Every day, more young people are realizing they need help to care for aging and disabled loved ones. There is no shame in admitting that you, by yourself, can’t meet the needs of your loved one. Caring for another adult, particularly those who have special medical or health needs, is a full-time job, and for those who are already working, it can be difficult to juggle the demands of caregiving on top of a day job. Inevitably, you will start to wonder, “What are the best home health care services near me?”
Home Health Care Services Near Me: How to Find the Best Options
When you start to ask, “What are the best home care services near me?”, you will run into the conundrum of how to tell good services from bad services. Admittedly, it’s a little bit of homework, but knowing the ins and outs of at-home care versus a long-term care facility will help you narrow down your choices to find the best service. You will need to ask four main questions, including:
1. Does the Service Hire Certified Health Care Aides?
One of the most important qualifiers for determining if a home health care service is a good option is to look into the health care aides that are hired by the service. The best services will hire certified caregivers who are trained in the tasks that are required for taking care of disabled or aging clients. Services that are especially good will provide health care aides with continual training and will require regular re-certification for caregivers.
Can You Pick the Aides?
Yes, most home health care services will allow you or your family to select the caregivers that will take care of your loved ones. You will be able to meet with and interview potential caregivers, as well as train them in specific tasks. The best services will also allow you to reserve the right to dismiss any caregiver who does not meet the standards of care you expect.
The ability to pick the aides that are caring for your loved one is essential because caregiving is inherently intimate. The personalities of the caregiver and the client must match well to see the best results from at-home care. Additionally, you and the client must also be able to trust in the caregiver and their abilities, and having a hand in selecting the caregiver will serve as reassurance that your loved one is getting the best possible care at home.
2. What Kind of Assistance Is Provided?
Good services will provide multiple types of assistance. The truth is that every client has different needs and varying levels of independence. Because each client is different, it’s essential that the assistance provided to the client is tailored to the client – and the family’s – needs. There are three main types of assistance, including:
Long Term Assistance
Long-term assistance refers to daily services that help with daily functioning. Long-term assistance is ideal for clients who live alone or who are home alone during the day, and who require help with most things. Long-term assistance can address a lot of needs, such as:
- Bathing, dressing, and grooming
- Nursing services
- Dietary monitoring
- Walking and fall prevention
- Transportation
- Shopping and errands
- Laundry and housework
- Emotional support
- Hospice and respite care
Short-Term Assistance
Short-term assistance is a type of partial or as-needed assistance for clients who are moderately independent, or who can perform most tasks by themselves. Short-term assistance is ideal for care after surgery, during physical therapy, or temporary disability and can include tasks such as:
- Range of motion assistance
- Transferring and positioning
- Walking
- Activities of daily living
- Dietary monitoring
- Respite care
Pediatric Support
Home health care is not only for aging and disabled individuals – premature infants and their families can also benefit from these services. Premature babies typically have many health needs that new parents may not be able to provide around the clock. Additionally, toddlers with disabilities may require additional at-home medical support from qualified medical professionals. Some services for pediatric support include:
- Feeding and bathing
- Medical monitoring
- Transitional support
- Maternity services
- Respite care
3. Are There Personalized Care Plans?
It’s also important that the home health service you select can personalize care plans. The best services take into account the specific needs of your loved ones so that you can be confident all needs are met for your loved one. The ability to personalize care plans also supports independence and empowerment for your loved ones since they will be able to help determine the type of care they need for healthy daily functioning.
What Is Proactive Planning?
Part of personalizing a care plan is being proactive about planning. At-home care for a loved one can be a complicated process that involves a lot of insurance, financing, and resources. Proactive planning puts the power in your hands to help you build a care plan that meets the needs of your loved one and enables you to be financially secure while providing at-home care.
Good home health care services will provide you with educational resources and personal advice from industry professionals so you can make informed decisions.
4. What Are the Financing Options?
Finally, you will want to be sure you select a home health care service with financing options that you can easily meet. The best services have a range of financing options to pick from, including government assistance, private insurance, and out-of-pocket financing, or a combination of options to provide affordable at-home care.
Is Health Care Assistance Covered by Medicaid or Medicare?
Yes, sometimes at-home health care is covered by Medicaid or Medicare. Usually, coverage will depend on the client’s qualifying disabilities, their current insurance plans, and other factors related to coverage. Often, local government programs prefer to pay for at-home health care rather than long-term care facilities because it saves money in the long run.
Why Home Health Care Instead of Long-Term Care Facilities?
There is no right or wrong reason to choose home health care instead of a long-term care facility. The truth is this: the decision of what type of care your elderly or disabled loved one needs will depend on your finances and the amount of care they require. The goal when you make this decision must absolutely focus on what is best for your loved one.
If your loved one will be happier and healthier at home as opposed to a long-term care facility, and if home health care is capable of providing the support they need to live safely, then hiring a health care aide is the best option. If you still aren’t sure, you can also speak with professional planners and physicians for care advice to find the best solution for you and your family.
So, “What are the best home health care services near me?” While the final choice may depend on the exact assistance you are looking for, you can be sure that the best services will have certified health care aides and a variety of assistance options for your loved one. Ultimately, the “best home health care services near me” are the ones that meet all of your needs – including your financial needs. For more guidance on how to pick the best home health care services near you, please contact Parent Care in Brooklyn, NY today.
