How To Choose a Home Care Service For Seniors

We all care about our loved ones and should protect them as they get older. Our parents spent most of their time caring for us when we were children and now it’s our duty to provide a well-deserved life for them.

It may be difficult to accept, but sometimes seniors reach the point when they need a higher level of care and support.

Today there is a big choice of home care agencies for the elderly. Their goal is to make the senior’s life easier and more balanced while staying at home.

But how to choose a reliable home care service that treats clients as family members?

In this article, we will provide useful tips on how to choose a home caregiver, how much private home care costs, types of home care services, and comparison of senior care services cost.

Let’s dive right in!

How to convince a parent to hire an in-home caregiver

Speaking with your parents about home care assistance may be the hardest part. Elder people often don’t want to accept the fact that they need help. However, good preparation can make this conversation more smooth and effective.

We have created a list of tips for you on how to talk with seniors about hiring a home caregiver.

Don’t talk about their weaknesses and problems

If you start by emphasizing senior limitations and inabilities to do something alone, you initially steer the conversation in the wrong direction. This way you make your parents feel guilty for something and think that they’re a burden for you.

Try not to say: “ I see that it’s difficult for you to do home chores, so I think of hiring a caregiver who will make your life easier”.

If you skip the first part of the sentence and concentrate on the benefits, you will set a positive tone of the conversation and show that you care.

Instead say: What do you think about hiring an assistant for you? You’ll have peace of mind, companionship, and more free time for doing things you love.

Don’t persuade or insist - try to listen

People love when we listen to them and respect their point of view. Talk to your relatives about their needs and give them a chance to express their opinion.

Start with: “I appreciate your opinion and would like to get your thoughts on hiring a home assistant. Please, share them with me.”

Ask the following open questions:

What does your typical day look like?
What are the things you spend most of the time for?
If you had more free time, what would you like to do?
How do you feel at the end of the day?
Are there any things you don’t have time for or forget about?

The answers will help you see the general picture and decide what kind of help your parent needs and how often. Try to really hear what your parents say, it will help you to come up with better decisions and arguments.

Try to find the reason for objections

Our parents often reject help because:

They’re afraid to feel burdensome, dependent or helpless
They think it’s too expensive for you
They’re afraid of having a stranger in the house

The reasons can be different and your task is to ask your parents about their fears, put yourself in their shoes, and think about what emotions they have.

Imagine that these fears and concerns are yours and think what could free you of them.

For example, if your elderly parents are afraid of being dependent and helpless, emphasize the things they do great by themselves. Praise them for this and say that assistance in other things will only unload them, so they will have more energy for doing what they love.

Show that it will make a favor for you

If you know that your parent is under care, what emotions will you have? Will you feel relief? Calm?

Don’t be afraid of sharing your concerns with seniors. Tell “Mom, I don’t feel comfortable when I leave you alone” or “I worry about your ration, it’s really important for me to know that you eat healthy food regularly.

Such an approach may convince them to make a favor for you and release you from worries.

Stay patient

Don’t hope to hear a positive response on the first try. Spare some time each day for a conversation with your parents, do it gradually and don’t push.

Understand your parents, show that you love them and appreciate their decision, no matter what it will be.

Hiring a caregiver: Tips on how to choose a home care assistant for seniors

Let’s assume that you’ve agreed with your parents/relatives and now it’s time to choose a reliable service provider.

At this stage, a lot of questions may arise in your head: How to find a reliable caregiver? How to ensure safety and quality? How to find a home care provider for a reasonable price?

Below, we will provide you with a step-by-step process on how to choose a senior home caregiver.

What to do first

Sit with your loved ones and write down their typical daily routine, what activities they do and at what time
Create the list of things in which they may need help (e.g. transportation, housekeeping, pet care, etc.)
Decide how often they need help (What is the nature of your loved one's needs? Are there any regular activities that make their life better and raise their mood?)
Write likes/dislikes and preferences of your loved ones (What type of person they would prefer? What help do they want to get? What irritates them?)

Create a list of home care providers and interview them

Once you have found a list of agencies that offer the services you need - it’s time to interview them.

Ask the following questions to ensure that you’ll choose a reliable and trustworthy caregiver.

How long have they been in business?
What types of services do they provide?
How often are they available?
How do they match you with the appropriate caregiver?
How do they screen/vet their employees?
What is the cost of their services? What are the payment rules and options?
How does the agency resolve problems?
Do they provide written statements explaining all of the costs and payment plan options associated with the home care services it provides?
How do they check the quality of the services?

How to avoid misunderstandings

Ensure that you are on the same page with a home caregiver to avoid misunderstandings in the future. Here are some tips on how to do it.

Ask an agency to create a list of tasks and responsibilities a home caregiver will adhere to
Discuss payment schedules
Talk about additional fees and compensations
Discuss how to terminate a home care provider or request another one
Discuss how they will report you about the work done
Read reviews and references of other people before choosing a home caregiver