How to Select an In-Home Caregiver -- Janet Davidson

April 29, 2010 - PRLog -- OAK FOREST, Ill., April 29, 2010 – Gradually, or sometimes suddenly, it happens…you can’t keep up with household chores, you can’t see the street signs to drive safely, you give up cooking or realize you can’t walk without holding on to the furniture. And it begins - a nagging fear that you’re losing your independence. In fact, loss of independence is the biggest fear among seniors.

Many seniors are finding the solution to remaining independent at home lies outside the family circle with paid caregivers. Barbara O’Brien, president of Live Right Senior Care in Oak Forest explains, “Most seniors find caregivers in two ways. The old way is to run a classified ad or hire through a temporary service. The senior bears all the ‘employer’ responsibility for this kind of caregiver.” Before going down this path, O’Brien recommends seniors ask the following questions of independent caregivers:

1. What client references can you provide?
2. What is your experience/background?
3. Do you have any certificates or training? Is it current?
4. Have you worked with (Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, etc)?
5. What would you do if I had a medical emergency?
6. How much notice would I have if you could not come in for a day? Can you arrange your
own substitutes?
7. How do I contact you?
8. Are you bonded? Have you ever been convicted of a crime?
9. Do you have liability insurance?

“These folks are usually less expensive but there’s a lot of risk involved in hiring them”, O’Brien says. She continues, “The downside is:

 It‘s difficult to find the right person.
 You are responsible for performing a criminal background check
 You are responsible for finding a replacement if the caregiver is absent
 You bear the burden for withholding payroll taxes, and providing state
mandated worker’s compensation coverage.
 You bear the burden for liability problems like theft from or damage to your
property. “

The new way is to contract with a companion care agency. These private agencies provide “in-home, non-medical care”. The number of agencies is growing quickly to meet the demands of a fast-growing senior population. They provide a wide range of services including light housekeeping, meal preparation, laundry, transportation, shopping & errands, and in many states including Illinois, assistance with personal care. These one-on-one services can continue should the senior move into assisted living or even a nursing facility or hospital.

Companion care is usually available anywhere from a few hours up to 24 hours a day. Payment is private pay and may be covered by long term care insurance policies.

Some questions O’Brien suggests you ask a companion care agency:

1. Do they have references from other clients?
2. What services will they be providing?
3. What training/experience do the caregivers have?
4. How do they supervise their caregivers?
5. Are the caregivers bonded and covered by workers compensation insurance?
6. What is the schedule for service?
7. How do I change the schedule?
8. What if I have a problem with a caregiver?
9. Does the agency have an emergency or after-hours phone number?
10. What are the financial arrangements?
11. Who owns the agency? Is it part of a larger organization?
12. Are the caregiver’s employees held accountable by the agency or independent
contractors accountable to anyone?
13. Does the agency carry professional liability insurance?

The Pros:
 Service is easily customized for each client’s needs
 Extensive hours available
 Staff is screened and supervised
 Agency is responsible for all employer tasks like payroll, taxes, liability insurance,
workers compensation, bonding
 Agency is responsible for providing a replacement should the assigned caregiver fail to
arrive or need a day off.

O’Brien says, “This service is a little more expensive than independent caregivers but the right agency will provide the most customizable, reliable, worry free, in- home service available.”

About Live Right Senior Care

Live Right Senior Care, Inc provides in-home (non-medical) assistance to seniors. Live Right is fully licensed and employs caregivers that have been carefully recruited and thoroughly screened. They are bonded, insured and are required to complete the certified R.I.G.H.T (Reliable, Individual, Geriatric Home Training) program. Live Right provides help with daily activities such as meal planning and preparation, light housekeeping and laundry, incidental transportation, caring companionship, running errands, personal care assistance and more. These personalized services are available seven days a week and can range from a few hours daily to 24 hours a day. For more information on Live Right, call 708.786.8600 or visit www.liverightseniorcare.com.

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