Q. My elderly mother, 82 years, has been living independently in her home since my dad, her husband, passed away nearly ten years ago. Iâm fortunate that she lives across town from me, but I canât always pop in as often as Iâd like to see her. Although she insists sheâs fine, I worry about her. I worry about her falling in the shower or just being lonely throughout the week. Iâve heard commercials advertising home care for seniors and am interested in learning more about what it is. What tips do you have for someone who is brand-new to this stage of life, and how to I get my mom on board?
A. Senior home care is a wonderful option for seniors who need a little assistance or friendly companionship when their family cannot be around. Today, there are a variety of home care companies that provide care for seniors. You certainly have your choice when it comes to finding senior home care for your mom.
Since you are brand new to this arena, I want to clarify that home care differs from home health. Home health involves a care team assigned to meet a skilled nursing need. Home care is non-medical care, such as assistance with bathing or dressing, light housekeeping, laundry, or companionship, provided by a caregiver.
When looking into home care options, I highly recommend interviewing companies that are licensed and insured. In todayâs market, anyone can call themselves a caregiver. By choosing home care companies that are licensed and insured, youâll have peace of mind knowing that the company will have done their due diligence prior to hiring their caregivers. They also have the resources to train their caregiving team, so you can rest assured that your momâs caregiver is highly skilled and capable.
Before you schedule interviews with home care companies, sit down with your mom to discuss her care needs. A simple broach to this topic is âMom, I worry about you when youâre all alone. I worry about you falling in the shower or being lonely during the day. It would put my mind at ease if we could find a caregiver that youâre comfortable with to assist you when I cannot be here.â Itâs important that you include your mom and let her lead the interview process.
Once you have a list of care needs, call a few home care companies and arrange an interview. Most companies will have their own home assessment tools that will drive the conversation. But your questions and input are important too, so donât be afraid to speak up. Ask all of your questions, including what happens if your mom doesnât get along with her assigned caregiver. A quality home care company will do everything they can to meet your needs, including maintaining your momâs routine.
You should never feel forced to sign up with a particular home care company at the end of the interview. In fact, give your mom a few days to process and let her make the final choice. Certainly, weigh in on your favorite, but know that this decision ultimately impacts her. Start slow, perhaps with a caregiver once a week, and give the process time to work. Good luck with your search and know that Visiting Angels South Elgin is here to support you in this endeavor.
Have a question for our angel correspondent? You can send our angel an email to apetersen@visitingangels.com, or send your question via mail to Ask An Angel, 65 Woodbury St., South Elgin, IL 60177.
