Families looking for caregivers to provide help at home for their loved ones got a scare recently with a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The study, conducted by Northwestern University, examined the hiring and screening practices of 180 responding homecare agencies, and concluded that families need to be cautious that the agency is not misrepresenting their caregivers’ skills and their agencies’ training and supervision.
The reality is that not every homecare agency offers the help a family may need. Some agencies may not provide adequate screening or training and finding the right fit between the caregiver and the client, and finding an agency that can truly provide the care that’s needed, can be difficult. The situation is often made even more challenging because it may be an unplanned need, making it both more important and harder to be selective in evaluating an agency and an individual caregiver.
To make sure that families get qualified help, the study suggested ten questions to ask. Richard Bitner of Visiting Angels suggests that families ask not just those questions but a few more to ensure the right fit:
15 questions to help you find the right home care agency and caregiver
As Richard Bitner of Visiting Angels explains, “bringing someone into your home is very personal. Too often families don’t know what questions to ask, so they choose an agency that may not be the right fit. It’s so important to ask questions and to be confident that the agency you choose can stand by you when you need them. We hope these questions help families feel more confident in their choices.”
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Stacey and her team came to the rescue. We were in need of a 24/7 service for our father. We interviewed other companies and realized Visiting Angels had the whole package. The staff she sent us were all very qualified and had solid experience. The individual we settled on is just a charm, she is taking wonderful care of our Dad. We would recommend this organization for your home care needs.