According to a study done by the Institute for Health & Aging at the University of California, there are over 41 million Americans who have a chronic health condition that limits their daily activities in some way. What’s more, 12 million Americans are unable to live independently. Similarly, about 20 percent of elders who are over 85 are impaired and need professional assistance or long-term care. These people need daily professional assistance while doing daily simple tasks, like eating, bathing, and dressing.
However, most people want to live in their own homes for as long as possible. For these people, especially if they are impaired, home caregivers and home health in Seminole are the best options available. Home care services are provided by professionals who know how to properly take care of your older loved ones.
Unfortunately, most people who need some kind of home care rely on their relatives or friends. However, more and more seniors understand the benefits of hiring professional caregivers. Agencies for elderly home care in Pasco help seniors live in their own homes for longer, in comfort and safety. These professional services also give families the much-needed peace of mind. What’s more, many states and the federal government provide financial assistance to people who otherwise would not be able to afford this type of service.
Let’s take a look at the best tips on how to choose a caregiver for your older loved one:
#1 – Determine your home-care needs
Before choosing the right caregiver, you should evaluate the type of help that is needed in health care, household care, and personal care. Try to answer several important questions:
- Do you need home health care, such as medication management or physical therapy?
- Do you need help with house cleaning, home maintenance, shopping, or running errands?
- Do you need non-medical personal care, such as eating, getting dressed, toileting or bathing?
- Are you looking for a companion or a sitter?
#2 – Write a short job description
Try to write out a simple job description based on the type of help you need. Make sure to include these things:
- the type of health care training needed for the service you want (there are various qualifications for this type of service, like Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse, or Certified Nursing Assistant)
- driving – do you need a caregiver that knows how to drive – this is important if the caregiver has to run errands
- ability to operate special equipment or do special tasks
Are you looking for caregivers and home health in Seminole? Make sure to hire the best agencies for elderly home care in Pasco.
#3 – Draft a job contract
Usually, this is done by the agency you will work with. However, if you want to work with an independent caregiver, you should have a job contract. The contract should be based on the job description and should include:
- the wage – how much, when, and how the payment will be made
- the working hours
- the employee’s Social Security number (this is needed because you have to report the wages paid to the caregiver to the Internal Revenue Service)
- the job description
- unacceptable behavior – such as tardiness, abusive language, or smoking
- termination – how is the termination handled, how much notice should be provided, the accepted reasons for termination without notice
- dated signatures for both the employer and the employee
#4 – Know where to look for the right caregiver
Identify the main home care providers in your area and contact them. Ask your friends, family, neighbors, or anyone that knows home health care providers in your area. Similarly, if you belong to a church, ask your minister or pastor for relevant prospects. Also, look online for the best caregivers in your area.
#5 – Prepare for the interview
Try to prepare a list of questions to ask potential candidates and home health care agencies. Create a list for any applicant, referral source, reference, or caregiver agency that you may call during your research. If you don’t know what questions to include on your list, contact a local caregiver agency – they will likely be helpful because you are essentially a prospective customer.
#6 – Interview the applicants
The first step is to screen the applicants via phone interview. If your experience during the phone interview was good, it’s time to interview in person the people who sound acceptable. Ask a friend or a family member to sit in during the interview to have a second opinion. If possible, include the elderly person who will be receiving care. Pay special attention to the interaction between the caregiver and the person who will be receiving care.
If you want to work with a caregiver agency, ask to interview the caregiver yourself. Many agencies look very good on paper, but they have many employees, and some won’t be a good fit for you. The reasons are multiple – religious, social, or cultural. Make sure you know the caregiver before you actually sign the contract.
Are you looking for caregivers and home health in Seminole? Make sure to hire the best agencies for elderly home care in Pasco.
#7 – Check references
The home care business is very personal, so getting reliable references is important. Make sure to talk to as many people as possible and pay attention to what they have to say about the services. Look for someone who is reliable, dependable, as well as someone who is qualified to do the work.
#8 – Get a criminal background check
People who are paid by public funds must pass a criminal background check. In this case, pay attention to convictions that would concern you or be a safety risk for your elder loved one. These convictions may include drug use, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving without a license or insurance. If you are hiring a home care agency, ask them to do the criminal background check. Ask for a report, to make sure that the caregiver is safe.
No Place Like HomeCare, LLC 