After discussing the situation with your aging-in-place mother, she’s finally agreed to start professional in-home senior care. With all the home care providers out there, choosing the best one for mom isn’t easy as you carefully weigh all the options before “signing on the dotted line.” Essential factors to consider before you partner with a home care agency include services offered, reputation, and cost. Here’s how to ensure that all of mom’s care needs are seamlessly met so you can sleep better at night.

Ask for Referrals

Sometimes, knowing where to find home care agencies is half the battle. Ask your friends, coworkers, neighbors, and relatives for referrals if you have never used an agency before. If you live far away, a quick Google search can pull up the names of home care companies in your mother’s zip code.

Check Out Their Services

Initially, the mom may only need a little help performing activities of daily living (ADLs), like light housekeeping, meals, or bathing. But if she was recently diagnosed with a serious illness or dementia, it may take specialized care to maintain her independent lifestyle and quality of life.

Look for a provider that offers a full menu of in-home services, including dementia care, post-surgical care, transportation, and other options. It’s also a good idea to ask if the agency requires ongoing staff training and if their caregivers are certified in accordance with state requirements.

Research What Others Say

In addition to recommendations from trusted sources, you’ll also need to research what others say about each agency. Online reviews from clients and their families also reveal much about an agency’s reputation, along with testimonials from current and former employees.

Reputable home care companies also conduct drug tests and extensive background checks on their employees, including criminal and driving records. While you’re at it, check to see if the agency meets all your state’s certification requirements.

Find Out How Much It Costs

Contrary to what you might think, Medicare does not cover elective home care services like personal care or homemaker services. While your choice of an in-home care provider should not exclusively hinge on price, it will inevitably play a role. First, determine how much Mom can afford based on her monthly budget.

In most cases, the cost of care relies on the number of hours the caregiver spends with their client, along with the type of services they provide. Before making your choice, research each company’s hourly rates, as well as how much they charge for daily and overnight visits.

Conduct Screening Interviews

Once you’ve narrowed down your agency search to two or three candidates, you’ll need to progress to the interview phase. Schedule a screening interview for your loved one with each potential caregiver to ensure that their personality and work ethic align with yours.

During the interview, don’t be afraid to ask the supervisor for references from previous clients, along with proof of insurance and other certifications. This is also the perfect time to discuss your loved one’s care plan and how the agency would meet those ever-changing needs.

Other questions you should ask include:

  • What’s your backup plan in the event of an emergency or illness?
  • Will the primary caregiver be providing most of the care?
  • How do you measure the competency and performance of your caregivers?
  • How do you determine if a caregiver is a good fit for a senior?
  • Do you conduct periodic drug tests on your employees?
  • Is a registered nurse (RN) or equivalent case manager available 24/7?

Personalized In-Home Care for Seniors in Pasadena, CA

Choosing the best home care agency for your aging loved one’s needs and budget isn’t always easy, but it is possible by doing your homework. At New Wave Home Care, we’ve been providing in-home senior care for families in Pasadena, California for 12+ years now. As a licensed home care provider, we support clients and their families with personalized in-home solutions like personal care, transitional care, respite care, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, and hospice support.

When you choose New Wave Home Care in Pasadena, you can rest assured that your loved one is getting the specialized care they need from a trusted, friendly caregiver. To learn more now or schedule a FREE in-home assessment for a senior in the greater Los Angeles area, please visit us at www.newwavehomecare.com.