Anyone can become disabled due to hereditary issues, illness, or injury. Most times, disabled people need assistance with their day-to-day activities. But it is not out of place for a home care service for adults to offer emotional support and companionship.
When looking for a home care service for an adult who is disabled, you need to consider many factors. If the adult involved requires regular health related assistance, a home health care agency will be your best bet. But if the person needs cherished companions and personal care, an in-home care service will do.
What is a Disability?
A disability is a condition that limits the type of activity a person can engage in. It could also stop the person from interacting with other people. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), disabilities affect the following:
- Social interactions
- Mental health
- Ability to hear
- Ability to communicate fluently
- Working memory and learning
- Thinking and Recalling events
- Movement and vision
What Does an In-Home Care Service Involve?
An in-home care agency employs caregivers who visit the homes of disabled people to lend a helping hand. They can either provide care for a certain number of hours or on a 24-hour basis. Their services include the following:
- Meal preparation
- Transportation
- Personal care such as bathing, dressing, washing, using the toilet
- Companionship
- Housekeeping and groceries shopping
- Medication reminders
These services are flexible to fit into the unique needs of clients especially if the person is temporarily disabled. The goal is to make sure the individual is comfortable in their home. You may want to read this article to know how home care works.
Tips for Finding a Reliable Home Care Agency
Finding a reliable caregiver involves hiring someone you trust. You may not have known this person too long to trust them enough but your gut will assist you in choosing one that suits the situation. However, there are other critical factors that you must consider.
1. Flexibility
When looking for a home care service, you need to know whether the agency is available 24/7. If you live with a family member who is disabled, you may not be at home all the time to attend to them. So, you need to be sure that the agency can send in a caregiver on demand.
2. Level of Experience
Personnel is what makes a home care agency what it is. Therefore, you should check the level of experience of the caregivers. You may want to find out whether they have previously worked in a nursing home or a related organization.
In addition, the agency must have been in existence and functioning for at least 5 years. This is enough time to gain traction and build a reputation.
3. Training
Although training qualifications differ from state to state, caregivers must take courses that teach how to care for disabled adults and younger patients. The courses may also include non-medical instructions, licensing for home care, and other skills like personal care and proper meal preparation.
Some agencies offer ongoing training to ensure the quality of in-home care their clients receive. However, you should make sure the agency understands how recent technologies work especially for Alzheimer’s and mental health patients, nutrition, and fall prevention. You can visit https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326374 to know more about how to take care of Alzheimer’s patients,
4. Registration
Before hiring a home care service, ensure that the agency is insured, bonded, and properly licensed. Also, if the caregivers in the organization are trained, they should have a certificate or license that proves their ability to work with seniors in nursing homes or with disabled people.
5. References
The care agency should be able to provide written references from past clients. To verify the references, call the referees to find out more about their experiences with the agency. People tend to say more verbally than when they pen it down. From the conversation, you can know whether they are faking it or being real.
6. Written Contract
It is important to know the type of services that the home care agency offers. Each organization differs based on its policies and the type of caregivers they hire. To avoid assumptions, a reliable agency will draft a written contract so you can see the type of care the disabled person will receive.
This document should contain the cost of each service listed. You also need to ask questions to be sure there are no hidden costs.
7. Background Check
The safety of a disabled person should be a priority when hiring a caregiver. The home care agency should provide background check reports of its personnel. You need to know whether they passed the drug test, have a previous criminal record, have underlying health conditions, and so on.
If the caregiver was an alcoholic or abused substances in the past, it is not enough for them to say they quit. They should provide evidence that shows they checked into a rehab home or visited a counselor.
8. Compatibility
Compatibility is a critical aspect of finding a reliable caregiver. If there is no chemistry between the patient and the caregiver, the references, training, experience, and others won’t count. Some agencies provide trial shifts so you can know whether the patient connects naturally with the caregiver. As soon as you are sure, you can request continuous care.
The Bottom Line
Choosing a home care service for a disabled adult is not an easy task. While it is easy to check online for agencies near you, how can you know whether they are reliable or not? Of course, you can request recommendations from friends, family members, neighbors, and colleagues. But the tips shared above will assist you in choosing a reliable, affordable, and quality service.
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