Senior Care Decisions
By Noelle Kurth, At Home Personal Care, Scottsdale LIVING WELL Magazine
It is an inevitable part of life that we should see our parents and grandparent as well as other family members grow old. As this change of life begins, it is important to have the information we need to make the right choices when it comes to the care of the elderly people in our lives. While these decisions are not easy, feeling fully equipped with the knowledge you need to have will help you feel confident in your decisions as this time comes. It will probably surprise you that in the United States, about 70% of elder care is provided by friends or family members. For many people, this is the preferable choice, as the thought of a stranger caring for our loved one seems wrong. But you must remember that the task of caring for the elderly is not easy. The grown children of these elderly people often experience feelings of depression as they watch their parents become frail.
If the person you are concerned about is capable, and prefers to live independently in their own home, there are still some things you can do to safeguard them in that environment. One of the places that will need the most attention will be the bathroom. Install grab bars in the bathroom and down the walls in hallways to aid your loved one in getting around. You should also consider a shower stool so that the elder can shower themselves, without the concern of slipping and falling in the shower. You also need to do some research and have an emergency system in place that the elder can use to get help if they fall or are experiencing a medical emergency at any time.
Determining when the time comes for some sort of senior care and the choice of where that senior will live is important. Whenever possible, it is a good idea to talk to people who have been where you are now and are caring for an elderly family member or have senior services in place, like home care. You can also ask for references from the home care agency you contact.
To make the best decision for everyone, you want to be prepared. Think of the questions that you want to have answers to as you consult with each agency. If there are special needs that the elder has, be sure that these are discussed and that the agency is capable of handling them. Additionally, you will want to ask a prospective home care agency the following questions:
- How long has the company been providing private duty home care?
- Is a written, customized care plan developed in consultation with the client and family members, and is the plan updated as changes occur?
- How are emergencies handled after normal business hours? Do they have an “on-call” telephone number?
- Do they closely supervise the quality of care, including maintenance of a daily log in the client’s home and non-scheduled supervisory visits?
- Does the agency employ a nurse, case manager, or other qualified professional to make regular visits to the client’s home?
- Do they provide a written document that states the rights and responsibilities of the client, and explains the company’s policies?
- Do they triple-screen their caregiver employees carefully, including use of reference checks, driving records and criminal background investigations?
- Does the agency manage all payroll and employee-related matters and adhere to state and federal guidelines in its employment practices, such as withholding appropriate taxes and providing Workers’ Compensation and other benefits?
- Do they also use independent contractors? If so, who employs the person and what type of background checks do they do?
- Are they licensed, insured, and bonded?
Your parents and grandparents should continue to live a life that is comfortable and safe, and doing your homework will give you peace of mind as you make this very important decision.
Noelle Kurth is the managing partner of At Home Personal Care in Phoenix. She is a board of director for Human Service Professionals Association. She may be contacted at 480-497-4347 or Noelle@athomeprc.com. You can also visit her educational blog at www.homecarephoenixnow.com for more information.