In home care is becoming more and more popular as people are looking for ways to improve the quality of their life while still staying in their own home.
While this can be a great option for many, there are some things to keep in mind when choosing in home care. In this post, we’ll outline the basics of what to look for when considering in home care, as well as some things you should avoid. Read on for more!
A Better Way out Inhome care
In home care is becoming more and more popular as people are looking for ways to improve the quality of their life while still staying in their own home. While this can be a great option for many, there are some things to keep in mind when choosing in home care. In this post, we’ll outline the basics of what to look for when considering in home care, as well as some things you should avoid. Read on for more!
What to Look For:
- Be sure that your loved one’s health and needs will be taken into account during planning and implementation of care. There will need to be clear communication between those providing the service and those receiving it so that all needs can be met.
- Be sure that you are clear about what care will be provided and to what level. For example, how many visits per day, how much medication administration, etc.
- Whomever is providing the service should have current (less than 3 years old) background checks on file with the state. They should also pass a drug test before beginning work.
- If your loved one needs significant assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), be sure to meet providers during their initial visit to ensure responsiveness and general attitude towards working for you. This provides an opportunity to talk in depth about care needs and expectations, as well as form a bond between caregiver and cared for that can reduce stress later on since communication lines are open from the beginning.
- You should not have to pay out of pocket for any in home services, even co pay. Some states will cover extended stays if hospice is being provided at home instead of in a facility. This can save families thousands of dollars since your loved one would no longer have the intrinsic cost of living in a nursing home or other care center.
What to Avoid
- Do not settle on an agency if you do not feel comfortable with its business practices or level of responsiveness. If you are having difficulty communicating or getting things done within a reasonable time frame, it may be because they have too big of caseloads and cannot spend any additional time on your loved one’s case.’t be afraid to seek more than one opinion if the fit does not feel right.
- Do not choose an agency that will send new caregivers too often, as this can be disruptive to your care schedule and may make the transition more difficult for your loved one. Also, if they are coming too frequently, you can’t get to know them or build a relationship with them before they move on.
- Do not use providers who do not keep up with current technology (such as video chat) in order to alleviate some of your stress about leaving your loved one alone. Communicating via phone or text message is fine; however, you should also have visual contact at least once per week or more (depending on their needs).
- Do agree to any terms that stipulate that your loved one can or cannot be covered by in home care for moral, ethical, religious reasons. While the agency may not agree with it, they would still provide all legally required care services per contract terms.
- Do not check out an agency just because you don’t have to come face to face with them during the initial meeting. This is a good sign that they are too busy and have no time for individualized service planning or communication about your specific needs/concerns. This will only lead to trouble down the line since you may find yourself caught up in legal issues if something goes wrong.
In Home Care Can Be A Great Choice
Hopefully this list helped outline what to look for considering in home care so that you can make the best decision for you and your loved one. Be sure to look around your community or on the internet for agencies that might provide exactly what you are looking for, as this is a great resource to find companies who specialize in different areas of care (such as dementia, hospice , etc).
Good luck! If you would like more information about any of the services mentioned above or need help finding an agency, please contact us today.’s talk about how we can help.
If you liked this post, please share it with your network so more families can find out about home care options too! Let’s keep this conversation going.
Do not fear. I am here. And I will leave your side.” – From “The Lion King”
Regardless of how many times we place our loved ones in the care of others, we still doubt our own abilities. The fear and sense of guilt will never completely go away; it is part of the process. But with experience comes knowledge and grace.
And with grace comes more peace, which enables us to do better because we can let things go; we don’t hold every little thing inside until the weight becomes too much for us to handle.
No matter what you do or say, your love has already done its work: changing your loved one’s heart and empowering them to be all that they can be.’s not about forgetting who they were before – believing that would perpetuate a culture that treats people like children instead of adults.
It’s about understanding the present – accepting whatever challenges come their way and enjoying all of life’s moments fully.