How do you choose the best in-home senior caregiving company?
Answers
The companies are all the same; they want to make a profit. It’s the staff who will be different and make the difference. Companies have a nurse who assesses the client’s needs medically, and that assessment gives them the baseline of services needed. Now, if private insurances are paying, your caregiver will be licensed and certified, and that’s the rule. But, since most don’t pay for home care, these companies do not pay for licensed staff. They “train” their caregivers for a half-day, maybe more, on how to help a person bathe, transfer, how to understand meds, the rules on assisting with medications, and that is it. You or your insurance will be paying the company upwards, and the actual caregiver will be making minimum wage. These sound terrible even in writing.
There is another option, though: Private caregivers. Someone with years of experience, one with references from people who have employed this particular caregiver, can be the perfect fit. Most can cook well, do light housekeeping well and understand the needs of various clients.
It is a detailed process and needs consideration, care, and time. But these are the general steps:
• Request information on costs
• Find out about the minimum work hours
• Identify the type, size, and ownership of the company (franchise or independent)
• Make sure to check the bonding, insurance, and license of the agency
• Ask About Accreditation and Certification
• Learn about the hiring and training procedures for caregivers
• Check the caregiver’s background
• Ask about after-hours and emergency calls (they might have a different phone number for these calls)
• Research the company’s reputation
• Compare and assess potential agencies using a list
My first tip is to make your decision based on where your loved one lives. Suppose the home is not very accessible. In that case, you will need to prioritize an agency capable of aiding them with tasks like grocery shopping, making appointments, and arranging therapy or other events. So, in short, you must think of all the things your loved one would want out of an in-home caregiving agency. My other tip would be to consult with numerous agencies. In doing so, you will ensure the person you’re hiring has the most appropriate attitude and a matching personality with your senior loved one. Plus, by talking to many people, you increase the chances of finding the most experienced person who can take care of all the needs of your close one.
Here’s a list of items you may consider choosing the best in-home caregiving companies.
• Foundation date Generally, the older the company, the more information you can get through searching. • The rate of staff retention Well-established companies employ trained and experienced caregivers and keep them satisfied.
• Asking for information Demand some information about the company’s fees and services. The quality of the information they provide you can tell you a lot about the company.
• The way the caregivers are selected Reputable companies set up a balance between experience, training, and a person’s innate talent for care. Besides, a well-established company should meticulously interview and screen applicants, including checking their criminal backgrounds, personality evaluation, and reference checks.
• Providing liability insurance Ensure the in-home company has coverage to safeguard your senior. Below, 6 of the best in-home care providing companies in Toronto are introduced:
1. Eldercare Home Health Inc. It’s the only health care service delivering PSW care run by registered nurses and Registered Practical Nurses at no additional fee.
Source: https://www.eldercarehomehealth.com/
2. VHA Home Health Care It’s a nonprofit charitable center offering round-the-clock care and support services without any limitations regarding age and cultural backgrounds. Source: https://www.vha.ca/
3. Nurse Next Door Home Care Services A caregiver should be comforting, not overwhelming. Source: https://www.nursenextdoor.com/ 4. Home Care Assistance of Toronto Established in 2002 by Kathy Johnson, Ph.D., this center has a holistic approach to the elderly’s care.
5. C-Care Health Services Toronto Over 15 years of experience in this field, this center is familiar with in-home care services and facilities. The inexpensive hourly rate encourages you to have long-term contracts. The center also delivers flexible schedules ranging from a few hours a day to 24 hours a day for all days of the week. Source: https://www.c-care.ca/
6. Retire-At-Home Services Toronto East Source: https://retireathometoronto.com/
The companies are all the same; they want to make a profit. It’s the staff who will be different and make the difference. Companies have a nurse who assesses the client’s needs medically, and that assessment gives them the baseline of services needed. Now, if private insurances are paying, your caregiver will be licensed and certified, and that’s the rule. But, since most don’t pay for home care, these companies do not pay for licensed staff. They “train” their caregivers for a half-day, maybe more, on how to help a person bathe, transfer, how to understand meds, the rules on assisting with medications, and that is it. You or your insurance will be paying the company upwards, and the actual caregiver will be making minimum wage. These sound terrible even in writing.
There is another option, though: Private caregivers. Someone with years of experience, one with references from people who have employed this particular caregiver, can be the perfect fit. Most can cook well, do light housekeeping well and understand the needs of various clients.
