Finding good in-home help for an aging loved one can be difficult. It’s not just a matter of finding the right type of caregiver and individual who is compatible with the particular preferences of your parent but also trying to convince your elderly Mom or Dad that they need the help. Many older adults want to maintain their independence for as long as possible and facing the possibility of becoming dependent on another person, a stranger no less is daunting and may cause emotional distress.
As we get older, our faculties and abilities start to dwindle and additional care is needed to accomplish many of the things we used to take for granted. Whether it’s something as simple as bathing or preparing a meal, losing the skills to perform these basic tasks are the first sign that caregiver assistance is needed. But the elderly would much rather spend their twilight years in their home instead of live in a nursing home and that makes finding good in-home help even more important. Caring for aging parents might get complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. Not if you follow our advice for selecting the right person and convincing your parent that the time to find that person is now.
Decide on the Necessary Care
When you’re seeking out the best senior care company, it’s important to know the difference between the forms of care that are available. Your elderly parent may need home medical care services or in-home care services, and while the two may sound similar, they require different types of caregivers. In-home help for medical assistance is necessary when the parent needs to take medication, receive physical therapy, or visit the doctor. Regular in-home care service is there to help out around the house, assist your parent with personal hygiene, prepare meals, do the laundry, and so on.
Hiring the Best Agency
It’s important to perform an exhaustive amount of due diligence in the agencies that you are considering to hire. The best ones will perform extensive criminal and credit background checks and drug testing of their caregivers and maintain all insurance, licensing and bonding protocols should something unfortunate occur with one of their representatives. When these safeguards are in place, you and your parent will be properly protected in the event a worker steals from or otherwise abuses your elderly mother or father in any way. It’s important that you are made aware of the risks for elder abuse, which has become one of the fastest growing forms of fraud and theft in this country.
Helping Them Along
If your parent is resistant to the idea of having a stranger enter their home, you will need to be gentle about reinforcing that this is a necessity for their well-being. It also falls to the caregiver to give the patient peace of mind that everything is going to be okay. Start slowly with limited time for each visit, and then expand that time as your parent becomes more comfortable having the caregiver around. If need be, you can be there for the first couple of visits to make your parent feel less anxious about being home alone with this new person.
