How to Choose the Right Home Health Care Worker

Most people want to remain in their own homes as long as possible, but age, infirmity or illness can make this a difficult task. Home Care workers can provide an important intermediate step between total independence and the need to move into a care facility. If you have a family member who lives at home but needs help with daily activities, there are a variety of agencies and workers that can provide different levels of service.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

How to Choose the Right Home Health Care Worker.

1. Home health nurses, therapists or aides provide in home medical care including medication assistance, exercises, wound care and monitoring of conditions.

2. A housekeeper or chore worker performs basic household tasks and light cleaning.

3. A homemaker or personal care worker provides personal care, assistance with medication, meal planning and household managment.

4. A companion or live-in provides personal care, light housework, exercise, companionship and medication reminders. These aides usually work for lower salaries in exchange for room and board.

5. A geriatric care manager is the ideal solution for any and all needs, particularly in long-distance caregiving situations where you may not live close enough to your loved one. A care manager not only provides continuous assessment but also arranges and monitors services provided.

6. When deciding on a home health agency, remember to ask the following questions:
   What type of employee screening is done?
   Who is responsible for paying the worker?
   Who supervises the worker?
   Who do you call if the worker doesn't show up?
   Is there a sliding fee scale?
   What are the minimum and maximum hours of Service?
   Are there extra fees for care provided during weekends and holidays?

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that all family members are comfortable with the person you hire. Since the home care worker will be involved in many aspects of day-to-day life, an atmosphere of respect and trust is important.

[brazzell]

on 5/13/2009 If you are hiring a home care worker directly, take these steps:1. Have applicants present you with their own criminal background checks, but reimburse them for the price of obtaining this check, normally about $10.2. Have the applicant provide three work references. Call all three. Some people will be candid or at least drop hints about what kind of worker this applicant really is.3. If they claim to have a certification, have them present the certification.4. If you plan to employee a home health worker directly, rather than through an agency, remember that you become responsible for reporting that worker's income tax and for paying employment taxes. 5. If you are not prepared to manage all the four steps above, seriously consider using an agency to supply your private duty home health worker. Any state licensed agency takes all the steps above and does much more to ensure the ...