Hiring and managing home care for your loved one can be a challenging process.
It’s often the first time they’ve needed this type of service, and there are unfamiliar situations that could come up.
To create a positive and practical caregiving experience, it’s important to understand common concerns and how to handle them.
By fostering open communication, setting clear expectations, and actively engaging with home care agencies, families can navigate challenges and ensure the well-being of their older adults.
How to Handle Home Care Issues
In this guide, we will dive into the top 9 topics frequently encountered in home care situations and share advice on how to handle these issues.
1. Identifying good vs. problematic home care agencies
Selecting a reputable home care agency is crucial for a positive caregiving experience.
How do you find a caregiver with the right skills and personality to ensure a comfortable and supportive environment? Questions often revolve around qualifications, experience, and compatibility.
In addition, positive indicators of a reputable home care agency include transparent communication, rigorous caregiver screening processes, and personalized care plans.
Conversely, red flags include a lack of responsiveness, inconsistent caregiver assignments, or inadequate training programs.
Client testimonials and reviews can also provide valuable insights into a home care agency's reputation.
2. Finding out about cultural fit
When interviewing home care agencies, ask if they train their caregivers on cultural competence so that they can provide respectful care to people from cultures different from their own.
When talking with potential caregivers, ask about their experience with your older adult’s cultural preferences, beliefs, and values.
3. Building a strong caregiver-client relationship
Establishing a positive relationship between the caregiver and your loved one is key to the success of the home care situation.
Encourage open communication, set clear expectations, and facilitate activities that strengthen the bond between the caregiver and your loved one.
Regularly checking in and asking for feedback or concerns from both the caregiver and your older adult also helps to build a supportive and collaborative environment for everyone.
4. Managing caregiver distractions: Mobile phones
A common concern in home care situations is whether the caregiver is more engaged with their mobile phone than with the person they are caring for.
To address this issue, before the caregiver starts caring for your older adult, establish clear expectations about device usage during working hours.
Make it clear that you expect the caregiver to prioritize your older adult’s needs and to notify you if they have any concerns or issues that arise.
5. Addressing issues with caregivers
If issues come up with your older adult’s caregiver, open communication is essential.
The sooner you can address concerns and express your expectations clearly, the better. The first step is to talk with the agency and work together to find solutions.
Agencies often have procedures in place to handle such matters. Understanding these processes can bring you peace of mind and lead to smoother resolutions.
6. Recognizing warning signs: When to switch home care providers
Identifying when a change in home care providers is needed can also be a challenge.
Watch for warning signs such as frequent tardiness, lack of communication, sudden changes in your older adult’s mood or health, refusing to address concerns, or a noticeable decline in the quality of care.
It may take some work and disruption to change agencies, but if your older adult isn’t getting the care they need or if you can’t depend on the caregiver, making a change could be the best solution.
Regular check-ins with both the caregiver and your older adult can help you understand how things are going and address any emerging issues before they escalate.
7. Adapting to changing care needs
As the health and needs of your loved one changes over time, effective care transitions become necessary.
Encourage open communication with their caregivers and home care agency to accommodate changing requirements.
Having flexibility in care plans and making regular reassessments ensures that the caregiving approach continues to meet the changing needs of your older adult.
8. Balancing senior independence and safety
Striking the right balance between promoting independence and ensuring safety is a common challenge in home care.
What modifications can be made to the home to enhance safety without limiting your loved one’s autonomy?
Collaborate with caregivers to develop personalized care plans that respect your loved one’s autonomy while addressing safety concerns.
Regular assessments of care needs help you adjust the level of support based on your older adult’s changing capabilities.
9. Understanding home care costs
Families need a clear understanding of home care costs so they can create a care plan that fits the budget as well as meets their older adult’s needs.
First, contact the home care agency to learn about their fees and any minimum requirements.
Also consider the cost of any needed home modifications or medical equipment.
Then, explore available financial resources, including insurance, government assistance, and long-term care policies.
Recommended for you:
- Affordable Home Care: 8 Ways to Lower Senior Care Costs
- 3 Tips to Choose Between Assisted Living vs In-Home Care
- Medicare PACE Pays for In-Home Care
References: AgingCare, Comfort Keepers, Home Care Pulse, Rendia
About the Author
Lance A. Slatton CSCM – Known as “The Senior Care Influencer” is a Writer, Author, Influencer, and Healthcare professional with over 20 years in the healthcare industry. He is a senior case manager at Enriched Life Home Care Services in Livonia, MI. Lance A. Slatton is also the host of the award-winning podcast & YouTube channel All Home Care Matters.
