There are a number of aspects associated with choosing senior care services for an older adult you love. In our ongoing commitment to help families knowledgeably sort through their options for in-home care, we recommend the following:

• Evaluate Needs

With a professional home care agency, you will never need to worry about determining what services will be best for the senior's particular challenges. Prior to beginning of care, the agency will visit the senior in the home and ask a variety of questions. This information will be used to develop a customized plan of care designed to meet the individual needs of the person who needs care. The agency may also work with the older adult’s doctors or others on the care team in order to coordinate other care services that may be needed.

• Who Will Manage the Care?
A professional home care agency has a supervisor who can oversee regular check-ins and modify the care plan as needs change. Many families also choose to partner with a geriatric care manager who will not only help to coordinate care, but also serve the client’s advocate.

• Care Transitions
  Care needs can change over time from basic assistance with day-to-day activities and personal care to skilled medical care and back again to basic assistance. A professional home care agency will help make these types of care transitions as simple and as seamless as possible, offering recommendations, assisting with transitions, and coordinating changing care needs.

We hope that this information will prove to be helpful in the process of selecting senior care services for someone you love. Engaging the services of a caregiver through a dependable home care agency, such as Help at Home Senior Care, is always the safest choice. We’d love the opportunity to learn more about a senior you love and to help him or her live an active, engaged, and independent life with the companionship of one of our friendly caregivers. Reach out to us at (530) 885-7444 for more information on how our professional home and memory care in Auburn and surrounding areas can make each day the very best it can be for an older adult you love.

When it comes to selecting home care for elderly loved ones, there are a variety of options available to families, and it's very important to diligently research and ask the right questions in order to ensure the highest levels of care. Help at Home Senior Care has compiled the questions below that can help when contacting home care agencies to ensure you’re making an informed decision: 

Services

• List of services. Do they offer services specific to the senior's requirements? Is someone on staff available to provide details on all services, eligibility requirements and funding sources? Can you access this information online or can it be sent to you?
• Supervision and training. What professional training and certification does the agency require of its direct care providers? How frequently do the supervisors oversee the care providers to guarantee proper care is being provided?
• Documentation and coordination. Are visits documented? Do family members have easy access? Does the agency coordinate with the senior's home health team to provide a coordinated plan of care?

Caregivers

• Duration of visits. How frequently will the caregiver visit, and how long does she or he stay for each visit? Does the agency provide care on evenings, weekends, and holidays? Will the visit allow for time to engage in conversations and to get to know the senior?
• Rotation of care. Is care provided on a consistent basis by the same caregiver, or is care rotated between multiple people? If caregivers rotate, how frequently? Will the family receive advance notification when a caregiver change is made?
• Accessibility. Does the caregiver and office staff maintain frequent contact? Will they keep you informed of any changes in the older adult’s health, condition, or plan of care?

Costs

• Billing and funding. Are services covered by long-term care insurance or available grants? Do they provide printed statements outlining costs? How often is the care invoiced if there is payment due?
• Additional fees. Are there fees for specialized or extended services? Are there payment plans in place for out-of-pocket services?

We hope that if a senior you love is in Grass Valley or the surrounding areas, you’ll consider partnering with Help at Home Senior Care for your care needs. With years of experience and a full range of services, including companionship, respite care, specialized dementia care and much more, we’re here for you for a few hours a week all the way up to round-the-clock care. Reach out to us any time at (530) 885-7444 to learn more about our top-rated respite care in Grass Valley, CA and nearby areas, and to schedule a complimentary in-home consultation today. 

Millions of Americans struggle with the decision of whether their senior parents are able to afford long-term care. Monetary issues can be a sensitive subject matter, and when it is time to begin giving thought to long-term care needs, holding an open and honest dialogue about how to financially prepare for long-term care services is essential.

To that end, our home care team has put together the following questions to help you get started:

• What are your parents’ assets? A good starting point is to figure out approximately how much money your parents have available in cash, investments, and Social Security. This supplies a foundation for covering long-term care charges.
• Do your parents anticipate the need for financial assistance? People are living longer than ever, which means more people are outliving the finances they have set aside for retirement. Ask your parents if they have enough funds to sustain their needs for the rest of their lives. If not, how much additional support will be required?
• Do your parents have insurance? Determine if your parents possess a long-term care insurance policy as well as life insurance, and ensure you have a good understanding of their policies.
• Do you have access to their passwords and account numbers? Request account and password details, and keep a copy of these details, together with contact information for your parents’ attorney and financial advisor. This will make it a simpler process to deal with affairs when the need arises.
• Have your parents signed a power of attorney? Recommend to your parents that they choose and finalize paperwork for a power of attorney so that they are assured that there is a responsible, trustworthy person to make decisions on their behalf in the instance of a medical emergency.

Preparing ahead for long-term care is vital, and best accomplished while your parents are independent and thriving. Gaining an understanding of their finances now will help you be better prepared for their care in the future.

At Help at Home Senior Care, we understand that conversations about elder care and finances can be difficult, and we’re always available to help. Contact our home care experts at (530) 885-7444 to learn more about our home care in Grass Valley, CA and other nearby communities.