Many people unexpectedly find themselves in
situations where they need help from child care
providers, caregivers, companions, or home health
aides. Because most of us don t have experience
navigating the realm of domestic professional
services, it s often difficult to know where to
turn. A good home care agency can be a godsend,
providing us with highly qualified assistants and
much-needed peace of mind. Here, then, are answers
to common questions about a home care agency…
Who Uses a Home Care Agency?
The best home care agencies serve a variety of
people, such as professional couples, single
parents, retired seniors, the terminally ill, and
those who are developmentally or physically
challenged. For example, a professional couple
might require the services of a nanny, who can
care for their children, as well as do light
housework and cook. A single parent may need child
care providers who can come in and help when two
hands and one heart just arent enough.
A mother who works from home could use a mothers
helper to run errands, help with meals, and do the
laundry. For adult children whose parents are
infirm, a home health aide can provide respite
from the responsibilities associated with caring
for elderly parents. For adult children who live a
long distance from their parents, having a
caregiver can bring peace of mind. And seniors who
prefer to live at home rather than in a retirement
home or assisted living facility can often use a
helping hand. What Services Does a Home Care
Agency Provide? You can think of a home care
agency as a kind of employment agency, in that it
provides highly qualified child care providers,
nannies, a home health aide, a nurse
aide/assistant, and other types of caregivers. In
the realm of health care, assistance can encompass
everything from medication supervision to
incontinence assistance and from meal planning to
accompanying someone to doctors appointments.
Child care can incorporate everything from
babysitting to full-time live-in nannies. A good
home care agency provides caregivers for a wide
range of needs, including short-term or long-term,
part-time or full-time, and live-in or live-out.
They should also be able to accommodate your needs
in terms of the times of day you need assistance,
such as day shifts, swing shifts, or overnight
service. How Do I Know Providers are Qualified? It
s crucial to find a home care agency that has
rigorous screening procedures. All home care
providers, for example, should have verifiable
references, an impeccable background check, a
clean driving record, and CPR training. If you
need a Certified Nurses Assistant or a Certified
Home Health Aide, the agency should provide you
with their credentials. In addition to the
caregiver s qualifications, you should ensure that
he or she is a good fit with your loved one.
Therefore, the home care agency should give you
the opportunity to interview several qualified
providers, either in your home or in the agency s
office. Only when you are comfortable with both
the caregiver s qualifications and their
personality should you consent to hire him or
her.