When looking for senior care, many people search for an individual home caregiver because they don’t know what their options are. However, they are often unprepared for the risks of hiring a private caregiver and find some unexpected downsides, including caregiver availability and backup care for when a regular caregiver isn’t accessible.
Instead of directly hiring a caregiver on their own, many families looking for private caregivers find they prefer the flexibility and reliability of a home care agency. With high-quality caregivers and consistent service built to suit your loved one’s needs, a home care agency can give you complete peace of mind.
Get Caregivers Backed by a Team
When you work with a home care agency, you don’t just get an individual caregiver; you get an entire team. Your caregiver or caregivers are supported by a group of other caregivers and expert staff who provide additional resources and backup. If your regular caregiver is unavailable for any reason, the agency will send a substitute caregiver to cover for them. You can rest assured knowing that even if the caregiver calls in sick or changes jobs, your loved one will still receive the best care available.
Get an Agency-Crafted Care Plan
Home care agencies don’t just handle the basics. They’ll also customize your loved one’s care to meet to ensure their unique needs are met. Independent seniors living alone might need simple personal care services, while those with serious health issues may need more intensive assistance, and a home care agency knows exactly how to handle each level of care needed.
Before care begins, a good home care agency will send an expert staff member to consult with you and your loved one about the level of care needed. They’ll listen with kindness and empathy, and work to understand your unique needs. By asking insightful questions based on their experience, they’re often able to identify needs that seniors weren’t even aware of.
Once they’ve taken stock of the needs, challenges and situation at hand, your agency will work with you to build a care plan. This plan will guide caregivers from day one, showing them the best ways to aid and comfort your loved one.
From shifting schedules to evolving medical needs, your loved one might not always need the same kind of care. That’s why your agency will check with you periodically to see how the plan is working. You can also reach out to them and modify the plan at any time.
Get Proven Caregivers
Home care agencies like FirstLight Home Care hire caregivers carefully. They perform interviews, assessments and detailed background checks to ensure every caregiver is empathetic, trustworthy and able to perform all in-home caregiver job duties.
Many agencies also give their caregivers professional training, so you can rest assured that your caregiver has the right skills to help your loved one. Many of them also have caregivers specifically trained to help with conditions like dementia and ALS.
Performance Management
Home care agencies know how important it is that your loved one receives top-quality care that specifically meets their needs, and hold themselves and their caregivers to high standards. You always know your loved one is in the hands of a well-trained, accountable caregiver who genuinely looks out for them.
Get Peace of Mind with FirstLight Home Care
Excellent home care, like the care given by FirstLight Home Care providers, doesn’t just provide support for your loved one, it also gives you peace of mind. Avoid the stress, complications and risks of hiring a private caregiver – with FirstLight on your side, you’ll always know that your loved one is in the hands of a capable team that puts their well-being first.
If you’re ready to get have an expert in-home caregiver team on your side, we’d love to learn about their needs. Contact us and we’ll connect you with a FirstLight team in your area!