by Anne Pagnoni
Making the decision to hire a home care service to provide care for your loved one is an important decision and can, at the same time, be very difficult. If an illness or recovery from surgery requires nursing care or physical therapy, a physician may order skilled home care services that provide both skilled providers and personal aides. Your decision is then based on the obvious medical determinations made by the doctor. But what if you as the family caregiver must determine the extent of care needed without the help of a doctor?
Each home care situation is unique. In the beginning, family or friends step in to help with simple tasks and support for aging seniors who want to stay in their homes. As long term care needs progress, more time is required to manage those needs. Physical and mental conditions change with aging making usually routine hygiene and daily living activities difficult for an aging individual. Even with the healthiest of seniors, the ability to drive a car, shop for groceries or do general housekeeping eventually needs to be relinquished to the responsibility of another person.
In one example, Karen, would stop by her parents' home on her way to work every morning and again on her way home from work in the evening. She checked in the morning to see that they were up and ready for the day and Karen would take a shopping list for things they needed. In the evening she delivered the needed items she had purchased during her lunch break and sometimes she fixed a meal when one was not prepared by her mother. This worked well until Karen began to notice her father did not shave or dress during the day and both parents were forgetting their medications. Karen felt more time and supervision was needed in their care but with her own family and job, she could not do it. Non-medical or personal home care services would be a good option for Karen to consider.
Before starting your search for a non-medical or personal home care company, determine what the care needs are and how much time each week will be required for assistance from the company. You may want to consult with the family physician and other family members as well as experienced social workers or care managers to determine needs. Most home care companies, as well, will help you do an assessment at no charge. With your care needs in hand, you are ready to begin your search.
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (http://www.nahc.org/home.html) gives the following guidelines and checklist in searching for a home care company.
•How long has this provider been serving the community?
•Does this provider supply literature explaining its services, eligibility requirements, fees, and funding sources? Many providers furnish their home care clients with a detailed "Patient Bill of Rights" that outlines the rights and responsibilities of the providers, clients, and family caregivers alike.
•How does this provider select and train its employees? Does it protect its workers with written personnel policies and malpractice insurance? Does it protect clients from theft or abuse by bonding its employees?
•Does this provider assign supervisors to oversee the quality of care clients are receiving in their homes? If so, how often do these individuals make visits? Who can the client and his or her family members call with questions or complaints? How does the company follow up on and resolve problems?
•What are the financial procedures of this provider? Does the provider furnish written statements explaining all of the costs and payment plan options associated with home care?
•What procedures does this provider have in place to handle emergencies? Are its caregivers available on notice?
•How does this provider ensure client confidentiality?
If a home care company has not previously been recommended to you, ask for a list of previous clients and call for their experience with this provider.
Following up on these guidelines can help you determine the quality of personal care that is given. Many states license non-medical home care companies and require both legal and health standards to be maintained.
Read about individual home care companies in your area on the National Care Planning Council's website www.longtermcarelink.net.
Showing posts with label choosing home care provider. Show all posts
Showing posts with label choosing home care provider. Show all posts
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Report Calls Alzheimer's the Defining Disease of Baby Boomer Generation
According to Generation Alzheimer’s, a new report released by the Alzheimer’s Association on Jan. 27, one in eight baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s, a devastating, heartbreaking, costly disease. It’s no longer their grandparents and parents who have Alzheimer’s – it’s the baby boomers themselves.
A rapidly aging population and dramatic increases in the number of Alzheimer cases in the coming years underscores the urgency in dealing with a crisis that is no longer emerging, but here.
Generation Alzheimer’s also describes the effect Alzheimer’s has on families and friends. Beyond the 10 million baby boomers who will either die with or from Alzheimer’s, millions of caregivers will be devastated, not only by the progressive loss of their loved one, but also by the care they will provide – care that could negatively affect their health, financial security and their future.
Most people survive an average of four to six years after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, but many live for as long as 20 years with the disease. This often long duration places increasingly intensive care demands on Alzheimer and dementia caregivers – as many as 11 million nationwide.
Alzheimer’s disease will also have a profound effect on our nation, killing more than diabetes and more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. According to preliminary data from National Center for Health Statistics, the number of Americans that die each year from Alzheimer’s disease has risen 66 percent since 2000. In 2010, Alzheimer’s and other dementias cost American society – families, insurers and the government - $172 billion; during the next 40 years it will cost more than $20 trillion, enough to pay of the national debt today and still send a $20,000 check to every man, woman and child in America.
Generation Alzheimer’s calls for a federal government committed to a thorough, aggressive and innovative approach to ending Alzheimer’s.
For more information about Generation Alzheimer’s, Alzheimer’s disease or resources to help, visit the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org. To read the report, please click here: Generation Alzheimer's.
A rapidly aging population and dramatic increases in the number of Alzheimer cases in the coming years underscores the urgency in dealing with a crisis that is no longer emerging, but here.
Generation Alzheimer’s also describes the effect Alzheimer’s has on families and friends. Beyond the 10 million baby boomers who will either die with or from Alzheimer’s, millions of caregivers will be devastated, not only by the progressive loss of their loved one, but also by the care they will provide – care that could negatively affect their health, financial security and their future.
Most people survive an average of four to six years after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, but many live for as long as 20 years with the disease. This often long duration places increasingly intensive care demands on Alzheimer and dementia caregivers – as many as 11 million nationwide.
