How Home Care for Seniors Can Protect Your Family Member from Bad Home Care
How Home Care for Seniors Can Protect Your Family Member from Bad Home Care in Auburn, NH
It is harsh for many families to see how aging makes their elder loved ones more vulnerable. There are many risks out there for seniors-- dementia, Alzheimer’s, and mobility issues. The best way to ensure that your loved one is safe is to consider bringing in a home care for seniors’ providers.
Most people have seen the reviews and stories of dishonest caregivers; There have been numerous cases out there that have involved events from larceny to assault. These events and misbehaviors are the reason that people have lost their trust in home care for seniors.
However, reputable home care for seniors can provide the top-quality care expected and needed for loved ones; it is crucial to trust your care provider. It can be a giant leap to invite a caregiver into your loved one’s home willingly, and it can be nerve-wracking due to the stories of misbehaving caregivers in the news. These are reasonable reasons to be hesitant to take advantage of an incredible service.
The lingering question is this: How does one tell the difference between a good and a bad home care agency? Learn how to select quality care and prevent a horror story.
High Risk, Low-Screened Home Care
Finding the proper home care for seniors agency can be challenging, and it takes plenty of research to avoid any dangers. More minor, independently, and low-priced agencies often have limited experience and services. When using an ill-prepared, low-spirited, poorly-trained caregiver, you are putting your loved one at risk.
Dr. Lee Lindquist, a geriatrician at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, shared the following quote: “People have a false sense of security when they hire a caregiver from an agency.”
These words reflect the results from the published research study, Hiring and Screening Practices of Agencies Supplying Paid Caregivers to Older Adults. A recent study showed that out of 462 home care for seniors agencies,
- Only half of them had their potential caregivers complete criminal background checks (55.8 percent)
- Only about â…“ (31.8 percent) had their potential caregivers take drug tests.
- Many of these caregiving agencies provide limited training.
- The skills competency of a caregiver was assessed using feedback from self-reports (58.5 percent), testing (35.2 percent), and client feedback (35.2 percent)
This research shows that most care agencies do not always use objectivity when determining a potential caregiver’s qualifications.
Additionally, these lower-tier home care agencies for seniors have shown little to no managerial involvement when maintaining the quality of their business. Abuse, reckless misbehavior, and a poor attitude from a caregiver are serious issues. Elderly adults should be receiving home care from a professional caregiver-- as their loved ones should take the time to assess potential care agencies before committing.
Superior Home Care Pays Attention
It is safest to choose a home care provider with a large, national brand with a reputation for top-quality home care. The manager will allow multiple interviews during the selection process. Before making your decision, you and your loved one will determine if there is good chemistry between the caregiver and care recipient.
Top-notch home care for senior providers will require potential caregivers to complete a background check and drug test; they also will only scout individuals that are CPR certified. Potential caregivers should also possess emotional intelligence, empathy, and good character to interact with their elderly successfully loved ones. Supervisors from high-performing home care agencies will engage in randomized visits to see their caregivers in action.
Additionally, a home care companion can provide social stimulation and assistance with daily private tasks: grooming, dressing, bathing, grocery runs, blood pressure checks, and medication reminders.
High Stakes Demand a Higher Quality of Care
For an elderly loved one who has recently been discharged from the hospital, it is essential to bring in a home care team to help them recover safely. A Visiting Angels professional caregiver can help dramatically reduce costly hospital readmission. The first-month post-discharge is the most crucial-- this time is meant to focus on stabilization. “Elderly adults have a much lower chance of recovery if they are re-hospitalized in this 30-day window, which is why reducing hospital readmissions is so important.”
With the assistance of our home care for seniors programs, your seniors can have their health monitored throughout the day. Should something go awry, this caregiver can be there to assist and make an emergency call-- Our caregivers would promptly notify you also.
Personalized Home Care Matters
When you work with regular home care for senior agencies, you also get support from its multiple locations and providers. Should your loved one begin to develop and suffer from a cognitive decline (such as dementia), they will have access to caregivers that can execute the higher level of care they will require.
With the use of Visiting Angels, a reputable home care agency, your loved one will have access to multiple specific programs. Our professional caregiver has the experience and certification needed to provide these higher-quality care services.
Examples of home care programs:
Excellent home care for seniors can leave you and your loved one assured that they provide top-notch care. Read how to enjoy quality time with your seniors while going on holiday travel.
If you’re interested in more information about how in-home care can help your senior loved ones, contact your Visiting Angels of Auburn by filling clicking the link below and filling out our intake form.
