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Step 1
Before contacting your parent's health care provider, make sure you have permission to speak with the doctor on your parent's behalf. Patient privacy is enforced through the act, HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. You may have to fill out a form.
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Step 2
Sit down and talk with your parents. Let them know that you care about them and are concerned. You may want another family member, a friend, or clergyman present with you. Your parent may be unwilling to make changes. Often this is because of fear of losing independence. Once you have discussed the issues and explained your concerns, contact the doctor and give a full report of the situation. Physicians like having the child's perspective, because the elderly are usually not forthcoming with information.
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Step 3
Your parent's doctor will make a referral to either a state home care coordinating agency or perhaps a home care service. Home care coordinating agencies connect people with home care services through networking. Either the coordinating agency or a home care service will contact you to set up an appointment to assess your parent.
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Step 4
The assessment of your parent will require personal information such as your parent's liquid assets. This information is necessary to determine if your parent will receive state support. You will also be asked questions. Does your parent need help bathing or dressing or taking medication? Can your parent move around without assistance? Once the assessment is complete, the service will determine if your parent needs skilled care such as nurses or therapists or home care support such as cleaning, cooking, and running errands. The assessment will also determine how many hours a week your parent needs in order to stay in the home.
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Step 5
If you are responsible for your parent's care, you will be asked to make the final choice on a health care service. Again, depending on the state process or doctor's office, you may discuss this with the doctor or health care coordinator. Ask the following questions: 1. Is the agency accredited by a governing agency?2. Is the agency certified my Medicare?3. Is the agency licensed by the state?4. What are the credentials of the providers?5. What is the training of the nursing staff?6. Will the agency work with you or the doctor?7. Does a supervisor make periodic visits?8. How is billing handled?9. Is the agency approved by the supplemental insurance?10. Are there resources to get financial assistance?11. Is there a detailed written plan that you can refer to?Once you have decided on the agency, monitor the program that has been chosen for your aging parent.
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Step 6
A good health care service will keep the lines of communication open and periodically reassess your parent's need.
