Elderly individuals have commonly found that their everyday lives are not as easy to handle as they once were. Whether it is simply due to old age or the result of a chronic health condition, seniors often require some level of care and assistance. Depending on the elderly person’s needs, they may receive part-time help or full-time care.

Some families can resolve this need by designating one or a few family members to be the elderly loved one’s informal caregivers. This is a great choice for many seniors because there is already an established sense of familiarity, comfort, and trust. However, not all families have the time, resources, or abilities to provide care to their elderly relatives on their own. In such a situation, families can hire a professional caregiver to provide elderly care for seniors right at home.

If you are considering professional senior home care for your elderly loved one, then it is important that you take great care and time in choosing the right caregiver. This person will be spending a lot of time with your elderly relative at their home, so you need to be able to trust them as not only a caregiver but as a person, too.

Continue reading to learn more about what you need to consider when choosing a caregiver for your elderly loved ones.

Evaluate Your Loved One’s Care Needs

Before you look for and consider potential caregivers, the first thing you need to do is assess your elderly loved one’s care needs. You need to have an accurate idea of what kinds of help the senior needs so that they receive proper care. Failing to do so could result in you hiring a caregiver who cannot sufficiently cater to your elderly relative’s needs.

For example, you should ask yourself in what areas of everyday life does your senior relative need help? If the elderly individual cannot or does not drive anymore for whatever reason, then hiring a caregiver who can provide transportation services might be considered a necessity in your search for a caregiver. If seniors need help with meal preparation or have trouble with personal care, make note of that as well.

Consider the Types of Home Care Professionals

After you figure out what your elderly loved one’s care needs are, consider which type of home care professional is best suited for them.

If seniors need some sort of medical care and assistance, then you should hire a certified nursing assistant (CNA) or a licensed nursing assistant (LNA). These types of care professionals are trained and qualified to take vitals, provide some treatments, set up medical equipment, and more.

If your loved one will not need medical care but still has a condition that necessitates monitoring, a home health aide (HHA) would be a good fit. These home care professionals are trained and licensed. They provide help with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing and can also help with things like meal preparation and light housekeeping.

Likewise, personal care aides (PCAs) provide similar help. They help with bathing and other ADLs, can do meal preparation, provide transportation services, and help with errands. However, they are not qualified to check vitals and monitor a patient’s condition. Additionally, PCAs are not licensed and have different amounts of training, so they are less qualified than HHAs.

Figure Out Your Budget

As is the case whenever money is involved, take the time to figure out what kind of care services you can afford. If you cannot solely rely on your own income, then look into Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance to see what kind of coverage they offer.

Be Thorough During the Selection Process

Once you have the essential information, it is time to start looking into caregivers. If you have family or friends who have hired a caregiver before, then you might want to ask them for a referral. Otherwise, you can find elderly care by going through a staffing service, hiring independently, or using a senior home care agency.

There are many options when choosing a caregiver, so make sure you do extensive research. Look up agencies and individuals you are considering and read reviews. Have questions prepared before the interview process and consider questioning them on specific matters that would concern your elderly loved one. For example, if your elderly relative struggles with incontinence, ask potential caregiving candidates and agencies how that situation would be handled.

If you are hiring independently, then consider doing a background check. Agencies will screen their own caregivers beforehand, but with independent caregivers, you will need to do the extra work yourself. This is especially important, because you want to feel comfortable and confident with the caregiver you choose.

Senior Home Care Services from Assisting Hands

If you have an elderly loved one who is in need of non-medical home health care services, then Assisting Hands Home Care can help through the comprehensive elderly care services we provide in Dallas, Highland Park, Richardson, University Park TX, and the neighboring areas.

Our professional caregivers are trained, licensed, insured, and bonded to provide non-medical home health care services to seniors, so you can trust that your elderly loved one will be properly cared for. Furthermore, our care plans are catered specifically to the client’s unique care needs. You can feel at ease knowing that your elderly relative is receiving exceptional care from a qualified professional.