As time passes, we all come to an inevitable realization: aging is an unavoidable part of our lives. However, the experience of aging doesn’t need to be a negative one. With a comprehensive home care solution, seniors can remain independent and thrive throughout their golden years.
Choosing the perfect home care organization is critical to ensuring you or your loved ones remain comfortable and safe. Here, we outline 7 areas to consider before choosing a home care organization, so you can navigate the twists and turns of aging gracefully.
1. Your Home Care Needs
To start, it’s important to assess your specific needs. Do you or your loved one require assistance with daily cooking, cleaning, or bathing? Will part-time home care do the trick, or do you need full-time home care with a caregiver 24/7? Consider whether you have medical conditions that require specialized home care and medication management.
You may also want to ensure your caregiver has a driver’s license and a working vehicle for grocery shopping or appointments. It can be helpful to write out a ‘daily tasks’ list to outline which specific activities you need help with. Understanding the type of support you require will empower you to build the most effective, personalized home care plan.
2. Assess Home Care Training and Certifications
Once you’ve nailed down the care you need, ensure your home care organization offers ongoing caregiver training. As a starting point, you’ll want your caregiver to have a CPR certification and basic caregiver training.
Beyond that, ongoing medical, mental health, and first aid training will enable your caregiver to provide the best support. Reputable agencies offer continued caregiver training in inpatient and outpatient clinical work. Additional training in psychology and sociology allows your caregiver to understand the rich interplay between physical wellness and mental health.
Depending on your home care plan, you may also need a caregiver with training in a specialized area. This can include a strong nursing background or training in a specialized area, such as hospice or Parkinson’s disease.
3. Look for Personalized Home Care Plans
Does the organization create a personalized home care plan for each client? Are expert professionals — like doctors, medical consultants, and curriculum consultants — involved in the process?
The Plan of Care should be updated and evaluated by experts on a regular basis. Importantly, the document should outline a communication plan regarding issues, recommendations, and concerns.
4. Personality Fit: Caregiver and Client
As a general rule of thumb, a caregiver should seem to be a sociable, caring, and nurturing person. However, caregivers and clients often spend countless hours together — that’s where personality fit comes in.
Compatibility between clients and their caregivers is essential to achieving a comfortable and positive environment. For example, a more introverted person might prefer a caregiver who’s a little less chatty. On the other hand, a conversational caregiver may be more suitable for a social individual. A good personality fit is critical because it results in more effective communication and increased trust.
You know yourself or your loved one best and can typically gauge personality fit after meeting with a caregiver. Ultimately, when clients are compatible with their caregivers, they are happier and more comfortable.
5. Evaluate the Home Care Services
Once you’ve assessed and determined your home care needs, ensure your organization offers the help you require. It’s a good idea to discuss the specifics of what each service includes, so you and your caregiver are on the same page.
At Success, each of our home care services includes comprehensive, holistic solutions to ensure our clients are well cared for. For example, our Personal Care Services include oral care, nail trimming, dressing, bathing, toilet use, and shaving. Other services we offer include Special Needs Support, Domestic Services, Transportation Services, Compatibility Assistance, and Companionship.
We can always make it work if you require additional services, such as specialized assessments, feedings, or anything else. Before committing to a home care organization, ensure detailed service requirements are addressed.
6. Home Care Cooking Services
Health begins with nutritious meals people enjoy eating. It’s especially important to ensure that seniors who remain at home eat healthy, home-cooked meals to meet their nutritional needs. Many of our caregivers are equipped with sous-chef training from a reputable chef — feel free to ask us about this! Further, a certified dietician weighs in on our clients’ meal plans.
Choosing an organization with a dedicated dietician is critical to maintaining optimal nutritional requirements. If you or your loved one has favourite recipes to share, we’re happy to incorporate them! Our caregivers love to cook with their clients and enjoy learning new recipes.
7. Home Care Services Budget
Your available budget for home care services plays a significant role in choosing an organization. Ensure you are clear on the total cost, including all the services required in your care plan.
The province of British Columbia provides financial assistance for a wide range of home care services. Simply select the one you’re interested in to see whether you qualify for government subsidies, which can go a long way. To start arranging subsidized home care, see the Government of B.C.’s How to Arrange for Care webpage.
In addition, you can look into whether your insurance or health care plan can help cover home care costs.
Choosing a Home Care Organization
While it may seem overwhelming, asking the right questions makes finding a home care organization much easier. Working with the right organization is essential to a client’s well-being, and the decision shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Begin by simply assessing your home care needs. Next, ensure your prospective organization offers meaningful caregiver training, expert care plans with regular updates, flexible cooking services, and dietician-approved meal plans. The right caregiver will provide true companionship and reliable support from the comfort of your or your loved one’s home.
At Success, our caregivers become extended members of your family. We treat our clients like we would our loved ones — keeping them safe, comfortable, and happy. Together, we can make aging a fulfilling and joyous chapter!
If you have any questions at all, please feel free to connect with us today.
