Elderly Care and Home Care Assistance Can Become Necessary; Make an Informed Choice
Finding quality elderly care for your aging parents is a difficult responsibility to be tasked with – but millions of people do it each year. Navigating the medical system, understanding your parents’ needs, and finding facilities or home care assistance providers who fit into your monthly budget can be frustrating and discouraging.
Fortunately, if you plan ahead and are diligent, you’ll discover that there are resources available to help guide your decision – including your aging parents.
Determine Their Needs for Elderly Care
Before you can begin looking into facilities or home care assistance for your aging parents, you must know as much as possible about their health and the level of care they truly need. If you do not have medical power of attorney for your parents, you will need to get their permission to access their protected health information.
If you have their permission, you can talk to their doctor about what type of care would be the best fit for them. You’ll want to ask about their day-to-day limitations, health risks, and mental health, all of which will factor into your and your parents’ decision about elderly care.
As we age, we may require more than one physician to care for us. If your parents are seeing specialists in addition to their primary care doctor, it’s wise to include them in the discussion about care planning.
How Much Can You Afford?
Having an idea of how much your parents can spend each month for their care – and what you may need to contribute – can help influence your decision.
Keep in mind that plenty of skilled nursing facilities, or independent living residences offer options for those on a fixed or limited income; however, it may take time to find and secure their elderly care services for your parents. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t find the right one right away.
Insurance usually covers home health agency services. Talking to your parents’ insurance provider, such as Medicare, can help you determine how much out of pocket they may need to pay each month or per service.
Interview or Tour the Options
Once you’ve created a list of care facilities or home health agencies you’d like to work with, it’s time to talk to them or pay them a visit, if applicable.
If you’re looking to sign up for home care assistance, talk to the agencies of your choice about the elderly care services they provide and what you can expect from their home visits. Keep in mind that a home health agency will focus on health-related services that your doctor orders, but you may need to hire separately for private duty care, companionship, or hospice care. Be sure to talk to everyone involved.
If you’re considering skilled nursing, hospice, assisted living, or a more specialized care facility, be sure to take a tour of the campus during business hours so that you can get a good feel for the activities that occur there, the type of food served, and the level of care provided. You should feel comfortable and confident that your aging parents will be well cared for.
Do Your Parents Approve of Their Elderly Care Plan?
Unless you have medical power of attorney for your aging parents and they have been deemed incapable of making a decision on their own, then you will need their approval and buy-in for their elderly care plan. This will make transitioning from living at home to receiving home care assistance or to moving to a live-in care facility much easier and less stressful.
Bring them along for your tours and conversations with the staff; let them hear their doctor’s advice firsthand; and stay positive about the changes that are coming soon.
Ask for Recommendations for Home Health Agencies, Home Care, Hospice, and More
There is no one-size-fits-all plan for elderly care, but there’s a good chance that someone you or your parents know have experience with finding and working with home care agencies or care facilities.
Asking trusted friends, family members, or colleagues for their recommendations is a great way to help narrow down your list of options for your parents’ elderly care. You also can turn to online reviews, such as on Google or Yelp, to see what others have to say about the services and care they received.
Start Your Search Early
Waiting until your aging parents are struggling with day-to-day living at home can make transitioning to assisted living or accepting home care assistance all the more difficult. Start the conversation early with your parents so that you can better understand their wishes for their future as they age.
Keep your eyes and ears open for the best possible facilities that provide the type of elderly care that your parents need – before it’s urgent that they receive them.
Consider Phoenix for the Care You Need
If a key part of your elderly care plan for your aging parents is home care assistance, a home health agency, or other services, be sure to contact Phoenix Home Care & Hospice to learn more about how we can help your loved one maintain their independence and remain in the comfort of their home.
Our array of services, including home health, hospice care, private duty care, and more, are designed to help your loved ones maintain their dignity. Our team provides compassionate care when they need it, based on their physicians’ recommendations – or their specialized needs.
To learn more about how we can help you and your aging parents, contact us online.
