How To Choose A Senior Care Provider
The prospect of choosing a senior care option for an elder loved one is often daunting. With so many options and providers, it can be easy to second-guess yourself. Thankfully, we’ve compiled some information here to help you make a more informed decision about your loved one’s care.
Factors To Consider
When choosing a senior care plan for your loved one, it’s important to keep their particular needs in mind. For instance, some seniors need help with mobility while others need assistance with bathing and grooming. Remember that senior care needs also extend beyond physical health. Many elders feel a strong desire to remain at home, and choosing a senior care plan that allows for this can be greatly beneficial to their mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
Additionally, you must take into account the resources available to you and your family. While money is an important factor, you should also consider how much time and energy your family has available to contribute to senior care. Some families are able to perform nearly all of their loved one’s care, while others hire 24/7 caregivers to provide the majority of care. This is not to say that one is better than the other; at the end of the day, the most important thing is ensuring that your loved one receives the care that they need.
Types of Senior Care Providers
When many people hear the words “senior care”, their first thoughts are often of nursing homes and assisted living communities. These senior-specific live-in facilities are staffed by full-time caregivers and offer apartment-like living arrangements, amenities like dining rooms and social spaces, and regular access to varying levels of both nonmedical and medical care. Assisted living facilities and nursing homes can be fantastic options for seniors who need round-the-clock care and regular medical assistance. These full-service communities allow families to visit their loved ones while also handling nearly all of their care.
However, these live-in communities do have their shortcomings. Many families find that spaces in these communities cost more than they can afford. Additionally, many seniors do not wish to leave their homes, and moving your loved one to a nursing home or assisted living facility can necessitate the stressful process of selling of their home. Finally, these places sometimes are unable to provide individualized care because of the ratio of staff to residents.
Caregivers at residential facilities are not the only types of senior care providers, though! In-home caregivers–the type of caregivers we employ at Visiting Angels–can provide your older loved one with nonmedical homecare services in the comfort of their own home. An in-home caregiver can offer regular care–including 24/7 care–and lend your senior loved one a hand with things like bathing, grooming, cooking, running errands, transportation, and more. These services are also often much less expensive than residential facilities and allow seniors to retain the feelings of safety, familiarity, and independence provided by aging in place at home. The largest drawback of this type of care, however, is that homecare agencies like Visiting Angels do not provide medical care. If your loved one needs medical assistance, your family will need to arrange those services.
Making an Informed Decision
Regardless of what type of senior care provider you choose, there are some important things to look for. First, make sure that any potential care provider has proper certification, training, and background checks–only hire thoroughly vetted caregivers to look after your loved one. It’s also crucial that you read reviews from current and previous clients to get an idea of the quality of care provided by that senior care provider. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you should always consider your loved one’s thoughts and feelings when making this decision. You are ultimately working to ensure that they can live safely, comfortably, and joyfully.
Would You Like to Learn More?
If you’re interested in finding out more about the in-home care services we offer at Visiting Angels of Coeur d'Alene, we are more than happy to help. We provide free, no-obligation care evaluations that allow prospective clients to ask questions and learn about what a potential home care plan would look like in practice. To schedule your complimentary consultation, give us a call at 208-415-1000 or contact us through our website using our contact form.