Despite the fact that most home care agencies and caregivers are reliable and trustworthy, news stories about in-home caregivers who are abusive, under-trained, or aren’t being supervised enough can make some families wary of hiring home care services for their loved one. That’s why it’s essential to spend time doing research on home care services and providers, and taking the appropriate steps for finding and choosing an agency and caregiver that best fit what you’re looking for and helping to guarantee that your loved one will be in good hands. Here are some tips for hiring in-home care for your loved one through a home care agency:
Find A Reliable & Trustworthy Agency To Work With
Rather than using a home care agency to assist them, some families try employing an individual directly in order to provide home care services for their loved one. While hiring a caregiver directly might lessen some of the costs of hiring a home care provider, it’s important to keep in mind that in such cases you will be operating as an employer and will be fully responsible for oversight, hiring, firing, background checks, verifying certifications, licenses, and training, and so on if you do so. However, when you work with a reliable home care agency, doing so will relieve you of a large portion of these responsibilities.
Know What Your Elderly Relative Needs In A Caregiver
In-home assistance is available in a variety of different types of services, from companion care to keep a senior company and aid with light housekeeping or errands, to skilled nursing for those who suffer from chronic health conditions and/or require more specialized care. If you’re not sure what type of care is appropriate for your loved one, then you should talk to their doctor or schedule an initial evaluation visit with a home care provider so that you can assess your loved one’s needs and determine what type of care and assistance they need.
Ask About What Kind of Training & Experience the Caregivers Have
When hiring a home care aide to assist your elderly relative, it’s important to inquire about any training or certification requirements that caregivers must have in order to do these types of jobs. Basic qualifications such as CPR and First Aid, in addition to more specialized types of training and experience, can give you peace of mind in the event of an accident while the caregiver is on duty, as well as giving you an indication of the company’s hiring standards. It’s also important to inquire about other attributes (i.e., language abilities, etc.) as well in order to make sure that the caregiver you hire to assist your loved one is the best fit and is one who can properly assist them and give them the care that they need.
If you think that in-home care services could be a good fit for your senior family member, then don’t hesitate to contact Pinnacle Home Care, the best home care agency in Minneapolis MN, today.
