50+ Lifestyles

There’s No Place Like Home

By Jan Lawrence
Choice Home Health Care Inc.

    “There’s no place like home.” We all recognize the saying made famous by Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, one of my favorite movies. My parents live in Ohio and have been in the same home for 60 years. Even though I haven’t lived there for 42 years, I still think “there’s no place like home,” whenever I pull into their driveway after the 8 hour road trip and see the white house with the black shutters. They are still independent, but I know there may come a time when they need extra help that our family cannot provide.

When it’s time to hire someone to provide in-home care, do you choose an independent caregiver or hire through an agency?  Whichever option you choose, here are some things you want to keep in mind. There are pros and cons for both.  With an independent caregiver, you have the benefit of one person coming to your home instead of several. You can often overlook their formal training and instead consider their experience. Also, independent caregivers are less expensive than hiring through an agency. However, finding an independent caregiver can be time consuming.  First, how to find someone.  You may get a name from a friend, or there are caregivers who advertise on Internet sites, such as Craigslist or Care.com.  Once you find someone, be prepared to run background checks, including for abuse and exploitation, check their references and conduct personal interviews. When you hire someone, you are responsible for managing their payroll, which includes Social Security, Medicare and taxes. You may also be legally responsible if your caregiver has a work related injury, especially if lifting or transferring is involved. You need to ensure that caregivers have up to date immunizations for Hepatitis B and TB, CPR training, and proof of auto insurance in case they will be providing any transportation. You also need to have a backup plan in place in case your caregiver is sick or unable to work.

If you decide you don’t have time to search for and hire an independent caregiver, an agency may be your best option.  The reputation of an agency depends on the quality of their caregivers. Agencies do extensive background checks before hiring, make sure their caregivers have a valid license, if required, up to date immunizations, and auto insurance.  Agencies carry liability insurance, workmen’s compensation and manage the payroll, as well as provide ongoing training and supervision.  They understand that many clients don’t like the possibility of having several caregivers coming into their home, especially if they have more than 8 hours of care during the day, but they make every effort to schedule the same person. They want to ensure their caregiver and their client is a good fit, and will make changes when needed or requested. You are also assured there is a backup person, in case your regular caregiver is not able to be at your home when scheduled.

The timing and reasons for in-home care is different for every person and situation.  Regardless of how you find a caregiver, be sure to do your homework to find someone trustworthy.  Both you and your loved one want to feel comfortable and confident you are inviting someone into the home who will be a responsible member of your caregiving team.

How do I choose the right provider? Check our website at www.choicehhc.com, under Resources and Frequently Asked Questions, or call us at (563) 345-6530 for a list.

Jan Lawrence of Choice Home Health Care, Inc., 2882 AAA Court, Bettendorf, Iowa can be reached at (563) 345-6530 or visit their website at www.choicehhc.com.