How to Assess an In-Home Care Provider

Your elderly loved ones are some of the most important people in your life. As they age, there may come a time when they are in need of more assistance than you or your family members can provide at that time. This time of transition and change can be uncomfortable as you navigate the new situations of potentially having in-home care services, but it can end up being the best possible situation for your loved one. In order to help ensure the best outcome for your elderly family member, you will want to make sure you are thoroughly looking into the provider who is potentially coming into your home to provide caregiving assistance. Completely vetting an in-home care provider will mean you are only bringing in the best people to assist those you love most. Every person and their care will be unique, so it is important to find someone who will meet your family’s expectations and criteria.

Find Someone Through a Recommended Place

There are many people out there who can give care to elderly individuals but you will want to work through a reputable industry to ensure the best quality of care. The Gables In-Home Care requires the utmost best out of their caregivers and they go through their own vetting process when hiring their staff. This will help dispel many doubts when working through a recommended agency as they are already held to a higher standard. For many caregivers, it is not required to hold a certain license or certificate, so it is important that you put in your own work to find the best, and most qualified, fit for your family and loved one.

Have a List of Questions in Mind

You will want to enter a potential candidate interview with the knowledge of what your elderly loved one will need and what the expectations you have for in-home care are. The better prepared you are of what you are looking for, the faster you will know when you come across someone that will be the perfect fit. You will want to answer these questions for yourself before interviewing candidates:

• What kind of care does my loved one need? What level of care does that require?
• Does this candidate and agency fit into a budget I can afford?
• What specific services and treatment are important for my loved one to have?

These questions will help you know exactly what you are looking for in an in-home care provider. You may want to ask your candidate questions in order to get to know them better and to see what all they can contribute to your situation. Some of those questions could be:

• How long have you been working for this agency?
• What does your experience as an in-home care provider look like?
• Do you have any specific experience under special circumstances (i.e. dementia patients)?

Asking these will give you a better idea of the person who will be in the home to take care of your loved one and how well they might do under their specific situation and needs.

Consider All the Possibilities

Each provider and every agency will have their pros and cons when it comes to their in-home care services. Being your elderly loved ones’ primary resource, it is important to vet each candidate in order to find the right fit for your specific circumstances. Take into account all the possibilities when choosing a provider. Each elderly individual is unique in the kind of care they will be needing so make sure you find someone who will make this whole experience and transition a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.