As your loved one gets much older, sooner or later there will be a point where they can no longer live on their own. When signs that your elderly parents need help become apparent, it’s time to decide on their future.
Nursing home care is a common option. While seniors get 24-hour coverage in nursing homes, they also know that it’s often the last place they’ll ever stay. The mere thought of leaving their home depresses many seniors, and this can further worsen their health conditions. That’s why it’s important to understand that not all seniors need to go to a nursing home. A nursing home can be a good option for seniors with severe dementia who can hurt themselves if left alone. However, the majority of our seniors do not need such radical changes. Many seniors just need a little help with the chores they can no longer do on their own and have someone to visit and check that they are okay.
Elderly home care is a good option for elderly loved ones who do not require 24-hour supervision and care. Perhaps your elderly loved one is not sick, but cannot perform some tasks without the help of another person. Or maybe he’s recovering from an illness or surgery and just needs someone to help him with personal care, light nursing, medication, and even some light mental or physical therapy.
Then nurses and other high-level medical professionals will only visit him periodically based on how much care he needs, while still maintaining his freedom and independence in his own home. Home care allows your elderly parent to stay in a familiar environment, which could be the best place for them to recover faster. Older people who can continue to live in their own home have more self-confidence. In contrast, those placed in nursing homes often feel depressed when they realize they can no longer do what they used to do.
Studies show that home care for the elderly is the best option for seniors’ overall well-being. When it comes to hiring elderly care, you have at least two options. Either you get a provider through an agency or you hire a provider directly. Both have their own pros and cons. Here is a detailed discussion of them.
Home Care Office
The benefits of hiring a home care provider for the elderly through an agency is that the agency handles all the processes related to screening, hiring or firing, wages, and taxes, which you must do yourself if you choose to hire a care provider yourself. Another advantage is that the agency can send a replacement when your healthcare provider is sick. Agencies can also provide employees with different skills to meet different needs.
The disadvantage of hiring a care provider through an employment agency is that it can be annoying or confusing for the care recipient because several care providers are deployed. Other drawbacks are that your choice of employees is limited and it is usually more expensive than hiring a person directly.
Hire elderly home care provider directly
Hiring a senior caregiver right away increases the likelihood of a strong one-to-one relationship between the caregiver and the care recipient. With this method, you also have the freedom to choose the person you feel can best meet the needs of your older loved one. This is often cheaper than hiring someone through an agency.
Disadvantages include not having to look for a ready-made replacement when the home care worker cannot be available and having to handle the processes of screening, hiring or firing, payment and taxes directly.
Interviewing the applicant
Should you choose the second option, here are some tips to keep in mind during the interview process:
A personal interview with all applicants is not necessary. You can screen them by phone. During the initial telephone interview, ask applicants for a full description of the position, including the number of hours and days they are available. It is also important that you ask the candidate about their work history and if they have any preferences. If a candidate seems right for the job, schedule a face-to-face meeting with them. If necessary, ask another family member or the care recipient to participate in the conversation. If you think a candidate has the qualities and skills you need, ask them to sign an employment contract for your mutual protection.
The benefits of home care for the elderly
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