Finding the right home care company is essential for your senior loved one’s wellbeing. While it’s nice to have options, it can also be overwhelming to try to narrow them down and find the perfect home care company for your loved one. Ask the following questions to get the critical information you need to make sure a home care agency fits your family’s needs.
1. What Services Do You Provide?
Home care companies vary significantly regarding the services they offer. While some offer companionship care only, others offer services such as personal hygiene assistance. Ideally, the company you choose should offer the services your loved one needs along with some he or she may need later.
Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same home care services. Huntsville families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
2. Do You Allow Flexible Scheduling?
iIn the beginning, your loved one may only need someone to drop by once a week, or you may be looking for respite care. If this is the case, you need a company that allows some flexibility. Although you may need to schedule respite care in advance, it helps to know you can add or subtract care hours when it is necessary.
3. How Are the Finances Handled?
One of the biggest benefits of working with a home care company is being able to avoid the hassle of handling things such as paying the employer’s tax for an independent caregiver. However, not all companies work the same way. Find out what financial aspects the home care company covers so you can choose one that manages things such as insurance costs.
4. How Are Caregivers Hired and Trained?
Your loved one’s health and happiness depends on the caregiver who visits his or her house. The company you choose should prioritize best practices for hiring, such as conducting background checks on every caregiver. They should also provide ongoing training opportunities that keep caregivers aware of the latest advances in senior care.
If your aging loved one needs help managing the tasks of daily living and you’re searching for a reliable, expertly trained caregiver, Huntsville, AL, Home Care Assistance is your top choice. At Home Care Assistance, our caregivers strive to make aging in place a safer and more comfortable experience for seniors so they can enjoy their golden years in better health.
5. Can Your Caregivers Handle My Loved One’s Health Condition?
Seniors often have specific needs that require a special approach to their care. If your loved one has severe memory loss or can no longer walk without assistance, make sure to mention this to the care agency. The right agency should be able to identify a caregiver who specializes in providing the type of care your loved one needs.
6. Will My Loved One Have the Same Caregiver for Each Visit?
Continuity of care is essential for seniors. While your loved one might not be able to see the same person every time, he or she should see one caregiver more than the others. When seniors spend time with the same caregiver, it allows them to develop a relationship based on trust. However, your loved one should also be provided with the occasional opportunity to meet new caregivers so he or she feels comfortable with the people visiting his or her home.
7. Is It Possible to Add New Services?
Things can change rapidly if a senior gets ill or injured. High-quality home care agencies allow families to add new services as they become necessary. While you may not anticipate needing to provide your loved one with overnight care or transportation assistance, it’s reassuring to know you can if the moment comes.
When searching for reliable Huntsville home care agencies, families want to know their senior loved one will be well taken care of. At Home Care Assistance, our expertly trained caregivers are available around the clock to assist with tasks around the house, provide transportation to medical appointments and social events, and much more. To learn about our high-quality in-home care plans, give us a call at (256) 716-9940 today.