If you’re in a place where you constantly worry about a senior loved one whenever you’re not around, you know they need professional help. Chances are you’ve known that for a while.
You’ve probably already discussed hiring a professional senior care company with your siblings or family members. You all agree your senior loved one needs help, but sometimes they don’t want to give up on the comfort and independence they’ve grown accustomed to.
When it comes to in home care Beverly Hills residents have a number of choices. A lot of companies offer professional in home care services that meet your senior loved one’s needs.
Alternatively, companies like A Better Way in Home Care can refer and help you find an experienced independent caregiver that can help your family with a wide array of services meant to make senior’s lives easier such as helping seniors maintain an active lifestyle.
But how do you ensure your senior loved one receives nothing but the best care? In this article, we’ll share a few tips on how to find the perfect caregiver.
Home Care Agency Representative is a Good Listener
Before you settle on any kind of senior home care plan or have a consultation, you need to speak to a company representative. With senior home care agencies, you shouldn’t have to compromise when it comes to senior care.
We understand that every senior is different and a good caregiver is not a universal term. That is why we strive to connect families to independent caregivers based on the initial consultation and let families choose someone who they think is a perfect match.
That is why a great home care agency rep has to listen to your troubles, to understand what your senior loved one is going through and most importantly to understand what they need.
Any good relationship starts with a good first impression, and if the company representative listens to and understands what you share with them, you’re on a good path.
Independent Caregivers Offer a Tailored Plan
We simply cannot stress this enough, but the plan a senior caregiver offers has to be unique and has to suit your needs. During this relationship, your senior loved one might become more dependent or even more independent, and the caregiver has to be able to respond.
That is why the care plan a caregiver suggests should adapt to new situations or your senior’s needs. The plan needs to evolve to include more or fewer services such as meal preparation, transportation or even live in home care if necessary.
Working with independent caregivers is much easier in that regard, as they are often more flexible than big home care companies. We can help you find a caregiver you like and you can work all the fine details directly with them.
Caregiver Selection Should Not Be Random
Ask a home care company representative how they will determine who will be helping you’re senior loved one and catering to their needs. If they answer that they will select an available caregiver or that different caregivers will be working in shifts, this could be a red flag.
The choice of a caregiver should not be left to chance or fall on the first available caregiver. The caregiver you hire should be a match to your senior loved one in more than one ways. They need to possess the skills and strengths necessary to be able to help your senior loved one.
This is why referring an independent caregiver through a referral agency has more benefits than working with an Employee-based home care company. We will recommend the caregivers that meet your requirements and you can pick the one you think will do the best job.
For example, if your senior loved one suffers from impaired mobility, the caregiver needs to be strong enough to carry their weight in order to help them move around the house if necessary, take them to the doctors’ appointment, etc.
Expertise and personality are what makes or breaks a good caregiver deal. If their personalities don’t match, you have every right to look for a new caregiver. The same goes if you find that the assigned caregiver doesn’t have the skills required to take care of your mom or dad.
If your senior loved one does not feel comfortable around their caregiver and if you notice there’s no connection after the initial awkwardness has passed, seek out other options.
Caregiver Should Keep a Caregiver Log
A caregiver log is a great way to monitor your senior loved one’s progress and what type of care they receive day to day. Moreover, a caregiver log will show you just how much a caregiver pays attention to your senior parent.
Caregiver logs are especially important if you live far away from your senior loved ones and do not have constant contact or cannot visit them as often. Long distance caregivers depend on this information to make sure that they are receiving the full scope of services they are paying for.
Private Families Looking for Great Care Should Look for More
Finally, a professional caregiver should be someone you can consider a part of your family.
Of course, you can’t expect a stranger who walked into your home a couple of weeks ago to become as dear as any of your family members. But over time, the connection you have with the caregiver and the connection they develop with your senior loved one should grow into something more. And if the caregiver and the senior match, it most certainly will.
You should feel comfortable with your caregiver around and they should care about what happens to you and your senior loved one. This is what separates a professional caregiver from someone who’s doing the job they don’t love.
