Selecting a Home Care Provider
A home care provider can offer considerable relief for seniors who wish to live at home for as long as possible — and for their families. At the top of the priority list during your search for in-home care is finding a provider you can trust. \
After all, this home care professional will be in your loved one’s home, overseeing their daily well-being. They may also be your main point of contact about your loved one’s condition and comfort.
Given the importance of this role, how do you find the right home care provider for your family?
What to Look for in a Home Care Provider
Whether you need more support in your efforts as a family caregiver or you’re coordinating your care from a different city or state, the right home care provider can make life easier for you, your loved one, and the rest of your family.
As you begin to research and reach out to different home care providers, keep the following questions and factors in mind:
- Experience and reputation
How long have they provided home care? What reputation do they have among their clients? Search for reviews and inquire about references if possible. - Services offered
What kind of support do they offer and how does it align with your loved one’s current needs? Consider your loved one’s condition and the type of support they may require, whether it’s companionship or daily help with bathing, dressing, and cooking. - Approach to care
How does the home care provider determine the form of care a client needs? What kind of care plans do they offer? What schedule can they accommodate? Ideally, your home care provider will adapt to your family’s needs, not the other way around. - Oversight and preparedness
What system do they have in place to monitor your loved one’s condition and the quality of care they receive? How do they respond to emergencies or to changes in care needs? - Hiring practices
What qualities do they look for in their caregivers in terms of skills, experience, and mindset? Do caregivers undergo background checks and other forms of vetting? Find out what you can about their caregiving team. - Caregiver selection
How do they decide which caregivers will work with each client? Will your family be able to meet and select a caregiver before they work with your loved one?
This list may seem overwhelming at first, but when it comes to your loved one’s home care provider, you can’t be too thorough. The home care provider you choose should view your loved one as a unique individual with unique needs. They should take your loved one’s preferences into account at every step, while also providing peace of mind for your family.
Visiting Angels Has Much to Offer
Visiting Angels® is an established home care provider with more than 30 years of experience supporting families across the country. We offer custom care plans based on in-depth assessments of every client. We also monitor the well-being of our clients and maintain regular contact with their families so we can adapt seamlessly to their changing needs.