The Perfect Fit: How to Find In-Home Care
Recently, several of our caregivers received thoughtful handwritten thank you notes from the adult child of one of our clients. This daughter, who lived out of town, expressed gratitude for being able to keep her mom at home while her health declined. The extra sets of hands meant that she and her brother and father could focus on their relationship with their loved one rather than having to navigate end-of-life care. In this example—as well as countless others I have had the privilege of witnessing—home care can provide value not just for the patient but for her family.
Determining how to select an in-home care provider can be confusing for those who are not familiar with the industry. Non-medical in-home care agencies provide companionship and supervision and offer help with activities of daily living, meal preparation, housekeeping, and transportation. Home health care agencies, on the other hand, provide skilled nursing care for patients in need of significant medical attention and can include specialists in hospice care; speech, occupational, and physical therapy; pharmaceutical and infusion therapy; and home medical equipment.
Regardless of what level of care is needed, it’s important to choose the provider that is best suited to you or your loved one’s specific needs. Here are a few tips to help ensure your loved one is safe and well cared for:
1. Plan ahead.
While no one likes to think about getting older, the truth is, if we’re lucky and live long enough, it happens to all of us. When would you rather prepare…when you’re under stress or when you’re able to carefully consider all of the options? At Senior Citizens, Inc., our certified Aging Life Specialists advocate for your needs—whether they’re for a short time or a lifetime—and remain confidential.
2. Work with a reputable agency.
While working with an independent caregiver may provide some cost savings, you’d also be acting as an employer responsible for hiring, firing, background checks, confirming certifications, and more. And “more” could mean liability coverage should the caregiver be injured in your home! SCI, for example, is fully insured and bonded and offers a licensed program, which includes oversight by a registered nurse, and extensive professional, personal, criminal, and driving background screenings. In addition, seek out agencies that can provide a continuum of care that can fill the gap as you age regardless of your level of need.
3. Understand billing ahead of time.
Depending on the types of services provided, as well as the specific condition of your loved one, in-home care services may be covered by long-term care insurance or, if you are a veteran or the spouse of a veteran, you might be eligible for a Veterans Administration-administered program called Aid & Attendance. Our in-home team can advise you on the available options and make sure you don’t leave any cash on the table.
While this list is in no way exhaustive, it gives you some pointers for navigating the in-home care selection process. As your neighbor and as a local nonprofit helping people age successfully for more than 60 years now, SCI stands ready and available to help you, whether we’re delivering meals to your home after surgery, offering online courses through The Learning Center while you recuperate, or providing adult day health or in-home skilled nursing care.
For more information about SCI’s In-Home Services, or to learn more about other available community resources, call Senior Citizens Inc. at 912-236-0363 or toll-free at 866-579-2116 or visit www.seniorcitizensinc.org.
Patti Lyons is president of Senior Citizens, Inc., a nonprofit organization in Savannah and coastal Georgia that has been helping people age successfully since 1959. She serves as the chair on the Meals on Wheels America Board and is a governor’s appointee to the Georgia Council on Aging. Learn more at www.seniorcitizensinc.org.
This article originally appeared in the December 2020 issue of Ardsley Living.