Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Home Care Services

When you are in the market for home care services, you may feel confused and apprehensive about the whole process. While allowing someone or several people into your home can be a worrisome prospect, when you know what to look for in a home care service for yourself, it does not have to be a bad process at all.

Here are some of the factors that you will want to consider when you choose your home care service provider, so you can make the right decision for your needs.

One of the things you will need to think about as you select a home care service or caregiver for yourself is the legitimacy of the care giving service. Investigating their legitimacy will require you to check the certifications of the organization.

There are different organizations that can certify a home care services organization. One such organization is the National Association of Home Care and Hospice. Another agency that can provide certifications is the National Board for Certification of Hospice & Palliative Nurses.

Both organizations have rigorous certification criteria based on the quality of care provided. However, the National Association of Home Care and Hospice works with all types of in-home caregivers whereas the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses focuses primarily on nurses providing medical care in the home.

When you check the different certifications and awards that were given to a care giving service, it can help you to determine if an organization would be suitable as your provider. For an individual caregiver, you will want to check certifications such as CNA licenses, CPR certifications, and the like. These certifications can help you feel assured that the person is a legitimate caregiver.

Another factor to consider when you are choosing a home care services provider is the types of services they provide. Generally, when it comes to home care, there are typically two categories of services, often designated as home health care and home care services. While the two terms may seem interchangeable, they actually describe two distinct forms of care.

Home health care services are provided by nurses or certified nursing assistants with medical training and licenses. Generally, either a nurse practitioner or a licensed doctor oversees or recommends home health services. Nurses and their assistants meet daily needs.

When a person chooses home health care services it is because they need medical care or assistance in some way. For example, if they need to be given their medication every day, need an IV bag changed regularly, or need wound care, home health care services would be the way to go.

For people that do not want or need medical care in their home, there are basic home care services. These home care services are often companionship care services, such as providing company and conversation to people that might be housebound or otherwise isolated.

Other basic home care services include transportation services, cooking, cleaning services, laundry services, and assistance with daily living tasks like dressing and personal hygiene tasks. Essentially, general home care services cover everything that is non-medical care.

Some people choose to combine those services, hiring nurses as well as companionship caregivers to serve all of their needs. Others choose one or the other or change services as their needs change. Choosing your caregiving service should primarily revolve around meeting your most pressing and immediate needs.