We are lucky to live in a era where care at home is possible for our loved ones as they age. Once limited to nursing homes, care at home was often looked at as a final measure when family members could no longer address the needs of their loved ones on their own. Home care makes taking care of our loved ones hassle-free and enjoyable. The expediency of professional, skilled nursing assistants who pay a visit to seniors in their, or their family’s, home, makes certain that the finest care is given in cases where health or physical issues limit one’s power to care for themselves.
In-home care agencies have popped up all over the country. The method of hiring an agency commences with proper investigation and taking the time to meet with each agency in order to assess their level of excellence, and their nursing staff’s experience, in relation to each family’s individual needs. It’s crucial that each family take the time to make sure the home care agency they retain are up to date in licensing requirements, and that their nursing staff are free of criminal backgrounds. This is primarily true if elder care will be supplied when family members are not around to manage when skilled nursing staff comes to visit. A high sense of trust needs to be confirmed between both parties in order to ensure a long-term, good, relationship.
The following 5 points are offered to those who are opening their research into finding care at home for their elderly family members.
1. Referral Sources
Ask friends, family and co-workers for recommendations to local companies they are familiar with. Inquire about their personal experiences, good and bad. Contact the elder’s long term care insurance company and ask for referrals (if in-home care is covered by their plan.) You can even contact your family general practitioner and ask for local references. Your last choice is to try the world wide web, but if you choose this route, make sure to spend extra time looking at each company more thoroughly, as you won’t have unique experience to judge these companies by.
2. Background Checks
Once you’ve sorted out a short list of companies you wish to investigate further, make sure to ask what types of screening processes they put their nursing staff through prior to hiring them. Criminal background checks, credit checks, and checking own references should be conventional in all companies.
3. Staff Skills & Experience
Ask as to what the minimum qualifications each company needs when hiring their care providers. Do they only hire college educated nurses? Are their care providers certified nursing assistants? Or, do they simply have to have that their staff have a background in helping care for the elderly? The more refined their requirements, the better care will likely be given.
4. Company Reputation
Check with your local Better Business Bureau to assess each company’s general rating. Do they have multiple complaints listed? Are there any standout criticisms? You can also try a typical search online by typing in the company’s name and the word “complaint” into any search engine to find what comes up from the general public’s point of view.
5. Licensing
Make sure any company you manage has the proper city, county and state licensing current and in good standing. Get rid of the worry of hiring any company that is not reputable in practice.
Finally, don’t be shy about asking many specific questions. All honest companies pride themselves in customer satisfaction and should be happy to openly, and willingly, provide any and all information to prospective clients. Homework on your part will ensure a long-term, affirmative experience for yourself and your family members. Â Â
When researching options for home care agencies in Turnersville NJ, and for all of your senior care needs in Cherry Hill NJ and the surrounding areas call and talk to us at Home to Stay Senior Care Solutions at either our Cherry Hill office at (856) 321-1500 OR our Red Bank office at (732) 820-9611.
