When you have a loved one who needs Scottsdale senior care, you may not realize that you have various options. Home care services in Scottsdale can easily provide what they need without disrupting their lives, providing you with peace of mind that they are in good, capable hands.
Heritage Home Care provides in-home caregiving in Scottsdale to meet a variety of needs. In this blog post, we discuss what in-home care is and how you can make the right choice for your loved one.
What Is In-Home Care?
In-home care is designed to provide your loved one with the ability to stay in the comfort of their own home. Within this familiar environment, in-home care professionals come to assist with daily activities. Older adults who have disabilities, are recovering from surgery, or have chronic illnesses can greatly benefit from this assistance.
Generally, it provides personal care, such as bathing, dressing, and grooming. Custodial care for house cleaning and assistance with chores, as well as meal preparation, which is another way that in-home care can help a loved one. These services also extend to transportation, such as to and from doctor’s appointments or the supermarket. They can also provide medication reminders and, equally as important, companionship that brightens your family member’s day.
If you have an aging loved one that you are trying to take care of, it can be incredibly stressful and taxing on your physical and mental health. By having in-home care arranged for your family member, you can ensure they get the help they need while having time to take care of your own needs.
Making the Right Choice for In-Home Care Services
Since it’s a big decision to trust someone else to care for your loved one, it can feel overwhelming to sift through your options. These tips will help you find the right match for the care they need.
Determine What Your Loved One Needs
One of the most important factors to consider before you begin your search is to determine the type of care needed by your loved one. For example, if your relative needs nursing or physical therapy, you’d need to consider home health care rather than in-home care services. If they only need help with daily activities or medication reminders, in-home care will be an appropriate choice. Don’t forget to consider how often they will need this care, and if there are any other preferences, such as language preferences, that you would need met by the caregiver.
Review Credentials
Before calling in-home care agencies, make sure you check that they have the right licensing. You can review this with the Arizona Department of Health Services and also look for additional certifications.
Check the Reputation and Experience of the Provider
A well-established provider of home care services in Scottsdale is more likely to have a reputable track record. Look at how many years they have been caring for seniors of other families and check their client testimonials. You’ll also want to check that the caregivers are properly trained to provide the type of care your relative needs. When you work with a reputable in-home care service, they will be transparent about their background checks, training, and supervision, giving you greater peace of mind.
Understand the Agency’s Approach to In-Home Care
One of the best options will be finding an in-home care service that personalizes plans to fit your needs. The communication style and procedures they have for handling emergencies or sudden changes should be discussed upfront to ensure they meet your expectations.
Choose the In-Home Care Service That Makes You Feel Comfortable
Go with your gut in making a decision on in-home care. The right choice will be the provider that makes you feel comfortable and confident that they can properly assist your aging loved one and give them the support and dignity they deserve.
Asking the Right Questions of Your In-Home Caregiving Scottsdale Provider
Many families have never worried about finding in-home care for a loved one and aren’t sure what they should ask. It helps to make a list of questions and ask them of each potential in-home care service to compare and make your decision.
You might think about asking which services they provide and digging deeper to ensure that the care your loved one needs could be provided by this agency. Beyond that, you might draw a blank. Some common questions to put on your list include:
- What happens if the caregiver is unavailable due to illness or another reason?
- How do you monitor their performance?
- What is your policy for handling emergencies that may arise?
- How do you handle communications with family?
- Do you have minimum hourly requirements?
- Can care plans be adjusted with changing needs?
These are just a few examples of questions that may better help you find the right in-home care services in Scottsdale to meet the needs of your loved one.
Is In-Home Care the Right Choice for Your Loved One?
If your loved one does not need a nurse or constant medical care, in-home care may be the perfect way to bridge the gap in their life and yours. Caring for an elderly loved one can be exhausting, and if they’ve just had surgery and need some extra help for a short time, or they need daily help with chores and daily tasks for the long term, this may be just what your family needs.
There are many benefits to choosing in-home care rather than putting your relative in a new setting:
Greater Flexibility
Care facilities offer less flexibility, and when your loved one doesn’t need constant medical care, it isn’t necessary. In-home care allows you to get the assistance needed for your family member, whether you need a break for a day or you need a few hours each day to take care of yourself.
Personalization
Your loved one may want a companion who joins them for walks or gardening, or they may need help cooking themselves nutritious meals. When you choose in-home care, you can personalize the services to ensure they get what they need rather than choosing a one-size-fits-all approach.
Help Maintain Independence
In-home care services in Scottsdale allow your loved one to keep their independence. They might not need help all day, or every day, and by having these bespoke types of services, they get the help they need while staying in their familiar surroundings.
Peace of Mind
As the people we love grow older, it is normal to worry about their care. While they might not need full medical care and nursing all day every day, you may be afraid that they’ll be lonely or struggle to bathe or do other daily tasks. You might even need to call them to remind them of medications, further stressing yourself out. Instead, choose an in-home care provider who can help ensure they get assistance with these things, allowing you to free yourself from the burden of worry.
The Heritage Home Care Approach
If you have an elderly loved one who needs personal care, companion care, meal prep, and other in-home care services, Heritage Home Care takes a personalized approach. We have helped families in Scottsdale give their relatives the dignified care they need in their own homes for decades. Contact us today and let us work together to help your loved one thrive.