According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs for home health care aides are growing at an incredible rate of 48%. This proves that the Home Care Service Industry is one of the fastest growing healthcare industries in the United States.
Hiring home healthcare services can be an overwhelming process. Home healthcare services provide skilled care, which covers medical or custodial care that includes assistance with housekeeping or other personal assistance like bathing, feeding etc.
Tips to choose the best home healthcare aides
Understand your loved one’s home care needs
The first and foremost step in selecting the best home healthcare aides is to determine the level of care needed by your loved one. Check if they need help with services like managing medications or non-medical care like bathing, dressing etc?
Verify the track record
If you are going through an agency, it is important to check if the agency is appropriately accredited and if the home health care aide’s license is validated by the respective agency. It is crucial to verify their track records and do a background check with their previous employers. Idea is to find out as much as you can as this matter concerns the welfare of your loved ones.
Look for references
You can check with your friends or acquaintances to provide you with references of good agencies or even caregivers whom they know personally. You can also check online for reputable agencies with a good track record.
Interview
Once you have a found a home health care aide, then prepare yourself with a list of questions to interview, like how long they have been in this business, license, and training details. The purpose of the interview is to ensure that all of your concerns are addressed.
Hire home care service on a trial basis
Do a trial period with the home health care aide to check if your loved one’s relation is thriving with that person and vice versa.
Lastly, to ensure that the home care aide is a professional expert, arrange a meeting between your loved one and the caregiver before you make the final decision. Finding the best home health care aide can take some time but it is worth all the effort.