Your loved one has been struggling, and you’ve been struggling to give them support and care. Then one day comes and you just can’t continue. You’re tired, frustrated, and burning the candle at both ends. It’s time to start considering getting an in-home caregiver in Harrisburg, PA. So, where do you begin?
First, make a detailed list of what you perceive as the household’s needs. Does your loved one need help with chores, for example? Do they have trouble keeping track of their medication? When you’re talking to top health service providers, these are the kinds of things they’ll need to know to assess your situation.
This conversation acts as an opportunity to see how the agency answers your inquiries, too. As pointed questions like:
- How long have you been in business?
- How quickly can you fill a no-call; no-show?
- How do you screen your employees?
- Has your company won any awards or received other types of recognition?
- What type of training do you offer your caregivers?
- Are you licensed, accredited, and insured?
- Can you request a different aide if one doesn’t work out?
- Does a registered nurse come out to meet the family and develop a personalized plan of care?
Beyond these questions, do your due diligence by checking the Better Business Bureau for complaints. Additionally, look for any online reviews you can find.
How to Hire an In-Home Caregiver in Harrisburg, PA?
Working with a professional caregiving agency has a lot of benefits. They include:
- Prescreened staff, including background checks.
- Directed placement. An agency can select staff based on their experience with your loved one’s condition. Should the individual’s situation change, staff can likewise be adjusted.
- Agencies have many staff members, any one of whom can become a stand-in for a day when your normal caregiver cannot make it.
- Liability protection. The agency carries liability insurance in case a worker is injured on the job.
- Untying red tape. “Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork” seems to be the mantra for obtaining home health caregivers on your own. An agency manages your paperwork by working with doctors and the family.
- You are not the employer. With an agency, you never have to worry about paying your aide or handling their taxes.
Agencies in Pennsylvania must be licensed by the department of health and meet established regulations. Those regulations are enforced by unannounced reviews. These agencies can obtain certification for Medicare-paid services through the Federal Health and Human Services’ Center for Medicare and Medicaid. This is particularly important since Medicare can pay some, if not all, of the bill for said services if you meet financial guidelines.
There is another quality control safeguard, too. Medicate-certified agencies must conduct regular patient assessments that are electronically submitted for review.
Hire Family & Friends as Caregivers
The option to hire a family member or friend (not a spouse) exists. Some agencies work in tandem with federal in-home care to “hire” this person and manage their payroll. The beauty of this is that you have choices, and your caregiver is known to your loved one.
If you’re considering this option, know the person must be over the age of 18, and you may need to get a doctor’s approval. You will have to fill out an interview form and whether or not you want a background check. Then, the person hired gets some training on best practices for their job and has a physical before beginning.
Should the caregiver find they love the work, they may consider becoming an aide at a later date. However, if something goes wrong, you can opt out of the private hire and go back to having the agency manage your staff placement.
Why AmeriBest Home Care Harrisburg?
At AmeriBest Home Care, your loved one isn’t simply a number on our docket. We believe in doing things the right way, with compassion and professionalism. Improving a person’s quality of life is among our top goals along with safety and contentment. We are happy to field your questions. You can fill in our online form, call our Harrisburg office at 717-545-2920, or email info@ameribest.org.
