What Should Your Homecare Agency Do for You?

Article submitted by Kim Downs, Business Manager for Continuous Care Services.
For more information she can be reached at 205-802-7172.

As a caregiver, you are familiar with doing everything necessary to ensure that your loved one is comfortable and well-cared for. When the time comes to get some assistance, don't end up doing more than is needed. Because your time is valuable, making numerous phone calls to different types of agencies to set up all the needed services is not efficient. One call to a quality home care agency should do it all.

Looking through the pages of The Senior Resource Guide is an excellent way to get an overview of what is available. When reviewing the homecare agencies, don't just think of what your loved one needs today, but consider what the future may hold. Choosing an agency that provides a range of services from unskilled companions to highly skilled nurses and therapists will allow you to remain with the same company throughout the period in which your loved one needs help. In this way, you are familiar with the agency and they are familiar with you and the patient. When your loved one's needs change, adjustments to care can easily be made.

As you make that initial call to inquire about services, pay attention to the manner in which your call is handled. Were the people helping you friendly and knowledgeable? Did you have to wait on hold for a long time before someone was available to talk with you? Did the person you spoke with seem to have as much time as you needed to answer your questions and explain services? If your answer was "no" to any of these questions, hang up and call another agency. Any high-quality homecare agency will be thrilled when a potential patient calls and should make time to answer any questions you have. If they are not pleasant the first time you call, you can be assured their attitude will not improve.

Not every agency will provide all needed services, but every agency should assign to each patient, a case manager who is able to suggest and, with your permission, refer you to companies that can meet your needs. An example of this situation would be when a patient needs home medical equipment. Many nursing agencies are not also equipment companies, but your case manager should be able to arrange for your DME needs.

In addition to arranging for all necessary services, your homecare agency should be supervising your loved one's care and watching for any changes in their condition. A case manager or qualified nurse should be visiting your home on a regular basis to observe the agency employee, assess the patient's condition, and discuss any concerns the family may have. If the nurse sees a need for additional services or a visit to the doctor for further assessment, they can set that up for you.

In conclusion, don't be afraid to have high expectations for your homecare agency. You should be able to express your needs and have them addressed. You should be able to receive both empathy and professional services from everyone at the agency, from the receptionist who answers your first call to the field staff who give care in your home. And you should not have to do your own footwork for all the services you need. One call should do it all.