How to find the best in-home caregiver for an elderly person
About ten years ago, I attended my grandmother’s funeral, and while it was a sad event, what stood out to me most about that moment was how much my mother talked about the number of caregivers that went through before my grandmother passed away. I’ve tried not to think about it too much, but the reality is that my parents are getting on in years. Both my brother and I will have to think about finding a home caregiver for all the needs of the elderly in the coming years.
To tell the truth, I don’t want to think about it, but therein lies the big problem: no one talks about it. Everyone puts off these big discussions for later, but it comes later and there are no dice. Eventually, ‘later’ will not be an option and difficult decisions will need to be made. The last thing anyone wants is stress when an older family member is sick. If there’s one thing that’s seen an increase in numbers, it’s that more families are discussing end-of-life planning, but there’s still a pretty big gap in the number of people talking about what they want their care to look like. advanced age.
If you and your family are at the beginning of your own discussions about elderly care for a loved one, here are some ways to help you find the right home caregiver:
Prepare a list of specific care needs for your loved one – As with most things in life, what one person needs may not be on someone else’s radar. Find out what ‘in-home senior care’ will mean for your family. This list will be the cornerstone of the hiring process.
Ask your friends, co-workers and others for information – It is likely that other people around you have gone through the same thing you are embarking on. Don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations and reviews from those around you. For example, if you have teachers in the family, have them ask the school nurse for information.
Contact the community for advice – Churches, community halls, and senior centers are places you can go for help. Each one works with people of all ages and may have a few numbers you can contact.
Make the interview process all-inclusive – If your older loved one is able to do this, let them be a part of the caregiver interview process. Prepare a list of questions ahead of time and be sure to have as many family members present as possible. Not only does it help keep everyone informed, but it also ensures that any questions that may have been missed can be asked by someone else. Finally, having more than one person there means that information discussed can be verified by multiple people in case it is addressed later.
The process of finding an in-home caregiver for all of your senior needs is not easy. It requires a time commitment and a willingness to put in a lot of effort to choose the right person or service to fit your elderly loved one’s needs. The key is to make sure that everyone in the family, especially the older people in your life, is involved and feels that they are being heard.