If you have an aging or ill family member, you may wonder what home care assistance is available in Harrisburg, PA. Home health agencies are designed to provide services to vulnerable individuals. The goal is to offer safety, dignity, and independence.
In Pennsylvania, the Department of Health must license all such agencies, measuring them against established standards. Ongoing reviews and surveys happen, ensuring an agency adheres to regulations. Even so, not all caregiving organizations are created equal. You want a company that puts individuals first and personalizes their care, such as AmeriBest Home Care.
What to Ask During Interviews
As you look at different agencies, there are questions you should be asking each of them.
- Are you certified by Medicare (a program that covers some, if not all, of the cost of a home caregiver)?
- What are your accreditations?
- Does your hiring process include background checks?
- Do you provide your employees with training?
- What do you have in place for replacement personnel in case of call-offs?
- Do you provide updates on any issues or concerns you observe?
- What payment plans do you have, and can you help with applying for specific coverage?
- What happens if an aide doesn’t work out?
- Can I have some references?
Beyond these questions, also have keynotes about your situation and your loved one’s needs on a daily basis, particularly if they have unique requirements like help with transport, visual limitations, etc.
Take notes. Get a contact name, and use that person for other questions that inevitably arise.
What can You Expect from a Home Health Aide providing home care assistance in Harrisburg, PA?
Each situation is unique. Your loved ones’ care plan is one-of-a-kind and individualized. There are some generalities, however. Aides are selected for having specific traits, especially the ability to communicate with vastly different people in public and private sectors. Be it Uncle Joe, or Dr. Keenan, the aide providing home care assistance in Harrisburg PA must remain professional, knowledgeable, and practice active listening.
Your aide may help with general housework like dishes and dusting. They may also provide personal assistance for washing, medication management, and getting to and from appointments. Perhaps the most important aspect of being an aide is the ability to build a relationship with the client and offer socialization. Loneliness is the leading cause of depression among housebound individuals.
Cost Factors
Medicare covers most types of home health care, but it must be ordered by a doctor. If you have private insurance, bills normally go through that agency before reaching Medicare. In order to bill Medicare, the agency must bear its certification. In Pennsylvania, about 30% of home care agencies have this certification.
Would you Like to become a Caregiver Home Health Aide in Harrisburg, PA?
AmeriBest Home Care is hiring caregivers: PCAs, HHAs, and CNAs. If you’d like to hire a family or friend to tend to your loved one, we can help with that process, too. We have an outstanding benefits package because we believe our employees are the key to our client’s welfare as well as the company’s success.
You can contact us online, call 717-545-2920 or 1800-HOMECARE, email info@ameribest.org with any questions or move forward with an application.