We are fortunate to live in a era where care at home is possible for our loved ones as they age. Once confined to nursing homes, care at home was often looked at as a final measure when family members could no longer address the needs of their loved ones on their own. Home care makes taking care of our loved ones convenient and comfortable. The ease of professional, skilled nursing assistants who visit seniors in their, or their family’s, home, assures that the most desirable care is given in cases where health or physical issues limit one’s capability to care for themselves.

In-home care agencies have popped up all over the country. The practice of hiring an agency starts out with proper analysis and taking the time to examine each agency in order to assess their level of good quality, and their nursing staff’s experience, in relation to each family’s individual needs. It’s necessary that each family take the time to make sure the home care agency they use are up to date in licensing requirements, and that their nursing staff are free from criminal backgrounds. This is primarily true if elder care will be done when family members are not around to watch over when skilled nursing staff comes to visit. A high sense of trust needs to be identified between both parties in order to ensure a long-term, great, relationship.

The following 5 guidelines are offered to those who are opening their research into finding care at home for their elderly family members.

1. Referral Sources
Ask friends, family and co-workers for recommendations to local companies they are familiar with. Inquire about their personal experiences, good and bad. Contact the elder’s long term care insurance company and ask for references (if in-home care is covered by their plan.) You can even contact your family physician and ask for local references. Your last choice is to try the net, but if you choose this route, make sure to spend extra time analyzing each company more thoroughly, as you won’t have personal experience to judge these companies by.

2. Background Checks
Once you’ve focused a short list of companies you wish to look into further, make sure to ask what types of selection processes they put their nursing staff through prior to hiring them. Criminal background checks, credit checks, and checking individual references should be conventional in all companies.

3. Staff Skills & Experience
Ask as to what the minimum standards each company demands when hiring their care providers. Do they only hire college educated nurses? Are their care providers certified nursing assistants? Or, do they simply require that their staff have a background in helping care for the elderly? The more complex their requirements, the better care will likely be supplied.

4. Company Reputation
Check with your local Better Business Bureau to evaluateeach company’s general rating. Do they have multiple complaints listed? Are there any outstanding grievances? You can also try a standard search online by typing in the company’s name and the word “complaint” into any search engine to view what comes up from the general public’s point of view.

5. Licensing
Make sure any company you deal with has the proper city, county and state licensing current and in good standing. Get rid of the worry of hiring any company that is not legitimate in practice.

Finally, don’t be shy about asking many detailed  questions. All well-established companies pride themselves in customer satisfaction and should be happy to openly, and willingly, provide any and all information to prospective clients. Homework on your part will ensure a long-term, favorable experience for yourself and your family members.   

Regards,

Valerie VanBooven RN BSN

Owner/ Managing Partner

LTC Expert Publications
Phone: 888-404-1513
Email: valerie@ltcep.com