Benefits of Hiring a Home Care Agency vs. Private Caregivers
Last year, Eunice and her family decided that the 82-year-old widow needed a little extra help around the house with chores, meal preparation and errands around town. While the family initially thought to hire an individual working privately as a caregiver, they became more concerned as people who applied for the position failed to reply promptly to phone calls and references weren’t easily verified. Concerned about how things were going in the hunt for a caregiver, Eunice and her daughter decided instead to hire a home care agency who would match Eunice with a caregiver and monitor their activity – creating a feeling of comfort rather than worry. Hiring Home Care Agency
Every day, families face the decision of whether to hire a private individual as a caregiver, or hiring a home care agency when choosing a course for in-home elder care. Often, understanding the benefits of a home care agency, can be challenging. Below, we outline the benefits of choosing an agency over an individual:
1. Screening & Insurance:
The best home care agencies carefully interview, screen, and background check their caregivers. With these processes in place, you’re sure to get someone who has been chosen to work with seniors based on verified qualifications. Agencies have bonding, theft, liability, and workers compensation coverage for their caregivers.
2. Caregiver Matching:
Home care agencies are able to offer variety in caregivers. With a robust caregiver pool managed with a home care software or home care system, agency administrators can pair your loved one with caregivers best qualified to meet their needs. Agencies are very experienced with matching personalities and skill levels to the specific request of the client.
3. Supervision:
Private caregivers typically work for themselves. Caregivers working for a home care agency work for the as an employee. However, this ensures that the agency provides some level of supervision to their caregivers to ensure the needs of your loved ones are met. Especially savvy agencies utilize technology combined with a home care software or home care system to monitor caregivers. Caregivers clock-in, out and track tasks by telephone, with these real time updates immediately available to agency administrators via the home care system. This means you aren’t left to wonder if caregivers showed up on time and followed the care plan! Supervisors and support staff make in home supervisory visits to ensure the highest level of customer service, safety, & care plan compliance.
4. Coverage:
With a home care agency, if your regular caregiver is ill or out of town, you have the benefit of an additional caregiver pool and the agency’s scheduling staff to help fill shifts. With a private caregiver, you may be left to scramble your schedule to make sure your senior family member receives the help they need. Agencies can provide the back up and peace of mind for the client and family.
5. Certification/Licensing:
Depending on your locale, home care agencies may or may not be required to carry certain certifications. However, most agencies will be able to tell you about local requirements, as well as offer affiliations with industry associations that work with agencies to establish high standards of care. Conversely, private caregivers often have no regulatory oversight, which can be a frightening prospect if things go awry.
Call Generation Solutions at (434)455-6500 or (540)776-3622 for a conversation or visit with a home care expert today. www.generationsolutions.net