VISITING ANGELS SARASOTA, FL 941-952-5800
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What to Consider When Choosing In-Home Care

Despite the numerous senior living communities that are continuing to be built all over the country, many seniors state that they would prefer to spend their retirement years in the comfort of their own home. While most seniors are more than capable of managing their everyday life, the probability of an older adult needing some assistance at some point in their older years only increases with each birthday they celebrate. In fact, the Family Caregiver Alliance estimates that the lifetime probability of a person over the age of 65 becoming disabled in two or more activities of daily living, or experiencing memory loss is near 70 percent.

Fortunately, needing assistance in your senior years no longer means making a move to an institution. In-home care agencies are often the better solution for someone that needs a little help to manage their everyday life. If you’ve been struggling at home and are looking for help, here are five things to consider when choosing in-home care.

Elderly couple playing chessWhat help do you need in order to remain safe and independent at home?

Before calling an in-home care agency, take time to evaluate what services you need or desire. Do you feel unsafe while you shower? Are you unable to keep up with your household tasks? Are you unsteady on your feet and fear falling while out running errands? Is your family long-distance or too busy to stop in as frequently as you prefer, so you’d like a companion to help pass the time? Do you need more medical assistance? Knowing what sort of services you’re looking for will help you choose the appropriate in-home care agency that meets your needs.

What type of services does the agency provide?

After determining your care needs, the next step is to meet with in-home care agencies and learn about the services that they provide. Most in-home care agencies will sit down with you for a free consultation. This is a great opportunity to learn more about what services the agency provides. If an agency disagrees with the sort of help you’re asking for, walk away. Your safety and well-being should be their primary concern. If you ask for help in the shower and they try to dissuade you because they don’t offer those services, then it’s not a good fit. It’s important to choose an in-home care agency that meets your care needs in a manner that makes you feel comfortable.

What about my future care needs?

Another point to consider is your potential care needs in the future. Is the agency able to provide services for dementia or memory loss? Are they able to offer services after a hospital stay or short-term care rehabilitation stay? What about end-of-life care? Are you able to amend your plan of care as your care needs change? If the in-home care agency is only able to provide services for nearly independent seniors, it would only mean that the senior could potentially experience another change as their needs evolve over time. They would then have to develop rapport with yet another caregiver and home care agency during a time when continuity of care is most valuable.

How long has the agency been serving my community?

Many seniors make the mistake of looking at the cost of each in-home care agency and choosing the cheapest option. Before looking at costs, look at how long the agency has been serving the area. More established companies come with stronger references. Read online reviews and ask to speak to a couple of current clients. Newer companies have not had the opportunity to establish themselves in the market. While this is not necessarily bad, they still may be working out kinks in running an in-home care agency.

Can I help choose my caregiver?

Finally, you need to consider the selection process for how your caregiver is matched with you. Does the agency select without any input from you, or are you able to assist with this process? How does the agency hire and train their caregivers? What sort of ongoing education do their caregivers receive? What happens if you aren’t connecting with your caregiver? Are you stuck, or does the agency work with you to find a better fit? Many seniors who receive in-home care report that their caregiver becomes an extension to their family. It’s very important that the client/caregiver relationship is the number one priority of the in-home care agency. After all, the caregivers are the lifeline of the agency; without the caregivers, the agency wouldn’t be in business.

Visiting Angels Sarasota understands that choosing an in-home care agency is overwhelming and exhausting. We’re here to make that process easy and understandable. We work with each of our clients to develop a plan of care customized to their individual care needs. We also recognize that needs change over time. We are able to adapt care plans as our clients’ needs change. We also offer a variety of elderly in-home care services; from home care to dementia care, and companion care to end-of-life care. Our desire is to help seniors live safely and independently in the comfort of their own home. If you would like to learn more about our services, please contact us today by calling 941-952-5800.

Serving Sarasota, Siesta Key, St Armand's Key & the Surrounding Areas

Visiting Angels SARASOTA, FL
965 University Pkwy #101
Sarasota, FL 34234
Phone: 941-952-5800
NR30211676

Serving Sarasota, Siesta Key, St Armand's Key & the Surrounding Areas

Visiting Angels SARASOTA, FL
965 University Pkwy #101
Sarasota, FL 34234
Phone: 941-952-5800
NR30211676
Providing home care referrals throughout Sarasota County. Let us help you by referring professional senior caregivers for your needs, including:



"I work out of the  country  on  a regular  basis  and I needed special  care  for  my dad  who  suffers  from  Dementia .I contacted  Visiting  Angels  and spoke with Josephine . I was blown away with the  care my Dad received from Josephine and her team. Every time I called either Josephine or JerryMarie were there to answer all my questions. I would highly recommend Josephine to anybody looking for care for their loved ones.She is the most caring person I ever came across."

– Owen M. (More reviews here)

Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