Things To Consider When Transitioning To In-Home Health Care

Many families with aging loved ones have started facing the reality of the levels of care that aging adults need. Unfortunately, many families are ill-prepared for the time and effort required to allow an older family member to age in place. That's where home care services come in. Sometimes, it starts as an occasional visit, such as a few times a week. Then, it often progresses to brief visits every day to ensure that all is well. Over time, that care need transitions to a 24-hour care need. Here's a look at some of the things that you should know about transitioning your loved one to 24-hour in-home health care. 

Be Selective

When you choose 24-hour in-home care, you're selecting what is essentially a residential care provider. That provider will live in the house with your loved one, or there will be two twelve-hour shifts of care providers who are present but don't reside in the house. No matter which option you choose, it's important that you are selective about those providers. You need to be comfortable with them but, more importantly, your loved one needs to be comfortable with them. Make sure that the dynamic is there through a gradual introduction, maybe through brief visits for a week or two, before you commit to any single care provider.

Know What You Need

Before you pursue in-home care full-time for a family member, you also need to familiarize yourself with exactly what you need from that care provider. Take time to write down your loved one's specific medical and supportive care needs so that you have a clear picture of what you'll expect from any caregiver that you hire. This is essential for the interview process because your caregiver wants a clear picture of expectations and you need to be sure that anyone you choose will meet those needs that you have.

For example, will you need someone who can assist with bathing? Are cooking services required for meal times or just oversight to ensure safety? Does your loved one face any mobility challenges that need to be accounted for? All of these things should be addressed as part of that initial discussion.

Understand The Living Arrangements

If you're hiring a live-in caregiver who will work with your loved one around the clock, you'll have to provide a bedroom and bathroom for them to have their own space. In addition, live-in caregivers must be permitted a break for sleep, so you may need to have a relief option for those hours. If you're going to have in-home caregivers who simply rotate shifts, make sure you ask about any specific needs they might have for their time in the house since they will be there so much. The better prepared you are, the easier the transition is.

These are some of the most important things to think about when you're dealing with home health care services for an aging family member. Talk with a home health care service provider near you today for more help.