Will you come out and do an Assessment at no charge and with no obligations?
Yes. A good home care agency should be willing to come out and sit and talk with the entire family at no charge. They understand this is the only way a family can compare different agencies and get a good feel for them. If a span of time passes between the initial assessment and when you actually are ready to start, they should come out and redo the Assessment to update any changes.
Who helps our family develop an individualized plan of care? Is he/she a licensed health care professional?
Yes. Our agency manager has a background as a healthcare provider.
Do you conduct a home visit before starting the home care service?
Yes. It is important that the patient and family members discuss the kind of care needed with a home care representative. This will help you determine whether the home care provider can meet your needs.
Do you work with my doctor in developing a plan of care?
If you require care beyond that associated with activities of daily living, your doctor ought to be involved to write an order for Home Health under Medicare. We can give input and feedback with the primary doctor and Home Health team in arranging and planning a care plan.
Does my loved one get to meet and approve of the caregiver before he or she starts?
We bring out the selected caregiver and let the client approve of the selection before service begins. It lets the senior and family know they have control over the situation-which they should! It is also good to have the two meet so they can establish rapport with each other before the first day of service.
What is the transition period like when first having a caregiver in the home?
Each person experiences their own transition period related to in-home care. Some people are readily accepting of receiving care and are immediately trusting of their caregiver. Other people need time to grow accustomed to the idea of accepting or paying for care. Most people need at least 30 days before they grow accustomed to a new way of life. This isn’t true for every person, as the more independent-minded the individual, the less likely they will be readily accepting of care.
If a person has dementia, it is not uncommon for the older adult to have some amount of paranoia and fear with a stranger in their home. It is also not uncommon for an older adult with dementia to believe the caregiver is a known family member, past friend, or even someone who is welcomed in their home. It may be possible that going along with the senior’s perception leads to greater success rather than attempting to clarify the situation.
Oftentimes as it relates to dementia, it is more helpful to enter their world of fantasy than it is to attempt to prove a reality. Most everyone has a period of adjustment to become accepting of care, to trust a caregiver and to let down barriers or privacy and to embrace the concept of receiving help.
What should be my expectation of an in-home caregiver?
Talking openly and honestly about your loved one’s preferences and expectations is important to the development of a healthy and long-term relationship with an in-home caregiver.
Placing tasks in writing is not only a wise practice, but also the only way to ensure that expectations are communicated.
Our service agreement allows the family to do this prior to start of care. Discussing with the caregiver and the agency what expectations are being met, which are being exceeded and which areas require improvement is a necessary part of arranging for such assistance.
Caregivers are capable of completing a certain number of tasks. The more personal companionship an older adult and their family requests or requires, the less time is available for completing tasks. Seek a blend between completing tasks and having time for personal interaction.
If all you need is a housekeeper or yard worker, perhaps you would be better served by arranging for services through this type of agency instead of an in-home care agency.
In-home care offers a blending of chore work with companionship.
If an older adult has memory loss, more time is likely required by a caregiver to complete tasks and to have a meaningful interaction with an older adult. When memory loss is involved, the older adult can’t feel rushed – they have to feel involved, even if it means asking their permission to do certain tasks; or even if it means simply reminiscing a bit before taking a bath or changing clothes.
People with dementia don’t respond well to fast-moving, task-focused people. They respond much better and are much more compliant with receiving help with hygiene and personal care if the caregiver is allotted enough time to be patient and can involve the older adult in the process in some way.
What is a change of condition?
This term is used when an individual’s health status or means for delivering care has been altered in some way. At times, this term denotes a period of illness, a progression in a disease, or an increase in the care or monitoring by a caregiver or care professional.
Contact us!
We at Safe at Home Healthcare will be glad to assess your situation. We’ll let you know if our services will best help you or your senior.
Give us a call at (800) 480-4154. Or contact us by email.
