It’s a difficult topic to discuss with your family and loved ones: the choice of a home health care provider. However, it is one of the most important decisions you will ever make.
So, in order to help guide the decision-making process for a home health care provider, here are five considerations:
- Is the staff experienced and licensed? : Thorough screening of prospective caregivers is a priority as you are ensuring the safety of your loved one in their care. Caregivers must have all the up-to-date, certifications, and licenses for the specific care that you require. Your caregiver should be experienced, professional, and compassionate.
- How many years have they been in business? Every business has to start at some point in time yet a caregiver from a reputable company with years of experience is a plus when seeking care for your loved one. In-home health, companies that have been in business for numerous years may have higher retention rates and more experienced caregivers. In addition, established companies tend to have excellent training programs in place to retain compassionate caregivers and grow referrals.
- What services do they offer? : If you are looking for nursing or supportive services, a comprehensive home healthcare provider should be able to deliver a wide variety of services. Among those services may be hourly and live-in home care solutions either at home or at an assisted living facility or nursing home. Care Plus provides both in-home care and nursing home services. Our services are customized to meet the needs of the patient and their families. It may be a short-term or long-term plan. Avoid “cookie-cutter” or “one size fits all” service providers. Each patient is unique and deserves a customized plan that will meet their unique needs.
- What do the reviews say? : Reviews are a reliable resource that can be quite helpful to you as you weigh the different caregiving choices. Home health care providers that have been in business over the years, should have an extensive list of online reviews. You can visit the www.caring.com, Better Business Bureau (BBB), Yelp, Google My Business, and Facebook should have client reviews posted on their pages. The caregiver website should have testimonials posted, too. We also recommend that you call the caregiver and ask for references.
- What do they provide for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients? Make sure the caregiver offers services for Alzheimer’s or dementia patients. As older adults age this may be a need and having an In-Home Healthcare provider who is attuned to early signs of dementia is imperative. Check with the company to verify that the caregivers have specialized training in these health conditions.
It will give you peace of mind knowing that they have the best care available. These five tips will prepare you for your next steps. If you should have any questions feel free to reach out.
CarePlus Home Health, Inc. has experienced and compassionate home health caregivers. Call us at (301) 740-8870 for a consultation. We offer home care in the Montgomery County, MD area.
