Dear Savvy Senior,
Whats the best way to find a good in-home caregiver for my elderly mother? Looking for Care
Before you start the task of looking for a caregiver, your first step is to determine the level of care your mom needs (see NCLneedsassessment.org for a checklist). If, for example, she only needs help with activities of daily living like preparing meals, doing laundry, bathing or dressing, a homemaker or personal care aide will do.
But, if she needs health care services, there are home health aides that may do all the things a homemaker does, plus they also have training in administering medications, changing wound dressings and other medically related duties. Home health aides often work under a nurses supervision.
Once you settle on a level of care, you then need to decide how many hours of assistance shell need. For example, does your mom need someone to come in just a few mornings a week to help her cook, clean, run errands or perhaps bathe? Or does she need more continuous care that requires daily visits or a full-time aide?
After you determine her needs, there are two ways in which you can go about hiring someone. Either through a home health agency, or you can hire someone directly on your own.
Home health agencies
Hiring a certified home health agency to supply and manage your moms care is the easiest but most expensive option of the two. Costs run anywhere from $12 up to $40 an hour depending on where you live and the qualification of the aide. This is also usually a better way to go if your mom requires a lot of in-home health care.
How it works is you pay the agency, and they handle everything including an assessment of your moms needs, assigning appropriately trained and pre-screened staff to care for her, and finding a fill-in on days her aide cannot come.
Some of the drawbacks, however, are that you may not have much input into the selection of the caregiver, and the caregivers may change or alternate, which can cause a disruption in care and confusion.
You also need to know that while Medicare does cover some in-home health care services if its ordered by a doctor, they dont cover homemaker services, nor will they cover personal care services, such as bathing and dressing, provided by a home health aide if that is the only care required. But, if your mom is low-income and qualifies for Medicaid, some services are covered.
Hiring directly
Hiring an independent caregiver on your own is the other option, and its less expensive. Costs typically range between $10 and $20 per hour. Hiring directly also gives you more control over who you hire so you can choose someone who you feel is right for your mom.
But be aware that if you do hire someone on your own, you become the employer so theres no agency support to fall back on if a problem occurs or if the aide doesnt show up. Youre also responsible for paying payroll taxes and any worker-related injuries that may happen. If you choose this option make sure you check the aides references thoroughly, and do a criminal background check.
To find someone, ask for referrals through friends, doctors offices or hospital discharge planners, check online job boards like craigslist.org, or try carelinx.com or carescout.com.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is author of The Savvy Senior book.
Related posts:
- Strength training tips for seniors[1]
- Paying for nursing home care with Medicaid[2]
- The shameful crime of elder abuse[3]
- Thinking about remarrying later in life?[4]
- Tax help in caring for an aging parent[5]
Short URL: http://www.pomeradonews.com/?p=31684
References
- ^ Permanent Link: Strength training tips for seniors (www.pomeradonews.com)
- ^ Permanent Link: Paying for nursing home care with Medicaid (www.pomeradonews.com)
- ^ Permanent Link: The shameful crime of elder abuse (www.pomeradonews.com)
- ^ Permanent Link: Thinking about remarrying later in life? (www.pomeradonews.com)
- ^ Permanent Link: Tax help in caring for an aging parent (www.pomeradonews.com)
Resources:
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Health Diet Tips To Keep Myself Skinny And Healthy? I am 115lbs and I am 13. I was wondering if anyone had any health tips to keep myself healthy.
I was looking into this diet where I would start with eating protein and gradually work my way into eating my fruits and vegetables. Does anyone know what this diet is called?
(Please, No comments with additude. Any other comments will be appreciated. Thanks so much!)
Also, I don’t want to be on a diet plan (Such as Weight Watchers). Thanks!
Water
Can You Give Me Some Health Tips? I need some health tips. You see I am making a health book. I want to give the world a medical health book. Therefore I need health tips.
What Is The Best Health Advice You’ve Given Or Received? We could probably all use a few health tips to live a better life, what do you want to share?
Limit processed foods
try to eat as much natural food as you can such as vegetbales, fruit, brown rice, wholemeal-grain bread, fish, chicken, nuts, and healthy fats.
Not only do you look better but you feel better both body and mind
What Are Some Basic Tips To Give To Kids About Staying Healthy? I’m trying to teach my 6 year old nephew how to stay healthy. I need tips from eating right, to being active and maintaining hygiene. Any health tips you expect a 6 yr old kid to understand.
You should tell them to eat lots of smaller meals and to eat slowly so that their bodies are more able to recognize when they are full. Also its important to drink lots of water and fruit juice rather than soda. Try and encourage him to stay away from junk food and eat fruit or something healthy when he wants a snack. Also teach him to be active, that playing sports and running around is good for you as well as fun. Also teach him the basics of hygiene like showering daily and brushing his teeth 3 times a day. Try and make it all fun for him though, as kids respond more to things that they find enjoyable.
Anyone Have Some Good Tips For A College Student Who Wants To Lose About 35 Pounds? Basically Im pretty lethargic due to the studying….I do a fair bit of walking and I dont eat fast food more than a coupla times a month, but I seem to keep gaining weight. Basically I need some health tips or some way of beginning to get rid of the buddha belly.
As a fellow student, I understand your struggle. My butt feels constantly glued to a seat and I don’t have the time or attention for planning healthy meals. It’s tough but I manage to control my weight and even lose weight every now and then with some pretty easy tactics. Since you want to lose it, you’ll have to get serious. I would highly recommend cardio workouts. Depending on your fitness level and personal tastes you could try at home workouts like Tae Bo or you can hit the gym (in which case walking or jogging on the tredmill mixed with weights would be effective). Basically, make yourself workout even when you feel tired from studying or a long day. Next thing you know, you’ll look forward to the stress relief. Remember to watch what you eat and consider counting calories…you may be surprised how much you eat daily! Get sleep. Lack of sleep stresses the bod out and you may compensate with food. And you definitely will have less energy for workouts. GOOD LUCK!
I’m Trying To Loose Weight, What Are Some Health Tips? I’m making a modeling portfolio, and I know I need to be slimmer. What are some health tips, such as eating veggies, and colors to dress in the make you look slimmer? What is skinny for height 5’8″? I am Indian (India) & German and I have blue eyes.
Unfortunately there are no easy ways to permanently lose weight and most people who lose weight regain it all.
A vegetarian or vegan diet for the rest of your life might perhaps be a good option as very few vegetarians or vegans are overweight.
If you want a life changing permanent weight loss you need to follow a maintenance diet for the rest of your life after you reach your target weight with one of the many diets you can choose from.
You can see further details in a web search for “how to lose weight and keep it off”.