Chronic medical conditions can often worsen with age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading chronic conditions for folks over age 65 are heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and arthritis. These ailments require specific care, especially for patients in their golden years. If you are looking for the right caregiver for your elderly loved one, there are some important considerations to make. Here are some helpful tips as you search for the right elderly care experience.
Check Qualifications and Ratings
Whether you are opting for in-home care or a senior home facility, you must ensure the authority and validity of anyone who will be working directly with your loved one. Be sure to thoroughly examine the qualifications and relevant experience of anyone you are looking to hire. Make sure anyone you work with can pass a thorough background check as well.
Consider What Your Senior Wants
Your loved one should be the ultimate decision-maker during this process. After all, this is their life! Make sure you take their preferences into consideration. For example, if your loved one mentions that they would prefer to stay in their own home, you should look at in-home caregivers first. However, you may need to make an executive decision if your loved one is incapable of making safe, sound decisions themselves.
Schedule Visits
Comfort and familiarity are keys to elderly care of any kind. Whether it is in-home care or care at a senior home, you must ensure that your loved one has a good rapport with the staff they will be interacting with on a daily basis. You can begin building this rapport by scheduling visits and meetings where your loved one can chat with prospective staff members. This will allow everyone to get to know each other and begin building a strong bond that will set the foundation for the most quality care possible.
If you are ready to begin exploring your loved one's options, we are here to help. Give Home Instead a call today to learn about all the possibilities available to you and your family.
