Deciding when Mom and Dad need Help at Home

                                                                                         

Home health care services can dramatically increase the quality of life for your elderly parents. Homecare services can help them maintain their independence but with greater safety, security and health living.

Making the decision to bring home care services into your parents’ lives depends on your parents individual situation such as their overall mental and physical health, their financial situation as well as their local family and friends support network.

There are different home care services available depending on the level of care needed including assistance with daily living to advanced in home medical care.

Medical or “skilled care” is provided under the orders of a physician and consists of clinical services provided by nurses, occupational therapists, medical social workers and physical therapists. It can also include ongoing activities such as dialysis treatment or wound care as examples.

Conversely, there are non medical home care service providers who only focus on activities of daily living. This is, activities related to housekeeping, running errands, meal preparation and companionship. Often, this type of support is all that may be necessary to keep your parents healthy and safe in their own home.

Some providers will actually do both. They have services for those seeking non medical as well as medical care.
Regardless of your parents care situation you should at least ask some basic questions before contracting with any home care company.

Those basic questions are:

- How long has the agency been in business?

- Is the agency evaluated and accredited by an outside body? If so, is there accreditation up to date?

- Is the agency certified by Medicare? If so, ask for a copy of the medicare survey report which shows results for items such as safety.

- Does the agency have a state license?

- Do they have a list of references? From both clients as well as physicians in the area.

About the author:
Caregivery.com is a free nationwide directory of senior care services. We provide a comprehensive listing of elder care services by city and state. Search for nursing homes, assisted living Centers, home health care agencies and individual caregivers in your local area.

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