Although none of us are truly ever prepared for when our parents get to the point where they need extra daily assistance, what can make it even more challenging to deal with is when we don’t already have some kind of plan in place.
And while there are several options that you could choose from (including living with you or placing them into an assisted living facility), we have found that one of the best ones is to provide them with in-home care. That way, they can still maintain some level of independence in a familiar space. Plus, there are many stats to support the fact that in-home care can actually prevent them from needing as many doctor’s appointments and hospital visits. And as an added bonus, it is an affordable option for you.
So how do you go about selecting the best kind of in-home care for your aging parent? We have five helpful tips for you below:
Ask around. For just about anything that you would need, it’s always good to first start with a referral. So, if you happen to have a family member, friend or even co-worker who has an aging loved one who requires in-home care, ask them for the name of the company (or individual) along with what they like (and don’t like) about the service that they’re receiving.
Choose a company that is well-established. There are some people who are independent in-home care providers. This means that they don’t work with a company; they might be something like a retired nurse who does it for extra income. If you choose to go that route and they have references, that’s fine. But if you do decide to use a company, make sure they are reputable. By this we mean that they do their own drug screening, background checks and they are certified to run an in-home care business.
Interview several individuals. Even if you happen to like the very first in-home care professional that you meet, it’s our recommendation that you interview more than one. Also, don’t forget to include your parent in the interviews being that they are going to have to interact with the person the most. If your parent is not comfortable, then it’s time to look for someone else.
Consider your parent’s medical needs. Some parents require assistance with things like making meals and cleaning their home while others require that along with medical care too. If your parent is one of the ones who needs medical assistance, you may want to go with a certified nursing assistant or certified home health aide simply because they are trained in how to deal with certain health-related issues.
Give a trial run. Once you have someone in place, make sure to convey that you are not going to be ready to make a long-term commitment until after a few weeks. That gives you time to get to know them and for your parent to become more comfortable in their space. If all goes smoothly after about a 2-3 week period, then you’ve just found your in-home care person. Congratulations!