How Do You Choose An In-Home Nursing Care Provider? - Celestial Care
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How Do You Choose An In-Home Nursing Care Provider?

It’s a difficult decision to choose the right in-home nursing care, but this information
will help.

As your parents or loved ones get older, their needs can change drastically, and they can quickly require in-home nursing care. They can go from the extreme of giving their lives to take care of their families to being frail and needing a lot of assistance and support. It’s not a comfortable position for them. In fact, it can be downright embarrassing!

You’ve likely always relied on them to be there for you, and now they must depend on you to support them in their senior years. The trick is to find the best way to help them with their physical and emotional needs without stripping them of their humanity. That’s why in-home nursing care can be the best solution all around.

With in-home nursing care, the aging parent can stay at home. Instead of going into an institution where the patient shares a room with others, eats institutional food and behaves according to someone else’s rules, the elderly can enjoy the best of both worlds. Staying at home and getting home health medical care is about as good as it can get.

Of course, as with anything, you’ll want to make sure you find in-home caregivers you can depend on to care for your loved one. Then you can rest assured you have done your very best to choose the right person to give your parents nursing care at home. Here are some factors to consider when choosing an in-home nursing care provider you can trust.

First Steps in Looking for Nursing Care at Home

Whether you are seeking in-home nursing care for a family member or a loved one, a good place to start is with recommendations from friends, neighbors or coworkers who have experience with home nursing care professionals. That doesn’t mean that nursing care hired by someone else might be appropriate for your needs, but it is a good place to start. In conjunction with that, speak to healthcare professionals, such as your parent’s family physician.

The next step might be to put an ad in your local newspaper, since there are nurses who offer their services on a freelance basis. Keep in mind that if you are going to hire someone, you need to know the questions to ask and get a full understanding of the services they provide. Never hesitate to ask for credentials and copies of degrees and references.

If this process seems overwhelming or if you don’t feel qualified to fill the position of caring for your loved one, you can also ask for recommendations of agencies that have a staff of nurses for home health care. This takes a lot of the risk and responsibility out of making the choice by on your own. But at the same time, you should also ask the same questions, such as how long they’ve been in business, what type of insurance they carry and what services they offer. This could be the easiest and least time-consuming way to find the best in-home nursing services.

Asking the Right Questions for In-Home Nursing

Before making the first call, compile a list of care requirements. Your list should include information that covers such details as:

  • Whether this is a temporary or long-term position.
  • If this nursing position is in addition to a current caregiver or outside help.
  • Does the patient have dementia?
  • List the physical limitations.
  • Describe the level of nursing services needed, including medications.
  • Make a note if there are other health-care professionals involved in patient care.

Besides these items, provide a general idea of how your parent functions on a day-to-day basis. This could be information such as activity level, personal preferences, hobbies and interests. Also, let them know your availability and level of involvement in your parent’s care.

When you make the first call, document their responses and your general impression. Besides getting the background and history of each nurse, make mental notes on friendliness and personality. Along with assessing background, work history, etc., the bottom line is that you’re looking for someone who will interact well with your parent. Whether you’re interviewing candidates on your own or through an agency, the criteria should be the same.

Setting Up Interviews with Nursing Care Providers

If you have decided to go through a trustworthy health care agency, they will set up interviews with possible candidates for you. Let them narrow down the list, but when making the final decision, be sure to meet everyone involved. The most impressive credentials and track record don’t mean a thing if the person has a grating personality that would be a bad fit.

By choosing the most appropriate health care professional, your parents or loved ones can relax knowing that they are in good hands. This is essential for emotional well-being as well as for having their physical and medical needs met.

Find out what backup plan is available. What if the health care provider you hire becomes ill or unable to work? Who will show up at the appointed time to fill in? Let the agency know that you want to know if they are sending a replacement or someone other than the person you chose. This can be critical information for a parent who experiences dementia or confusion.

No matter who you choose to go with, make an appointment with that person to meet your parent or loved one. The bottom line is that they should be compatible.

Following Up with Nursing Care at Home

Once you have someone in place to take care of your loved one, it doesn’t stop there! Make a plan for periodic reports or phone calls. If the nursing care comes through an agency, find out who your contact person is. If you hire someone outside an agency, set a schedule for following up. An open line of communication is beneficial to everyone involved.

Let us help you find reliable in-home nursing care when you need it most. Contact our team at Celestial Care for exceptional care in your private home