Homecare is a relatively new age concept for our seniors today. When elders prefer to reside within the known walls of their comfortable house, in-home care comes into the picture. Whether they require medical attention due to a preexisting condition or just need moral support for old age, in-home care is the right solution. With excellently trained staff and a strong team of professionals, in-home care agencies offer their best services to the clients.
Skilled nurses render medical support with timely attention to medication, administration of injection, diet, and exercises. While caregivers offer non-medical care such as assistance with activities of daily living, light housekeeping, companionship and emotional support to the aging seniors. The thought of a dedicated caregiver provides safety and security for both the seniors and their family members.
While caregivers aid in the usual routine and assist the seniors for a smooth retired living, elders can be comfortable in their known environment. Due to the provision of excellent in-home care agencies in almost every city and town today, there are a variety of options for the customers. Certified and trained professionals from reputed in-home care agencies eliminate the stress of trusting a new member in the house.
How to pick the right option of in-home care agency?
Needless to say – more the options of in-home care agencies, the more is the confusion of how and what to choose. While references from family, friends, and relatives are the best measure to pick the perfect one, it may not be available in your particular area. Thanks to the modern times of virtual connectivity, it is possible to read about multiple agencies, gather adequate information, ask questions, read references and make the final choice. As a customer, it is important to gather all the necessary details before moving ahead with an agency. Considering the larger role of recruiting caregivers in our house, it makes it obvious to know everything beforehand. Rather than expressing disappointment about unknown factors at a later stage, it is better to discuss when the time is right.
In-home care agencies provide details about the experience of their caregivers. They conduct background checks, provide training and maintain records and references to ensure excellent service. They also attend to any troubles, feedback, and requests after the service is commenced for overall customer satisfaction.
Ask the right questions.
Care is quite subjective in nature. It is impossible to define the terms word by word. As non-medical care is about companionship, emotional support, radiating feelings of happiness and creating a positive aura, it may be quite difficult to measure it correctly. But, we can always ask queries regarding the services, customer feedback, references, provisions, and facilities.
Let us read the following guidelines to seek the necessary answers.
1. About the staff
- Does the agency conduct a background check of caregivers?
- Are the caregivers insured through the agency?
- Do they provide on-job training and continued learning courses for the caregivers?
- Does the agency check their previous experience and gather references of the staff?
- Do they hire caregivers as full-time employees or do they work part-time independently as private caregivers?
- Can one interview caregivers before starting the service?
2. About the in-home care agency
- How old is the agency?
- How do they hire their staff?
- What areas do they cater to?
- Are the care services offered hourly, daily, monthly?
- Are there provisions for 24-hour services?
- Do they maintain an emergency team of caregivers?
- Does the agency have a license for the particular state?
- What is the payment mode for the services?
3. About the services
- What type of medical services are provided by skilled nurses?
- What services are included in the non-medical care?
- Is there any written document that provides detailed information about the type of services covered?
- Does the agency create a customized care plan for each customer?
- What activities of daily living (ADLs) are covered by caregivers?
- Do the caregivers prepare meals?
- Do they help in taking the seniors for their doctor appointment, grocery shopping?
- What are the activities covered under light housekeeping?
4. About customer feedback
- Does the agency have a dedicated customer care helpline?
- Do they maintain contact information for emergency situations?
- Can one request for change of caregivers?
- Can the agency provide previous references and reviews of the caregivers?
- Do they maintain a website, forum or portal for the latest information, registering complaints and general discussion with customers?
We are Licensed Home Health Care Agency Providing Skilled Nursing, Companionship, and Private Duty Services … We are Angels on Call …. ‘Someone to watch over you’. Contact us today to speak with one of our RN case managers to discuss your personalized care plan 845-628-2255.
