Many seniors need assistance with daily tasks as they get older. If you have a senior in your life that requires some help, but would like to stay at home, senior home care services are a great choice. However, there are a lot of home care agencies, and some are better than others. Your loved ones deserve the best care and you deserve peace of mind that they are being taken care of.
It is important to do your research before you choose a senior home care solution for your loved one. Part of the research is asking questions. Here are seven (7) questions you should ask senior home care agencies before making your decision.
1. What Services Do You Provide?
Before you choose an agency, ask which services they provide to seniors. Think about you’re your loved ones’ future needs, not just their current ones. While they may just need some help with the housework now, they may have greater needs down the line. Look for an agency that provides a wide range of services, like companion care, home health care, transporation and dementia care.
2. Do You Offer Personalized Care Plans?
Every senior is different. You need a home care provider that understands this fact. If an agency tells you that every senior receives a standardized care plan, keep looking. Your loved one deserves care that’s customized to meet their individual needs.
Good agencies offer personalized care plans to ensure every client gets the best care possible. You should receive a complimentary interview to discuss your loved one’s needs and set up their individualized care plan.
3. Are Your Caregivers Trained?
Caregivers will be the ones to look after your loved ones when you’re not around. You need to be able to trust that they’re well trained and highly qualified. Good senior home care agencies can reassure you that their caregivers are certified, trained and experienced in the field of home care. It is important that they also provide ongoing training to their caregivers. Ongoing training keeps caregivers’ skills fresh and helps them provide the best care possible.
4. What Happens If Caregivers are Sick?
Everyone gets sick sometimes, including caregivers. Some smaller agencies may not have enough staff to provide substitutes for sick caregivers. In these situations, seniors can be stuck home alone, with no caregiver.
You don’t want your parents or loved one to end up in that situation. A good home care agency should introduce at least a secondary caregiver to ensure that a friendly and familiar backup caregiver is always available. This gives you and your loved ones peace of mind that they’ll always be looked after.
5. What Happens If My Parents Don’t Like Their Caregivers?
Sometimes, personalities clash and people just don’t get along, that okay. Your loved one may not like their caregiver despite their training and qualifications. At some smaller agencies, there aren’t enough caregivers to send a replacement. Your loved one could potentially get stuck with someone they don’t like. Before you choose an agency, ask about their matching process and whether replacement caregivers are available.
6. Will the Same Caregiver Come Every Time?
If your loved ones need help with personal care tasks, they’ll need to be comfortable with their caregivers. Bathing, continence care, or other personal tasks are very sensitive. Your parents or loved one need help from people they trust.
If an agency sends a revolving door of caregivers, your loved one won’t be able to build that trust. Good agencies make an effort to send the same caregivers on a consistent basis. This lets your loved one get comfortable with their caregivers and ensures continuity of care.
7. Will You Provide References?
You want your parents to receive the best possible care at home. To ensure they get it, ask potential agencies if they can provide references from past or current clients. A good agency should have plenty of clients that are willing to talk to you about their experiences. You can ask the clients about the care the agency provides, and clear up any of your concerns. If an agency refuses to give you any references, move on to one that does. With these tips in mind, you’re bound to find the right home care provider for your loved ones.
