Veterans First

Non-medical homecare can be difficult asking a stranger to come into your home and provide care for your loved one. Its even more difficult finding the right agency that you feel you cantrust to provide the best care and offer you peace of mind.There are many benefits of using homecare: Keeping your loved one in the comfort of their own home Homecare is personalized to the individuals needs and allows you to be in control It is safe and reduces the burden for families Use this partial list of questions to interview homecare agencies:Important Starting Questions: Is your agency licensed by the state (ask to see the license)? Is your agency and caregivers bonded and insured? Do you have workers compensation insurance? May I have a copy of the results from your most recent state survey? About the Staff: Are the caregivers employees of the company or independent contractors? Do you run criminal background checks on employees? Is a Department of Transportation check done to verify driving record? Do you check references? Do you do drug screenings? Do you require caregiving experience? How many years? Do you provide ongoing training? About the Services: What specific services does the agency provide? What type of service agreement is required? Do you have guidelines or standards of conduct for the caregivers? Will we be able to meet the caregiver before they start working? Is a supervisor available 24/7 if there is an emergency? How often will you review the plan of care? The Details: Do you have consistent assignments, or will the caregivers change on a regular basis? What happens if my caregiver is sick or there is inclement weather? Can the caregiver provide transportation to appointments or social outings? Is there a charge for mileage? How do I communicate with my caregivers? Do you have current or former clients that I can call for references?Whether you need specialized care, personal care, meal preparation or friendly companions, homecare keeps your loved one in their home surrounded by family.Editors Note: This article was contributed by Eric Sepesy. Eric is the President and Founder of Quality Living Home Care and may be reached at 724-810-1884 or by email at erics@qlhomecare.com.

If you are reading this article, you probably have already come to the realization that your parents are in need of home care.Most likely, your parents want to remain in their own home and retain as much independence as possible. Helping your parents overcome their perception that accepting in-home care means a loss of that independence is a huge key to getting them on board.The best way to do this is to help your parents understand the advantages of home care and how it can allow them to stay in their home. Often, your parents will be more open to exploring the possibility of in-home care when faced with the alternative of going into an assisted living or skilled care facility. In-home care allows your parents to receive one-on-one care in the comfort of their own home and will often save money at the same time. With help at home, your parents can remain in control and set their own standards.If you are met with resistance, try a different approach. Suggest that accepting in-home care would help you and give you peace of mind. Parents are often willing to do something to benefit their children which they would not be willing to do for themselves. Home care might be better accepted if it is viewed as a luxury or benefitsomething they deserverather than something being forced upon them because they can no longer care for themselves: Mom, you deserve to have someone come in and prepare some good meals for you, is more likely to be met with a positive response than You cant take care of yourself anymore.If your aging parent is concerned about a stranger providing intimate care, a good idea is to start with non-personal care such as light housekeeping, meal preparation and transportation. Your mother or father will get used to the idea of having a caregiver and will be more responsive when the time comes for assistance with personal care.Although having this conversation with your parents may seem like one of the hardest things youve ever had to do, dont let your parents sense that. Plan your approach and timing carefully and you may be pleasantly surprised. Chances are if the subject is on your mind, it has been on your parents minds as well.Editors Note: This article was contributed by Eric Sepesy. Eric is the President and Founder of Quality Living Home Care and may be reached at 724-810-1884 or by email at erics@qlhomecare.com.