Frequently Asked Questions About Home Care
It can be challenging when a parent or loved one cannot manage the day-to-day tasks at home due to age, physical changes, health, or cognitive decline. Therefore, hiring a nurse or personal care assistant to look after seniors and disabled individuals in their home environment is essential.
However, when it comes to home care, there are many questions clients have but may often find it tricky to get all the answers they’re seeking. So, to ensure you have all your doubts cleared, Stedfast Home Care Services wants to equip you with the most relevant and accurate information. To do this, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about home care.
1. When should I be concerned that my loved one needs more assistance?
There are several signs that will let you know if your senior may not be able to manage their care independently. Observe changes in grooming, personal habits, and increased clutter in the home, including unopened bills and mail.
Look out for unexplained bruises or skin tears, and increased memory issues, agitation, and anxiety. Other symptoms include not finding their way home from familiar places, an inability to manage their medication, and unexplained weight loss.
2. What type of assistance is available?
There are several levels of care available, and most of it can be provided in the home, as it’s the best environment where the individual usually does very well.
There are private home care providers that are knowledgeable and have the experience to assess and partner with you to obtain the services that will enable your loved one to remain in the comforts of their home for as long as is safely possible.
3. What can I expect from this type of service?
An experienced registered nurse will first schedule a physical, mental, safety, and environmental assessment to obtain an accurate understanding of your loved ones’ care and service needs.
Consequently, the nurse will sit and discuss every care goal and what assistance is needed. It will determine the current functioning level, including mobility, transfer skills, bathing, dressing, toileting, grooming, medication management, and any identified health issues.
The next part identifies what type of household tasks need to be done, including laundry, light cleaning, shopping, errands, transportation to appointments, meal preparation, and pet care assistance. We will then develop a schedule that fits your budget and assist when it’s most beneficial to the individual and family.
4. What if my loved one or I’m not satisfied with the caregiver?
During the assessment, the clinician will be evaluating the personality and preferences of your loved one to determine what skill-sets the caregiver should possess to deliver the care that is requested.
With this information in hand, the clinician will attempt to select a caregiver with some common traits with the individual and family that will foster the development of a trusting relationship.
If, for any reason, it does not work out as planned, we will attempt to find a more suitable caregiver. One trait is necessary to be a caregiver, and that is a compassionate attitude for others, and we seek and nurture that quality in our caregivers.
5. What is the cost?
The cost is based on the client’s individual needs, but it’s considerably lower than assisted living, memory care, and long-term care facilities. It’s also calculated based on the services provided, the hours needed, and the number of visits.
While Medicare or Medicaid does not cover home care, private long-term care Insurance policies will offer the benefit.
6. Am I able to make changes to the schedule?
We allow amendments to the agreement as long as notice is provided. In case of emergencies, the sooner we are notified, the better, and we will do our best to comply with the change.
7. What if the caregiver gets sick and can’t make it?
Do not worry, as the caregiver will notify the agency of the situation promptly. We always maintain a backup that is familiar with your loved one’s case and will be able to help out in times of emergencies. If you have a little trouble that will prevent the visit, you should notify our office staff, who are available 24/7.
8. If I can’t take my loved one to a scheduled appointment, will the caregiver be able to go?
We would have to amend the service agreement if it did not include it. If we use your vehicle, there will not be any added costs, but if the caregiver has to use their private car, there will be mileage charges. There will also be a waiver signed, permitting us to transport your loved one.
If you have any more questions about home care, get in touch with the experts at Stedfast Home Care Services. As the best home care agency in Lawrenceville, we use our three decades of experience to render quality nursing, medication prompting, and compassionate companion care to our clients.
We serve clients across Georgia, including Gwinnett, Fulton, Cobb, Rockdale, DeKalb, Hall, Clarke, Walton, Clayton, and Henry County.
To learn more about how we can help you, please click here or contact us by clicking here.
