Caregiving agencies typically provide assistance with all activities of daily living. You often hear this referred to as “ADL’s”. These include such everyday tasks as bathing and dressing, personal care, cooking, light housekeeping, medication reminders, transportation, laundry, shopping and running errands, respite care and even hospital discharge assistance. In-home care has been shown to delay the need for and reduce the length of permanent nursing home stays among the elderly giving them the choice to remain living independently in the familiar surroundings of their own home. Helping Seniors Maintain Their Independence
Most caregiving agencies offer part-time, full-time and live-in companions qualified and trained to provide in-home care. These companions are dedicated to providing personal and individual care to their clients and peace of mind to the families. Each caregiver should be thoroughly screened through a national background check as well as rigorous reference checks. In addition, legitimate caregiving agencies protect their clients by maintaining liability and workers’ compensation insurance, and by bonding caregivers through licensed companies. Agencies should also carry “nonowned” automobile insurance covering the caregiver and the client, regardless of whether they are driving their own car or the client’s.
Look for agencies with case managers on staff. Case managers should be available, at no cost to the client or family, to visit prospective clients to evaluate and assess their individual needs before placing a caregiver in the home. This step ensures, or at least increases the likelihood of a perfect fit between client and caregiver. Helping Seniors Maintain Their Independence
Every effort should be made to carefully match the caregiver with the client. Case managers should maintain an ongoing relationship to ensure that the caregiver is meeting and exceeding the client’s current and anticipated needs. Caregiving agencies can help senior citizens and their loved ones deal with the very real, and increasing burden, of independent living without sacrificing the quality of life we all want.
Article provided to the La Quinta Chamber of Commerce