The coming of age of baby boomers has drawn more attention to home-based senior care services. For many it is the difference between remaining in the comfort of their homes and having to relocate to a senior care facility. These days, senior home care services bring health care and assisted living services to millions of individuals suffering from mobility issues, chronic medical conditions, physical disabilities, terminal illnesses, and dementia in a variety of forms.
Inviting an elder care or senior care worker into a loved one's home is a major step and should be considered in depth. Ensuring that your loved one is treated with kindness and respect is only the beginning; however, finding just the right care provider requires patience and an idea of what you are looking for in a provider. Here are some guidelines that should be considered when selecting a senior and elder care services.
Proper Licensing
It is important to be sure that and senior care service is licensed properly. Each state has particular regulations in place to monitor home health care agencies; current licensing of a senior care service means that the agency has passed all associated inspections, is adhering to necessary regulations, and is meeting with all state and federal guidelines required. A list of senior and elder care services can be obtained through your state's Department of Health.
Accurate Servicing
It is important to ensure that the senior care service you select can meet all of your needs so that you do not have to rely on multiple services or become frustrated about a lack of service. Although most home healthcare providers give potential clients a list of available services, not all senior and elder care providers are the same. It is important to be detailed in the type of service you require when interviewing prospective service providers; if they do not outright state a service that you need, s simple question or request for accommodation may be all that is needed.
Hours
Be sure to clarify the service hours that are available. Some individuals may need overnight care which requires a senior or elder care service that operates on a 24/7 basis. Also, check to see if your necessary schedule would be performed by a single person or several people over the course of shifts.
Emergency Policy
Emergencies and accident happen; when they do you want to be sure to immediate care given. People need to feel comfortable that their senior care service along with the individuals involved act quickly, responsibly, and calmly. A competent elder and senior care provider will have policies and procedures in place in the event of an emergency. You can request a copy of these procedures at any time from service providers.
Care Plan
When searching for a senior care provider, look for one that has an active interest in what their patient and families are saying. A senior care service that interacts with their clients and values their input can help craft a care plan that will best suit all involved. The plan should detail the client's treatment, the administration of the treatment, what service will be provides, how those services will be delivered, and how often the care plan should be re-evaluated.
Method of Payment
The method of payment for senior and elder care services is an important consideration when selecting your provider. Most home health care providers accept Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, group insurance, military benefits, and workers compensation; however, should a loved one not be covered by any of these, arrangements for private payment will need to be made.
Do Your Research
By all means, do your research. Once you have gathered a list of potential providers pull as much information about them as you can. Local agencies, word-of-mouth, and state agencies will all have information regarding regulation violations, complaints, and other favorable and unfavorable intel. Background checks can also be performed on agencies through a variety of services, usually for a nominal fee.
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