Transition is defined as, “the process of changing from one stage to another”.
Life is a series of fluid changes and adaptations. How a person navigates these can depend on several factors; our perception of the change, our personality and our ability to remain flexible and open to the next phase.
One particular challenge comes when a family realizes they need more assistance at home with their loved one and are looking into caregiving options. There are many questions and factors that go into making that decision:
- Quality
- Trustworthiness
- Reliability
- Privacy
- Affordability
These are all valid points that should be addressed. Most families can be a bit resistant to receiving care at home for all or some of these reasons. I will give a bit more context to help you.
Quality- refers to the direct knowledge of the caregiver. Have they been licensed and/or certified? Do they also have direct experience with the disease your loved one has? Do they have additional training or certifications related to your loved one’s care needs? For example, having “dementia experience” and actual additional training/education are two completely different things.
Trustworthiness- is paramount when inviting a new person into your home. Have they had a criminal background check? Does this caregiver get moved around from case to case? That could be a red flag.
Reliability- is key for continuous care. Does this caregiver take a lot of time off or cancel at the last minute? Do they have reliable transportation?
Privacy – the caregiver respects our home and our individual preferences. Do they adhere to HIPAA laws?
Finding good care requires a bit of research. Should you use an agency or a well-recommended person?
AGENCY: Agencies screen their employees, as well as background check, drug test and validate certification and licensure. This is typically done once in the hiring process. Agencies upcharge their service rate to accommodate the administrative portion of their services. Sadly, the caregiver often is grossly underpaid for the work they do, the actual care of your loved one. However, an agency can provide supplemental care should their employee need a vacation or time off.
PRIVATE HIRE: You are the one determining whether or not this person is a good personality fit for your loved one. You can easily check references and pay for a background check and drug test. You will usually pay a flat hourly or daily rate for service with no hidden administration fees. Another consideration is if you need this caregiver to drive. Do they themselves have reliable transportation? A clean driving record? Will they be driving your car? Will they give advanced notice if they need time off?
INSURANCE: Some agencies will accept Medicare. Although Medicare will cover short term rehabilitation or physical therapy, they will NOT cover long term, non medical, in home care. Do you have a long term care policy? Most long term care insurance providers will only cover trained (certified or licensed) caregivers for reimbursement. It is important to know your insurance company requirements for care at home.
As you can see, there is a lot to consider when deciding on what type of home care is best for your loved one. Before you enter this next transitional phase, prepare by using the following checklist.
TIMING: Including days and hours care is needed. This should be based on YOUR NEEDS, not the caregiver’s availability. Remember, you are hiring a service and they should be accommodating you. Although remaining a bit flexible can be helpful in getting a caregiver sooner. Also, consider your loved ones’ daily schedule or rhythm.
TYPE OF CARE: try to be as specific as possible: does your loved one need help with hygiene, meals, rides to appointments, shopping, laundry, housework, etc. Is this care non medical or medical? Meaning does your loved one need medication administered or wound care or device management? Differing levels of care require different types of caregivers. This is based on state certifications and licensure for homecare.
PERSONALITY: Yes, personality comes into play. What type of person would your loved one best match with? Do they need a gentler or more direct approach? Would a male or female caregiver be more appropriate? The more specific that you can be, the better to match the right caregiver for the job.
Whether or not you’ll be using insurance or privately paying. These are all important considerations as you enter this next transitional phase for you and your loved one. Remember, you know your loved one best, so a little preparation and research helps to get them the best care possible.