Most of us want to take care of our own families, so arriving at a decision to hire a stranger to come into the home to help with the care of a loved one can be difficult. Still, once people find a good home care agency and regular caregivers to help care for a loved one, they often wish they'd taken action earlier.
When is In-home Care the best option?
In-home care is a logical first step for someone who needs help for a few hours a day, say when the family caregiver is at work or otherwise unavailable. It's also a good choice for elderly spouses, when bathing and other heavy work is involved in caregiving. Hiring an in-home caregiver to do the literal heavy lifting, while the elderly spouse gives emotional support, is generally a workable option that helps people remain in their homes for a longer period of time.
Even the government is getting wise to the benefits of in-home care. Funding for in-home care is getting more attention as our aging population needs care and government agencies are waking up to the fact that people staying at home longer is cheaper than if they go to a nursing home as soon as they need assistance. Let's hope this trend continues.
Continue reading for some questions to ask a home health care agency before you hire them.