Know the questions to ask when looking for senior assistance home care services for a loved one.
Discovering the right care solution for a senior loved one is one of the most significant and overwhelming decisions you’ll face. Ensuring the safety and security of the senior is extremely important, but there are some additional considerations as well, for example, whether the older adult’s quality of life and capacity to thrive and remain independent with senior assistance will be a top priority.
AARP provides an invaluable checklist of questions to ask when researching senior assistance homecare options, including:
- Is the agency licensed?
- What services are typically provided?
- How long before services can start?
- Are caregivers trained and knowledgeable?
- Is there a process in place for running background checks, bonding and insuring staff, supervision?
- What happens if a caregiver doesn’t show up on time (or at all)?
- Can a different caregiver be requested in the event that you do not like the one assigned?
- Are there any customer testimonials or reviews you are able to read?
- Will the senior be given a customized plan of care?
- How long has the agency been in business?
It is also critical to ensure that the caregiver is a hired employee from a respected agency, instead of a contractor referred by a registry service, or a person hired through an online ad, because:
- Taxes as well as other mandatory federal and state requirements are covered. Hiring a caregiver independently makes YOU the employer, meaning you will be responsible for all taxes, unemployment insurance, worker’s compensation, etc., and, you’d be liable for medical along with other expenses in the event that the caregiver was to become injured on the job. A professional home care agency assumes the role of employer for its caregivers, alleviating these concerns for older adults and their loved ones.
- Thorough vetting and supervision of caregivers improves safety. Unfortunately, the risk of exploitation and abuse of seniors is increased when employing an independent caregiver, whether financial, physical, or emotional. Respected home care agencies provide supervision including extensive background and reference checks, bonding and insurance, as well as other safeguards to protect older adults. Not only that, but in the event an older adult’s primary caregiver was ill or took a break for vacation, a similarly skilled and dependable substitute caregiver is provided.
- Initial and ongoing training contribute to caregiver excellence. Agencies that provide significant training for their care staff make certain that skills are always as sharp as they possibly can be, and that any new techniques established in the industry are utilized – meaning a heightened degree of care over an independent caregiver who may not have the same opportunities for career development.
At Compassionate Nursing Services, we are happy to meet every one of these criteria and more. As a proud member of the Briggs Home Care family of agencies, our elderly care in Chesterfield and surrounding communities can meet the varied needs of our clients – from companionship and light housekeeping assistance to chronic and emerging health issues, and everything in between. We take pride in making sure our team receives continuous caregiver training, so you can feel comfortable and confident in knowing our caregivers are top-notch and continuously improving their skills, while offering the safe, reliable, and compassionate senior assistance needed to make life the very best it can be.
Reach out to us at 314-432-4312 to allow us to answer any additional questions you have about our elderly care in Chesterfield or nearby areas or to request a free in-home assessment to increase quality of life for a senior you love. To find out if our elderly care services are available in your community, please visit this page on our website.