Pages

In Home Care Atlanta -Top 12 Essential Questions for Selecting A Provider

Are you looking for a safe, reliable, and low-cost in home care in Atlanta for your parent?

Staying at home – that’s the ideal situation we all want for them.

It is very stressful for older people to think about changing things (even if things weren’t that great to begin with!).  The least disruptive for them, the better.  EVERYONE is happier.

Well, those attributes of care for your parent are available – you just have to a bit of comparison shopping.  There are several quality agencies in Atlanta that provide care that can be counted on.

My short story is, we had to use an in home care Atlanta services for my dad about a year ago.

My brothers and I looked and looked for such a service and finally found one.

I have been down this road and I am trying to make this process easier for you.

There are a variety of options.  You don’t have to have a full-time live-in person to care for your parent.  My dad, for example, only needed help during the day.  At night he was fine and could be independent.

Learn about the options and choose one that is right for your situation.

Remember, this is not a “set it and forget it” decision.  You have to be vigilant and continually reassess if you are pleased with the service and care your parent is receiving.

Meet or talk with the people running the company and make sure you trust them.   Then, interview several of the actual caregivers and pick one who’s personality best fits that of your parent.

There are 3 categories of caregiver that you should consider:

  1. Companion Care – basic safety for someone that just needs assistance with daily task
  2. Personal Care – hands on care with daily personal issues, like bathing, meal preparation
  3. Skilled Care – that is, nurses to manage ongoing medical issues

 

Here are the top 12 questions we should all ask when evaluating a caregiver for our parents:

 

  1. How do you screen your caregivers?
  2. How much do you charge? Hourly and weekly options?
  3. What will they do for my parent? (And, what will they NOT do?)
  4. What is your system for accounting for hours on duty?
  5. How often will I pay you?
  6. If I or my parent doesn’t like the caregiver you send, how can we make a change and try someone else?
  7. Can you send me 3 references I can TALK with?
  8. Are your caregivers independent contractors or employees?
  9. Who pays for transportation to and from my parent’s home?
  10. Will the caregiver drive my parent to the store?
  11. How can I pay for the services?  Most in-home service is NOT covered by Medicare or insurance.
  12. How do we handle problems that may arise after hours?

 

There are 4 types of organizations that supply these services:

 

  1. Employers – they hire direct employees and dispatch them to homes
  2. Registries – they are middlemen and refer and schedule services offered by contractors
  3. Referral Services – the caregiver becomes YOUR employee
  4. Independent Caregiver – directly contracting with the person providing the care – a lot of risk here – you must do the screening and take responsibility.

Bottom line is you need to shop.

The problem is when you need a caregiver you usually need one NOW. Several years ago, the search procedure was very difficult and my brothers and I didn’t find many services that offered the in-home services we felt Dad needed.

Now, things are different.  The Internet is a lot more mature and there are many services out there offering these services.

You are really having to trust these people you don’t really know with a lot of responsibility.  It is unsettling inviting someone into your parent’s home to look after them.  There is a lot of guilt (and potentially, guilt relief) associated with this process.  On the one hand, you want to relieve the stress on you from daily care you don’t have time for.  On the other hand, you want to make sure your parent is safe.  Your mom and dad took care of you when you couldn’t take care of yourself, changed your diapers, and taught you how to tie your shoes.

Now, they often can’t remember what day it is today.  They need you and you want to do the right thing by them.

The way to do that is to do your homework.

Use the sheet provided to evaluate your options.

Please let me know if I can help in any way with your needs for in home care in Atlanta.  I have been down the road you are traveling now.

Privacy Page