Even when elders are healthy and hearty and not suffering from an illness per se, there are certain tasks that they are unable to take care of. Either they feel too frail to undertake this task, or they find it rather exhausting. In some cases, they simply don’t accomplish their day-to-day activities because they feel too lonely to do anything. While living alone may give them the desired level of personal independence, with growing age, an extra hand almost always comes in handy. And this is precisely where an in-home caregiver comes into the picture.
What is Non-Medical Senior Care?
When elders choose to age in place, there can be an element of stress and anxiety revolving around their convenience and safety. To assist them in their decision to stay at home, elders can be provided with non-medical caregivers, who usually offer the services listed below:
Companionship for the Senior
Assistance Bathing and Dressing
Oral and Personal Hygiene
Helping in Exercise Routines
Grocery Shopping
Laundry
Light Housekeeping
Medication Reminders
Meal Planning and Preparation
Commutation within the neighborhood/to the doctors
Did you notice? We put companionship at the top of the list. It is deliberate simply because a senior could be fairly self-sufficient and still suffer from insecurity or may have become gloomier just because they constantly feel lonely and ignored. Thankfully, hiring the services of an in-home caregiver can eliminate these issues so that your loved one feels more confident and eventually enjoys a happier existence.
Steps to Finding the Right Caregiver for Your Senior
Since your chosen caregiver will be responsible for the health and well-being of your loved one and will cost you a fair share of the money, it is highly recommended that you choose the caregiver after some deliberation. The below-mentioned steps will help you pick the ideal in-home caregiver for the much-loved elderly in your family.
#1: Evaluate the Needs
While you are here because you believe that your loved one is in need of non-medical care, it is always better to consult their doctor first. After a quick consultation, the doctor will be able to confirm if such a service would be sufficient or if you need to look for more comprehensive medical care services. If there is someone else in the family who has been looking after the elderly, make sure to take their input as well, as they may know more about the specific areas in which an extra hand is a must.
This will equip you to better enlist your needs so that the caregiver has a fair idea of what is expected of them.
#2: Assess the frequency
Now that you know the aspects that your loved one needs care for, analyze the times of the day when they need it the most. Since most caregivers charge by the hour, it would be helpful if you knew the desired timing right from the onset. This will also help you gauge the spending that you might be looking at, depending on the state you reside in.
#3: Set Up a Consultation
You can either search Google for the ‘Best in-Home Care Agency’ or invite recommendations for the same from friends and family. Once you have your eyes set on a couple of in-home care agencies for the elderly, schedule a consultation with them. More often than not, your chosen agency will provide a no-cost, no-obligation, in-home consultation wherein they can assess the needs of your loved one, educate you about the cost of their services, and resolve any queries that you may have. To this end, it would be helpful if you had a list of questions prepared in advance so that you could better understand the scope and cost of their services.
#4: Plan Caregiver Interviews
If you are satisfied with your interaction with the agency, it is now time for you to schedule interviews for the caregivers. Ideally, you should opt for an in-home interview so that the caregiver has a better understanding of their working environment. Make sure to have your senior present for the interview so that they can ask any questions that they may have for the caregiver. Based on the answers, you and your senior can assess whether the caregiver is right for you. If not, you can schedule interviews with other caregivers to zero in on the one that best suits your elderly’s needs.
#5: Keep Your Loved One Involved
It is best to keep your senior informed and involved at every step of the way when you start searching for an in-home caregiver. This will give them the space to be mentally prepared for this significant change in their lives. Moreover, it will give them time to think over the qualities they would like in their caregiver and chalk out the areas in which they need their help.
Keeping them involved will also ensure that they let you know about the relevant policies or investments they might have in place to pay for the care. This will take a significant financial burden off your shoulders.
#6: Leave it All to a Trusted In-Home Care Agency
If you are fairly new to the world of in-home care and are finding it difficult to pin down the needs of your elderly family member and the expectations from the caregiver, then don't worry! Simply get in touch with a renowned in-home care agency by visiting their website. Once you do so, fill out a quick self-assessment form. Once you do so, it will help you understand your needs. That being taken care of, call for an in-home assessment for enhanced know-how of the care services and what they entail. In most cases, the concerned agency will offer you an itemized care plan right there and then, helping you make a quick and well-informed decision.
Now that you know all about finding the ideal in-home care services for your loved one, don’t wait any longer before you avail the same, and revel in the satisfaction of knowing that there is someone that’ll take care of them just like you would!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Do I need to conduct a background check on the caregiver?
We understand that your chosen caregiver will have access to your home, and even your vehicle. Hence, we take it upon ourselves to bring to you only those caregivers who have cleared our rigorous interview process, along with national background checks. We also look into their professional reference reviews before employing them.
Q: I want the in-home care service for my aging parents as soon as possible. How long before it can start?
As soon as you get in touch with us, we will try to match you with an ideal home caregiver as per your specific needs. After interviewing the caregiver, if you find everything going your way, we can arrange for their services at the earliest possible time. That said, we do follow a well-tested process to assess your situation and offer the optimal experience for your loved one, and if possible, we would like to take adequate time to arrange for the best-suited caregiver.
Q: What if my senior only needs a little assistance?
In that case, you can convey the specific days and times when your loved one needs additional assistance. Whether it is for their doctor visits or a weekly club meeting, whether it is housekeeping or trips to the park, we will arrange for a caregiver at your preferred times and days! After all, your convenience is our paramount goal!
