20 Jul Five Mistakes to Avoid When Searching for In-Home Care
For people 65 and older, there is a 68% chance of becoming disabled in at least two activities in daily living. In-home care is often the best option for any senior individual who suffers from the inability to complete certain tasks, but choosing a provider can be tricky.
There are obvious dos and don’ts of choosing a health care provider, but with in home care, the stakes are a little bit higher. So to steer clear of a potentially dangerous situation with caregivers, here are five things you should avoid at all costs.
Not Vetting the Caregiver or Agency
Hiring someone who specializes in senior care can be an intimidating process, even if an agency or caregiver has been recommended by a family member or friend. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be asking for credentials and prior experience. In fact, it’s one of the most important things you need to do prior to entrusting a family member’s care to them.
Focusing Solely on One Factor
There is a reason the “Renaissance man” trope has perpetuated through centuries of culture, and it’s because being well-rounded is important, both as a professional and an individual. Annual expenditures for home health were approximately $72.2 billion in 2010, and the numbers have gone up. However, if you focus solely on finances, you’re likely to miss out on some truly beneficial in-home care services.
Not Keeping People in the Loop
If you’ve been taking care of your parents, and you have siblings who are too busy to help, it may fall on you to hire a professional caregiver. But once you find a contender for your parent’s caregiving needs, ask your siblings to sit in on the interview process, which may help avoid issues later.
Not Staying Involved
Above all else, it’s important to periodically ask your parent or other family member how they like their caregiver and if they’re satisfied with the care they’re receiving. Most in-home care providers are presumably honest, but keep in mind that even if you hire a fully vetted agent who passed background checks, you’re letting a stranger into your parent’s home.
Putting it Off
One in three seniors pass away from Alzheimer’s or a similar form of dementia, which means that as soon as an issue becomes apparent, you need to start the search for a caregiver. Putting it off will only cause stress for you and the people you love, so the sooner you get started on the process, the better.
Choosing a caregiver for your elderly parent or family member is no simple task. It takes time and dedication, but in the end, avoiding these mistakes is going to benefit you immensely