Home Care Questions & Answers | Visiting Angels Spokane

It's important to have as much information as possible when you are considering home care for a loved one. Below are some frequently asked questions from our clients and others who have sought help in selecting a home-care service. We hope the answers we have provided help you make the best decision for your needs.

What Are the Benefits of Non-Medical Home Care?

We believe that the greatest benefit of non-medical home care is that it empowers your loved one to age in place. Aging in place means they are living out their years in their own home, a place that is familiar and comforting to them. Compassionate caregivers, like ours at Visiting Angels, come to offer companionship and to help with activities of daily living. We strive to preserve your loved one's independence and dignity while following a customized home care plan that reflects their unique needs and preferences.

Non-medical home care can also benefit the family and friends of the individual receiving care. It can allow them to enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing their loved one is receiving compassionate care from a trusted professional.

How Do I Find the Right Caregiver?

Finding the right caregiver begins with understanding the needs and wants of your loved one. We think it's best to involve not only them but also the other family caregivers. That way, you have the most complete picture of your loved one's home-care requirements, such as their health considerations, the qualities they seek in a caregiver, the tasks they would like help with, and the times of the day when they wish to receive care. From there, it's about finding a care professional who can provide what your loved one is seeking.

Our coordinating team at Visiting Angels understands the importance of a good match between caregiver and care recipient. Your loved one's unique considerations form the basis of who qualifies as a suitable candidate, and choosing the right caregiver is something that we approach with the same concern and compassion that our care professionals do with their work.

What Questions Should I Ask My First Caregiver?

We encourage you to ask questions of your caregiver so that you, your loved one, and other family caregivers can start to build a bond that ensures satisfaction for everyone. Here are some questions to ask your first caregiver to foster a healthy relationship:

What Tasks and Services Do You Perform?

Every caregiver, like the people they care for, is unique. Some specialize in certain skills and services, so it's a good idea to establish whether your caregiver can do what your loved one requires.

Visiting Angels caregivers are a varied group of professionals who, together, meet diverse needs. As an agency, we offer a wide range of services:

• Respite care
• Basic in-home care
• Companion care
• Personal care
• Safe and Steady fall prevention program
• Palliative care
• Ready-Set-Go Home
• Social care
• Dementia care
• Alzheimer's care
• Long-distance caregiving
• End-of-life care

Within each of our specializations, our talented, compassionate caregivers are trained to take care of diverse in-home tasks, like:

• Bathing
• Providing companionship
• Conversing
• Offering emotional support
• Cooking and preparing meals
• Dressing and grooming
• Running select errands
• Washing laundry
• Light housekeeping
• Giving medication reminders
• Assisting with mobility and transfers within the house
• Accompanying your loved one on walks
• Toileting
• Assisting with transportation

Do You Provide Medical Care?

It's not uncommon for our loved ones to require medical attention as they age, so whether a caregiver provides medical care isn't just an understandable question, but an expected one. In general, though, in-home caregivers are not medical providers, but they can work closely with providers to help ensure your loved one's needs are met. Although Visiting Angels caregivers do not offer medical care, many of them do specialize in personal care services for individuals with certain medical conditions, including dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

How Would You Describe Yourself as a Person?

Providing companionship is one of the essential tasks that a caregiver performs. That's why we believe in the importance of knowing who your caregiver is, not only as a professional but also as a person. Whether they are introverted or extroverted can influence how your loved one relates to them, and their interests or hobbies may be areas of common ground where they can strengthen their bond.

Can I Change the In-Home Care Schedule?

Life has a way of surprising us with changes. When it does, a flexible caregiver can work with you to establish a new schedule that meets your new requirements. With Visiting Angels, you can adjust your in-home care schedule as needed. Let us know of any changes in your circumstances at least one week in advance, and we'll update your in-home care plan accordingly.

What if I No Longer Need Home Care?

A compassionate caregiver understands that you may no longer need home care and is happy to explain the process for canceling your service. To cancel your service with Visiting Angels Spokane, please let us know two weeks in advance.

How Soon Can Visiting Angels Start To Care?

We are flexible and want to work around you and your loved one's needs. After your initial free consultation and an assessment held at your loved one's home, we create and send you a customized in-home care plan and schedule. Then, after finding the right caregiver for your loved one, we schedule a start date. The specific time between consultation and the start of care may vary, but we strive to get your requested service running as fast as possible.

Do You Take Medicare or Medicaid?

As a private caregiver agency, Visiting Angels Spokane does not accept Medicare or Medicaid, but we do accept private pay, long-term insurance, and veterans assistance. Feel free to reach out to us to learn more about payment options that suit your needs.

Do I Have the Option To Change My Caregiver?

Absolutely. You can change your caregiver at any time. We strive to match each individual with a caregiver who has the skills and personality best suited to them, but we understand that needs may change over time. Should that happen, just give us a call, and we'll make arrangements to assign a caregiver that your loved one feels comfortable with.

Contact Visiting Angels Spokane To Get Started

Contact us at (509) 922-1141 to arrange quality, compassionate in-home care for your loved one. Choosing an in-home caregiver for someone you love is a big decision, and we are here to help you with the transition.