What Information Should You Know About Your Elderly Care Agency?

When your older family member needs help at home, you want to make sure they receive the best care possible. If you’re considering hiring elderly care, you may be uncertain of how to go about finding an agency that best meets your needs. You may not know what kinds of information you need to gather and what to base your decision on.

Senior Care in Arlington VA: Senior Care Agency Selection

Below are some key pieces of information you need to know before selecting an elderly care agency.

Length of Time in Business

Find out how many years the agency has been serving older adults in the senior’s community. While being brand new doesn’t necessarily mean that an agency is ill-equipped, you may feel more comfortable with a company that has been in business for at least a few years.

Types of Service

Different agencies might offer different levels of service. Some provide only basic services, like housekeeping, cooking, or transportation. Others offer more in-depth kinds of care, such as dementia care, incontinence care, wheelchair transfers, etc. Make sure you know what kinds of care the agency offers and that they are in line with what your aging relative needs.

Availability

Bring a schedule with you of when the older adult needs care. Make sure that the elderly care agency can provide staff members at the times you need them. Also, ask if there is a minimum number of hours per week and how much-advanced notice is needed to make a change in the schedule.

Costs and Payments

Make sure you understand all of the costs that are entailed. Ask the agency to provide you with a fee schedule so you have an idea of how costs may change if the older adult’s needs change. Also, be sure you understand when payments are due and your options for making payments.

Training and Hiring Procedures

Talk to the agency representative about how they select and train their employees. Ask what kind of experience their staff members have and whether they perform background checks on all of their caregivers.

References

Ask the elderly care agency for references. You should be able to speak with past or current clients who will vouch for the agency’s services and business practices. You can also check online reviews and the company’s social media presence.

Insurance and Licensing

Find out if the elderly care agency is properly licensed and insured. If they are not, the family may be liable for any injuries that occur while the provider is in the senior’s home.

Are you or a loved-one considering Senior Care in Arlington, VA?  Please call the caring staff at Medical Professionals On Call today. Contact: 703-273-8818

Sources

Caregiver.com
Nahc.org

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Michelle DeFilippis

I graduated with a BS degree and had been selling medical equipment to hospitals, clinics and technicians. More recently, a family member was diagnosed with dementia and we, as a family, realized we were not prepared t care for her. We were thrown into that whirlpool of hospital stays, 24/7 live-in care, skilled care, caring for mom ourselves and finally, now daily home care. This was such a stressful time that I started thinking there had to be other people, other families as overwhelmed and unprepared as we were.

Medical Professionals On Call has such a caring, professional staff who are available to step in with whatever level of care necessary for loved ones and to relieve you of that stress.

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