Alzheimer’s disease will also have a profound effect on our nation, killing more than diabetes and more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. According to preliminary data from National Center for Health Statistics, the number of Americans that die each year from Alzheimer’s disease has risen 66 percent since 2000. In 2010, Alzheimer’s and other dementias cost American society – families, insurers and the government - $172 billion; during the next 40 years it will cost more than $20 trillion, enough to pay of the national debt today and still send a $20,000 check to every man, woman and child in America.
Generation Alzheimer’s calls for a federal government committed to a thorough, aggressive and innovative approach to ending Alzheimer’s.
For more information about Generation Alzheimer’s, Alzheimer’s disease or resources to help, visit the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org. To read the report, please click here: Generation Alzheimer's.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
How to Choose Homecare
By Kathryn Zakskorn
One of most difficult decisions adult children make when caring for aging parents is where to turn for in-home care. The myriad of choices can be overwhelming. Essentially, there are three choices: private hire, Domestic Referral Agencies and full service companies.
With a private hire caregiver, the family or older adult becomes responsible for all steps of the hiring process. They must advertise, interview, and conduct background checks. Once a caregiver is selected, the older adult or family member must negotiate schedule, salary and benefits. A written contract, signed by both parties, clearly outlining all of the duties and expectations, is imperative. Liability normally falls on the client’s lap when it comes to payroll taxes, social security, unemployment taxes and workers compensation cost. It is imperative to get a rider on your homeowners insurance policy to protect your assets if anything should happen to the private hire in your home. Even though a private hire may be cost effective, the safety risk is the greatest especially when the older adult lives alone without supportive family available or there is impaired judgment on the part of the older adult. The risk is greatly reduced when a family member is able to supervise the caregiver. Professional geriatric care managers are also excellent supervisors when family is not available (more on that next issue).
Domestic referral agencies are essentially registries. A client calls for service and a caregiver is placed in a home for a placement fee and sometimes an ongoing management fee. The referral agencies do not employ the caregiver. The client becomes the employer, and similar to a private hire is responsible for payroll taxes, social security, and unemployment insurance and workers compensation. Some referral agencies have trust accounts where the client pays the agency and the agency then pays the caregiver, and sometimes sets up a tax service for the client, but the client is still considered the employer. Since referral agencies are not employers, they do not supervise the caregiver. This increases the safety risk. Like a private hire, it is important that a family members or geriatric care manager supervise and oversee the care.
Full service agencies employ the caregivers. They hire, screen, train and supervise the employees and place them in the older adult’s home. As the employer, the full service agency is responsible for all payroll taxes, social security, worker compensation, and unemployment insurance. A good full service agency should be able to produce a copy of their liability insurance and carry some sort of bond. Supervision is done by the agency, with some agencies providing care managers who directly oversee client cases, thereby lowering the risk to the consumer. The cost of a full service agency is normally higher than a private duty hire or a domestic referral agency due to these factors, however the risk is essentially lower.
When choosing homecare for yourself or an older adult, remember to take into consideration the risk level of the older adult and the familial involvement. Educate yourself on what service is best for your situation and then interview several potential individuals or agencies. Finally, think ahead. Don’t wait for a crisis to begin searching for the best care for you or your loved one.
One of most difficult decisions adult children make when caring for aging parents is where to turn for in-home care. The myriad of choices can be overwhelming. Essentially, there are three choices: private hire, Domestic Referral Agencies and full service companies.
With a private hire caregiver, the family or older adult becomes responsible for all steps of the hiring process. They must advertise, interview, and conduct background checks. Once a caregiver is selected, the older adult or family member must negotiate schedule, salary and benefits. A written contract, signed by both parties, clearly outlining all of the duties and expectations, is imperative. Liability normally falls on the client’s lap when it comes to payroll taxes, social security, unemployment taxes and workers compensation cost. It is imperative to get a rider on your homeowners insurance policy to protect your assets if anything should happen to the private hire in your home. Even though a private hire may be cost effective, the safety risk is the greatest especially when the older adult lives alone without supportive family available or there is impaired judgment on the part of the older adult. The risk is greatly reduced when a family member is able to supervise the caregiver. Professional geriatric care managers are also excellent supervisors when family is not available (more on that next issue).
Domestic referral agencies are essentially registries. A client calls for service and a caregiver is placed in a home for a placement fee and sometimes an ongoing management fee. The referral agencies do not employ the caregiver. The client becomes the employer, and similar to a private hire is responsible for payroll taxes, social security, and unemployment insurance and workers compensation. Some referral agencies have trust accounts where the client pays the agency and the agency then pays the caregiver, and sometimes sets up a tax service for the client, but the client is still considered the employer. Since referral agencies are not employers, they do not supervise the caregiver. This increases the safety risk. Like a private hire, it is important that a family members or geriatric care manager supervise and oversee the care.
Full service agencies employ the caregivers. They hire, screen, train and supervise the employees and place them in the older adult’s home. As the employer, the full service agency is responsible for all payroll taxes, social security, worker compensation, and unemployment insurance. A good full service agency should be able to produce a copy of their liability insurance and carry some sort of bond. Supervision is done by the agency, with some agencies providing care managers who directly oversee client cases, thereby lowering the risk to the consumer. The cost of a full service agency is normally higher than a private duty hire or a domestic referral agency due to these factors, however the risk is essentially lower.
When choosing homecare for yourself or an older adult, remember to take into consideration the risk level of the older adult and the familial involvement. Educate yourself on what service is best for your situation and then interview several potential individuals or agencies. Finally, think ahead. Don’t wait for a crisis to begin searching for the best care for you or your loved one.
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