Choosing a Caregiver: A Loved One's Guide to Care

Choosing the right person to help an aging loved one can feel like a huge mountain to climb, but it doesn't have to be. At Visiting Angels, we're here to guide you through every step and help you find the person best fit to provide assistance. 

Understanding Your Loved One's Needs

Before you start your search, you'll need to think about what their daily needs are. Consider things like:

• Daily activities: Can they bathe, get dressed, do their hair, etc., by themselves, or do they need help? 
• Medical needs: Do they need help with medications, making meals, or just getting around the house?  Do they have any medical conditions that make daily living tasks more difficult? 
• Cognitive ability: Are they living with dementia or Alzheimer's disease? Or, are they starting to have trouble remembering things or thinking clearly?
• Living situation: Do they live alone at their home or in a senior living community?
• Social and emotional needs: Do they need some company, or do they want to be around other people more? 

By understanding your loved one's needs, you can find a caregiver or home care agency that is the perfect fit for them. 

A Caregivers Role

Caregivers are able to provide a range of assistance like personal care, comprehensive care, overnight care or simply companionship. Some of the routine tasks they often help with include:

• Personal Care - routine daily tasks like bathing, dressing, toileting, and personal hygiene
• Medication management - making sure they are taking medications on time and as prescribed
• Meal planning and preparation - helping prepare meals that ensure they are getting proper nutrition
• Light housekeeping - keeping the home clean and safe
• Transportation - getting seniors out of the house to run errands, to doctor appointments, or to an activity
• Companionship - providing conversation and emotional support

Different Caregiver Options

Your family will need to decide which type of caregiver would be the best fit for your senior. There are a few different options to choose from:

• Home Care Agencies - agencies like Visiting Angels employ professional caregivers. The agency handles all of the background checks, screening, and insurance so you can have peace of mind. They also ensure all of their caregivers are properly trained to provide care for a variety of needs.
• Independent Caregivers - this option does provide more flexibility and can be less expensive, but it is extremely important to do a full screening and background check before bringing them into the home.
• Family and friends - this option may seem like the best fit, but it can easily become stressful and feel like a burden to the person providing care. It can also cause relationships within the family to suffer. 

It's important that the caregiver and your senior loved one develop a positive relationship. When you are looking for the best-fit, think about these things:

• Does your loved one's personality mesh well with the caregiver?
• Are there common interests that can help build a connection between the caregiver and your aging loved one?
• Is there mutual respect between your loved one and the caregiver in terms of culture and values?

Visiting Angels: Your Trusted Partner in Care

At Visiting Angels, our team is here to provide support and care for your loved one and family. Our caregivers are carefully chosen for their dedication, professionalism and ability to form positive, lasting relationships with their clients. We require a full background check and pre-employment screening before we welcome them to our onboarding process.  All of our caregivers receive training above and beyond the state of MN's requirement, including hands-on skills training with our dedicated RN Case Managers. We prepare each caregiver to provide specialized training in dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, hospice, and more. When working with Visiting Angels you can relax knowing that your loved one is receiving the highest quality care by caregivers who are properly trained and confident in their skills. 

We offer a wide range of care services, including:

• Alzheimer's and dementia care
• Parkinson's disease care
• Medication set-up and management program
• Hospice support
• Overnight care
  
• Transitional care
• And much more!

Choosing the best direction to go when looking for a caregiver is an important decision.  By considering your loved one's needs and situation, considering the different care options available, and communicating openly with your loved one, you will be able to create a supportive environment where they are able to thrive and continue to age-in-place. But remember, you don't have to take this journey alone. Visiting Angels is happy to help answer any questions you may have and offer support whenever you are ready. Please reach out to us with our contact form or by calling 952-935-0789.