Senior Care at Home Options & Home Care Solutions

Choosing the right senior care at home solution for your parent isn’t an easy task. Before you start making any plans, be sure you are familiar with every kind of care. There are various types of home care, so do a little research and available home care solutions and see which one is the best for your parent.

Senior Care at Home Services

If your loved one needs some assistance with everyday tasks, senior care at home offers various home care solutions. Most of providers may offer a homemaking and companionship care, a personal care, specialized services or a mix of these options.  A homemaking and companionship care include meal preparation, errands, transportation, light housekeeping, companionship and medication reminders, and a variety of other services. Personal care services include bathing, grooming and hygiene, toileting and incontinence care, feeding and special diet or meal preparation, while specialized services may include around-the-clock emergency response, live-in care, and oftentimes care for clients with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.

Senior Care at Home Providers’ Business Structures

When it comes to home care solutions there are usually three types of providers – independent providers, employment-based agencies and registries. It’s important to know the difference since they charge for their senior care at home services differently.

Independents/Private Caregivers

Some people find this solution the best, since private caregivers have the lowest hourly rate. But keep in mind that you will be responsible for all employment taxes and deductions for the caregiver. You will also have to secure the appropriate insurance coverage such as Workers’ Compensation in case the senior care at home provider is injured while taking care of your loved one. It may seem that this is the cheapest solution, but when you scratch the surface you will see that a lower hourly rate isn’t always cost efficient.

Employment-Based Agencies

With these agencies you will know who is providing care for your parent. All of the caregivers are already background checked and had their references validated. If you choose an agency you won’t have to worry about additional cost such as insurance, taxes, and so forth. You will have a peace of mind because you will know that a highly trained caregiver is taking care of your loved one. The organization will provide ongoing supervision and caregiver training to ensure quality care.

Registries and Placement Agencies

Because these agencies don’t actually employ caregivers, you will be responsible for employment tax withholdings and insurance coverage. Some registries and placement agencies provide Workers’ Compensation, but be sure to understand the extent of the coverage.Because these agencies just manage databases of caregivers, research who employs the caregiver and what kind of background checks have been run on the caregiver. Ask about the type of training the caregiver has received and to see their certifications.