Five Things to Know Before Choosing a Health Care Provider
By Susan Davis, Administrator
Innovative Nurses & Sitters
It is never an easy decision when it is time to arrange for in-home personal care for an aging parent. There are many practical and emotional considerations you will want to take when working out these arrangements for and with your parent(s). Here are five very important things you will want to know before you decide on a caregiver.
1. Who will be providing care for my parent? You will want to know as much as possible about the person or agency providing this personal care. Although there are fine individual caregivers offering to be adult sitters, there are also risks. A qualified agency on the other hand will be regulated by state authorities and will conduct extensive background checks on every nurse or sitter working through their agency. The agency will ultimately be responsible for paying federal and state taxes so there are no unpleasant tax ramifications to the client or their family. Additionally, if your caregiver is ill or unable to come for any reason, even at the last moment, another caregiver is seamlessly provided.
2. What is the communication process once the service begins? One of the main reasons that a private sitter is needed is to help care for and monitor the health of your aging parent. Ask your agency about their communication process. When and how do they provide updates? You will also want to know who you can call to get information on the status of your loved one and how can they be reached after business hours.
3. What services can I expect from this caregiver? It is important to understand the specific services that can be provided. For example, will the caregiver provide house cleaning and cooking services or are there additional charges? If they are an independent, are you comfortable assessing their skill level? Can they dispense medications for your loved one or remind them? Will they transport to appointments and run errands? Whose vehicle will they use? A licensed agency will create a Care or Service Plan listing those services they will be providing your family member.
4. Why is it so difficult to arrange for quality elder care through Medicare? You will soon discover that few individuals are eligible for “custodial care” through Medicaid. Medicare only provides intermittent visits by nurses and therapists after a hospital stay. Those agencies offering Medicaid and Medicare options should be recommended by a trusted health care professional and have been in business more than five years. Chances are you will select a private pay model which will give you a wider selection of qualified agencies and options that fit your needs.
5. What is best for my aging parent? The most important question to be answered is this one. Adult children of aging parents are finding that the most expeditious solution, like putting a parent in a nursing home or assisted living facility is not always in their best interest. Or maybe moving from the family home to a facility but easing the transition with caregivers is a possible scenario. By giving your parent the option of being able to stay in their own home and having someone come in to assist them, they are often happier to be in familiar surroundings and remain healthier longer.
It is a big responsibility for the adult child of an aging parent but there are some excellent options that you have to choose from. The bottom line is that you be involved in the research, selection, and implementation of a solution for your loved one. Some things in life are best not delegated, and the care of loved ones should never be handled hastily or without including them in the decision-making process pertaining to their care.
Conclusion: Every day at Innovative Nurses and Sitters we talk with families at the crossroad of making care decisions for their loved ones. Having made these decisions ourselves, we understand the important issues that must be faced when selecting the best fit for their loved one’s personal care needs. Call us at 713-523-2329 if we can assist you.