As more and more Baby Boomers retire, the number of older adults in need of in-home care at one time or another will continue to rise. Hiring an in-home caregiver may become necessary when you or someone close to you requires more care than a family caregiver can deliver. If you currently find yourself in this situation, finding the best professional home care services isn’t always easy as it sounds.
Look for These Caregiver Qualities
To ensure that you are choosing the right person to care for you or your elderly loved one, look for these qualities:
Experience
Experience is one of the most important characteristics to look for, especially if your loved one has unique care needs due to diabetes, dementia, or something else. While considering other tasks for which you might need help, find someone who has experience caring for people with your loved one’s same condition.
Training and education
Determine what level of training or education the caregiver has, along with any updated certifications. Ask about additional credentials or training they have obtained on their own, as this reveals an enthusiastic and dedicated professional who is willing to go the extra mile to deliver exceptional care.
Compassion and empathy
Compassion, empathy, and attentiveness are all essential personality traits that good caregivers possess. To determine if a home health aide has these characteristics, ask them why they got into their chosen profession. Learn about their interests and hobbies, as any shared interests can make time spent with your loved one much more enjoyable.
Patience
Above all, a good caregiver must be patient. Caring for an older adult, especially one with dementia or incontinence, can be taxing. One way to determine if a candidate has patience is to ask them how they handled difficult situations in the past. When they answer this question, pay close attention to what they say and how they say it. Does their response reflect warmth? Do they genuinely seem to care about the person they are describing?
Communication skills
Your home health aide must also be a good communicator. During the interview, pay attention to their tone, body language, and subtle signs that would indicate they may be uncomfortable with any aspect of the job. Evaluate their communication skills further by having them talk to your loved one while performing an easy task with you present.
Be sure that the aide’s tone and communication style makes them feel relaxed and comfortable. If English is a second language for you or your loved one, be sure to mention that fact when you first contact the home health services provider.
References
Before offering someone the job, be sure to check all their references. Even if they seem like a great fit based on other factors, it is still essential to make sure everything matches. Call their references to find out how they performed in previous positions. Ask pointedly whether their former employer would hire them again and if they would recommend them to work for you.
Questions to Ask a Home Care Provider
Because their home health aides must meet specific qualifications, working with a home care agency can greatly minimize stress.
However, you’ll still need to ask the agency’s representative these questions beforehand:
- What specific services do you offer?
- What eligibility requirements must a client meet to qualify for your care services?
- What certifications do your caregivers hold?
- How do you select and train employees?
- Do you perform background checks?
- How much do you charge? Are there ways to offset out-of-pocket costs?
- How long have you been in business?
- Can your agency meet our specific needs (language, cultural preferences, etc.)?
- Do you involve all concerned parties when developing a plan of care?
- Who can I contact with questions or complaints?
- How do you resolve conflicts?
- What is the availability of your caregivers?
Want To Know More About Finding the Best Home Care Services For Your Loved One?
To learn more about choosing the right caregiver, read the book Thriving at Home: A Handbook for Preventing Hospital Stays by Dave Tasto. For more information about how to obtain a copy of Dave’s book, visit www.thrivingathomehealth.com.
Quality In-Home Care for Seniors in Northwest Boston
Finding the best caregiver for your aging loved one can be challenging. When you need some assistance, contact Assisting Hands Home Care. While proudly serving seniors and families in communities Northwest of Boston, Assisting Hands tries to provide the best professional home care services we can. We want to allow our clients to remain safely and comfortably in their own homes.
From a few hours a day to around the clock, our client-centered services include transitional care, respite care, personal care, hospice care, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, Parkinson’s support, and Veteran’s support. At Assisting Hands, we deliver quality home care you can trust! To learn more about our dependable caregivers now or to schedule a consultation for a senior in our service area, please visit us at https://assistinghands.com/68/massachusetts/bostonnw/
Subscribe to our Newsletter
