The quality of the care your elderly loved one receives is an essential part of helping him or her thrive and live independently at home, and you need to take the time to select the right home care agency to meet his or her needs. Knowing what services agencies provide and the measures they take to ensure their caregivers are experienced and reliable is of the utmost importance. Here are a few questions to keep in mind when interviewing a home care agency.
1. What Training & Experience Do Your Caregivers Have?
It’s important to ensure a caregiver has the right skill set to meet your loved one’s needs. Ask the agency for proof of training and certifications. A high-quality home care agency will have quality check systems in place to ensure the required services are being provided and their caregivers are complying with appropriate standards of care.
Professionally trained caregivers can assist seniors with an array of tasks and offer respite for family members. Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated homecare services, you can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care. Our caregivers are expertly trained to assist seniors with a wide array of important tasks, including cooking, bathing, light housekeeping, and exercise.
2. Who Will You Be Sending to Care for My Loved One?
You have a right to know exactly who’s caring for your loved one. A home care agency should be able to provide evidence of a caregiver’s clean background check. You should also ensure the caregiver is a good personality match for your loved one. If possible, have your loved one sit in on the interview and solicit his or her feedback on the potential caregiver.
If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior family member and you need respite care, Livingston, NJ, Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help. Our home caregivers are trained to assist older adults with a wide variety of everyday tasks, including meal prep, physical activity, and personal hygiene. We also provide 24-hour care and specialized care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s.
3. Are Your Caregivers Available for Emergencies?
An emergency can arise at any time. It’s important to know how these situations are handled and exactly when the caregiver or home care agency is available to help. You also need to know the contingency plan in the event your loved one’s assigned caregiver is sick or unavailable.
4. What’s the Cost?
Hiring in-home care can be a significant financial responsibility. You need to determine the total cost of your loved one’s care as well as what portion may be covered by his or her insurance. You should also clarify who’s responsible for paying the caregiver’s insurance and payroll taxes.
5. Are Your Caregivers Licensed, Bonded, & Insured?
You need to know you’re protected in the event your loved one’s caregiver commits a misdeed. Reliable home care agencies ensure their employees are licensed and bonded, and they also provide workers’ compensation insurance to protect you against liability in the event the caregiver is injured on your loved one’s property. If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Livingston families can rely on. All of our caregivers are bonded, licensed, and insured, there are no hidden fees, and we never ask our clients to sign long-term contracts. If you need professional care for your senior loved one, Assisting Hands Home Care is just a phone call away. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today.
