Choosing care for an elderly relative is not complicated if you know all the options that are available to you
Most people intuitively know what home care is but consciously refuse to admit they need it. There is a way to talk with your elderly parents about that in a way that don’t make them feel bad but before that you need to know what home care services are available to you in order to pick the one that best fits your or your loved one needs.
They all vary by cost and provide the elderly with different level of support. With that being said, in home care can be put in the following two categories – medical and non-medical home care.
Medical Care – people who perform medical care need to be licensed medical professionals like certified nurses and therapists. A few examples of what falls under medical care are physical therapy, speech therapy, wound care and medication dispensing.
Non-medical care – to provide non-medical care an individual doesn’t need to be licensed even though most if not all home care aides are required to take classes. The typical non-medical care services include light housekeeping, cleaning, cooking, companionship services, going to doctor’s appointments and non-emergency transportation services as well as bathing, toileting, eating and dressing also known as activities of daily life (ADL).
What kind of care will be chosen depends on individual’s needs as well as the availability of family members (kids or spouses) to assist them in their day-to-day life.
In the article below I will be discussing different aspects of home care only and the things you need to know.
Providers of Home Care
Family members are most often the ones who take care of their adding spouses or parents. Approximately 43.5 million caregivers have provided unpaid care to an adult or child in the last 12 months.
Often, they have their own families to take care of which makes and that makes it an unreliable way to take care of an elderly or person with disabilities.
Trained caregivers are what most people turn to when they need home care services. Before we move on I need to make an important distinction – there are two types of caregivers – independent and those that are employed by home care agencies.
Independent caregivers work directly with a senior and their family. Their services cost less per hour which is a huge benefit. On the flip side private caregivers may or may not have the type of insurance that’s needed. But what’s even more important is that they may not have the appropriate training to do this kind of work.
For example, they may or may not be trained in the latest senior care skills such as transferring an adult in and out of bed or CPR to name a few.
What’s more – when working with an independent elderly caregiver you might be responsible for employment taxes and insurance.
Caregivers who are employees of a home care agency cost more but there’s a good reason for that. They are trained in the latest techniques. They are also bonded and insured by the home care agency they work for. In addition, all elderly caregivers undergo a background check before being hired.
And because home care service providers employ multiple caregivers you can choose one that’s a good fit for you.
In addition, care agencies are able to accommodate last minute emergencies like a caregiver calling sick so you or your loved one will always have someone to help them when they need help.
Next is to determine the type of care that’s needed and whether it’s a few hours a day (shift caregivers) or around the clock (live-in caregivers). The former leaves the home after their shift is over while the latter resides in an elder’s home where they need to have their separate bedroom and living space.
As you can see there are a lot of things that need to be taken in consideration when choosing senior home care. One thing to remember is to take your time and think it through before you pick up the phone and call an independent caregiver or home care company.
Related Articles:
How to Choose a Provider of Home Care Services
How to Tell When It’s Time to Call a Caregiver for Your Aging Parent
