When your parent or a senior in your life gets to be a certain age, it’s natural to start thinking about next steps. It doesn’t matter whether your senior is dealing with health issues, is largely independent, or lives close enough to the rest of the family to be present in their lives. As seniors reach the age of 65 and up, it helps for family members start to think in the long-term. Fortunately, unlike in the past, we have a ton of options available to use when it comes to senior care. From live-in help to nursing home care to moving a parent in with you, there are many different roads you can go down to best accommodate your senior’s needs. You don’t have to pay a ton of money for an all-purpose facility to take your senior in, and you don’t have to be totally hands-off if you don’t want to. The fact is, when it comes to senior care, there’s no reason you can’t figure out what works best for your parent and the rest of your family by researching all the options. Whether you’ve thought about caregiving at home or you’re considering in-home senior care in longwood fl, here are some things you should know about senior care companies before you get started.
1. Medical and Non-Medical Care are Offered
Some seniors require a lot of medical attention, from help getting around the house to assistance with administering meds. This type of in-home care requires a licensed nurse or care professional who can handle a number of different issues. Your in-home carer in a medical care situation should be able to check vital signs, administer IVs, and be familiar with any chronic illnesses your senior is suffering with. Non-medical care, however, is a bit more casual in nature. If your senior isn’t dealing with a specific illness or problem as of yet, choosing an in-home carer can help them stay organized, cook and prep meals, do household chores like laundry and keep them company. They can also act as a personal driver to take your senior to doctor’s appointments or even to the supermarket if driving isn’t an option for an aging parent. In this case, the type of carer you employ doesn’t have to be as specific. While you always want your in-home carers to be thoroughly vetted, non-medical carers can be volunteers or students who are willing to lend a hand. If you go through an in-home care company, you’ll most likely have to choose between the two options to see what’s best for your senior. From there, the company will assign you a caretaker based on your parent’s needs.
2. The Cost May Vary
Like most door-to-door services, in-home care can come at a high cost. Your company may charge hourly rates from around $20 and up, or you might be able to go through insurance. Some companies might offer a flat rate, but you should always ask about an hourly rate just to make sure. Some home care apps work like delivery services and charge your phone directly after each session, while larger companies will set up a billing cycle that works on your schedule. Whatever you do, make sure the company you choose is licensed in your state, insured, and bonds their employees for protection. You’ll also want to check if they’re a member of state-specific health service associations or the American Geriatric Society for good measure.
3. Insurance May or May Not Cover In-Home Care
In some cases, your in-home care service of choice can be covered at least partially by Medicare or a private insurance company. If you don’t have insurance to cover it, there are other ways that you can cut down on costs, such as using tax credits or deductions at the end of the year or opting for virtual caregiving services rather than physical in-home care. This is an option only for seniors who don’t need medical aid at home.
4. All Caregivers Come Pre-Vetted
When you choose home care through a licensed service, you’re not just getting a qualified medical or home care aide. Every carer who enters your door will have been thoroughly vetted and checked. That said, each service is different, and some may not do checks as thoroughly as others. Always ask what their vetting procedure entails for signing on. Do they just look at references, or do they do a proper background check as well? Also be sure to ask about how each caregiver is matched with a senior. How in-depth is the process? Can you request a trial period? The more options you have in terms of matching your parent with a suitable caretaker, the less trial and error work you’ll have to do.
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