are caregivers trained and experienced?
- Is there a process set up for running background checks, bonding and insuring staff, supervision?
- What occurs if a caregiver does not show up on time (or at all)?
- Can a new caregiver be requested because you don’t click with the one assigned?
- Are there any customer testimonials or reviews you are able to read?
- Will the senior be given a personalized plan of care?
- How many years has the agency been in business?
It’s also important to ensure that the caregiver is a hired employee from a respected agency, as opposed to a contractor referred by a registry service, or a person hired through an online ad, because:
- Taxes as well as other mandatory federal and state requirements are covered. Hiring a caregiver independently makes YOU the employer, meaning you will be responsible for all taxes, unemployment insurance, worker’s compensation, etc., and, you will be liable for medical along with other expenses in the event that the caregiver was to become injured on the job. A professional home care agency assumes the role of employer for its caregivers, alleviating these concerns for the older adult and his or her loved ones.
- Full vetting and supervision of caregivers improves safety. Unfortunately, the potential risk of victimization and abuse of seniors is elevated when using the services of an independent caregiver, whether financial, physical, or emotional. Trusted home care agencies provide supervision as well as thorough background and reference checks, bonding and insurance, along with other safeguards in order to protect seniors. Not only that, but in case an older adult’s primary caregiver became ill or took a break for vacation, an equally trained and dependable substitute caregiver is provided.
- Initial and ongoing training increase caregiver excellence. Agencies that offer extensive training for their care staff make sure that skills are always as sharp as they can be, and that any new techniques established in the industry can be used – meaning an elevated degree of care over an independent caregiver who may not have the same opportunities for professional development.
At At-Home Care Company, we are pleased to meet each of these criteria and more. As a proud member of the Briggs Home Care family of agencies, our home care services are trusted to meet the many different needs of our clients – from companionship and personal care assistance to chronic and emerging health issues, and everything in between. We take satisfaction in making sure our team receives continuous caregiver training, to help you feel confident in knowing our caregivers are top notch and constantly improving their skills, while providing the safe, reliable, and compassionate care needed to make life the very best it can be.
Reach out to us at (515) 292-2650 to let us answer any additional questions you may have about our Boone home care services and the other communities we serve, or to inquire about a no-cost in-home assessment to boost wellbeing for an older adult you love.