Home Health Care for Aging Parents

If you begin to notice signs of declining mental or physical health in your aging parent, it may be time to consider arranging for home health care. Caregivers can help your parent with light housekeeping, laundry, cooking, transportation and other tasks. Home health care can be the perfect solution for aging parents that wish to "age in place" in their own homes instead of an eldercare facility and provide peace of mind for their families.

Understanding Home Health Care Services
The concept of home health grew out of the tradition of families caring for their elders. As society changed and more people worked to support household, fewer family caregivers were available for this important work. Agencies that provided competent, compassionate care began to spring up around the country. These agencies became an important component in overall elder care. They are different from medical care agencies that provide nursing care for elders who require medical monitoring. The range of services provided by these non-medical caregivers has expanded to include both regular and respite care for families going on vacations or other trips out of town.

Services Provided
When interviewing home health care agencies, make note of the services they offer. Although you may need only a few services at the beginning, the elder may need additional help as time passes. Common home health care services include:
Light housekeeping
·           Cooking simple meals/monitoring diets
·           Help with bathing and dressing
·           Help with grooming
·           Shopping/errands
·           Transportation to appointments and activities
·           Companionship
·           Special monitoring for Alzheimer's care
Choosing A Home Health Care Agency
The agency should be licensed by the state and do thorough background screening of their caregivers. Check for proper certification and accreditation for the services that are offered. Make sure there is an effective method for communication between the family and the agency, a standard method to address problems and a reliable way to log hours for billing. Ask how caregivers are trained and what type of protocol is used in emergencies.

Billing and Contracts
A good home health care agency will have clear pricing of the services offered and a billing system that makes it easy to understand what is being charged. Some agencies require contracts for a period of time; others have no contract and provide the service on an ongoing basis for as long as the care is needed. Contracts can help to clarify the requirements of care, as well as the responsibilities of the agency. However, they are not always needed.

Preparing Your Parent To Receive Help
Have a frank discussion with your parent about the need for more intensive care. Point out the advantages of having someone coming in regularly to help with chores and provide simple monitoring of their condition. Schedule time together for more frequent "fun" activities you can do together such as lunch or a movie, so that the parent will know you are still available for them. Talk frequently about the caregiver and how they are getting along. Many times, a change of personnel is all that is needed to make the home health care relationship go more smoothly. Try Blue Mountain Home Health Care, Inc. We strive to meet or exceed our client's expectations. For more information, go to in- home living assistance (Private Duty Nursing) page. If you have a question give us a call at: (800) 935-6615