Mom calls late one night and says dad fell down the stairs. His hip is broken and they are on the way to the hospital. It has been several months of conversations concerning getting help for them around their 45 year old house that they have been in for most of their 50 years of marriage. My sister and I switch off helping them with different tasks and errands, but we also have families to care for and trying to get other help can be challenging. They don’t want to have just “anyone” in their home, but they truly need the help. What to do? Is this a situation you have experienced or possibly someone you know has experienced recently? Parents or loved ones that need help at home, but just don’t want to involve another party or possibly hire in help. Sometimes it is necessary to truly push the envelope with our families to insure their safety and avoid emergent situations. As the example above, if help would or could have been used maybe the emergent situation could have been avoided. In this 3 week, 3 part blog we will discuss Homecare, Home Health, and Hospice. Where they apply and how to plan and/or prepare to assist our family and friends.
Homecare should be considered the safety net for seniors and disabled adults in our community.
Homecare may have other names such as: Companion care, non-medical home care, Class B agency, Personal Care, and Respite Care. Most certified agencies provide non-medical care. A few examples are: cleaning, meal prep, bathing, toileting, personal care assistance, transportation, medication reminders, personal hygiene, respite care, socialization and companionship. All of these and other items can be invaluable to the senior or disabled adult. So what is the hindrance? In many cases it comes down to two areas, cost and pride. We all want to be able to take care of ourselves or our significant other until the good Lord brings us home. It might not always work out that way, so we need to be willing to consider options. As family, we need to have strategies to help our loved ones make those positive, forward thinking decisions. Secondly, the cost can be a factor for people who are on a fixed income. So who does pay for these services? A high percentage of the costs are covered through private pay from client to the provider. In some states, Medicaid has services that qualified recipients can receive from the state or county. Veterans Affairs offices also have resources and referral sources to provide care in the home. Lastly, long term care insurance can be used to cover these costs. Currently, Medicare and most private insurance carriers do not cover these services for their members.
How to choose a provider to care for my loved one? Take a look at the following questions as a starting point for possibly choosing a caregiver or agency to work with your loved one.
1. Do they introduce the caregiver to you?
2. Do they communicate with you if there is a change?
3. Do they make regular supervisory visits?
4. Do they coordinate care with your healthcare providers?
5. Do they exceed state requirements for criminal background checks?
6. Do you speak with the leader of the office?
7. What is their response time?
8. Do they quote one price and then add in extra fees?
9. Do they help you find other resources in the community?
10. How do they train their caregivers?
You want to be able to trust the person that will be with your loved one while you are out. Remember your personal well-being and productivity are just as important as the individual you are considering to either care for or provide a caregiver. Consider a few of the aforementioned ideas if you find yourself in a situation where you might need help. As with many things in life, planning will be the key to successfully finding someone for that person in your life needing assistance.
Let us know if you have any questions or comments.
PeopleCare Health Services
