It can be a very humbling experience for families to recognize that they can’t meet a loved one’s support needs. Older adults are often vulnerable as they age. They may need support in their homes if they attempt to age in place.
Families may arrange to have nurses visit regularly to help with medication administration or facilitate in-home dialysis. They may also secure home health aides who handle various household tasks ranging from personal hygiene matters like showering to cooking meals. Other times, support needs are higher and individuals can no longer live on their own. They may need to move into a nursing home.
How can families ensure that they select the right provider when outsourcing support services for an aging loved one?
Reviewing online records
There are a variety of online resources that can provide insight into a company’s operations and client satisfaction. From complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau to reviews on medical grading sites, there may be information provided by older adults or their family members about different agencies and nursing homes online. Checking for news reports about violations or lawsuits is also a smart move. Information about companies found online can help narrow the field to a short list of viable candidates.
Visit or schedule a meeting
What is available online is sometimes subject to curation. Businesses can respond to negative reviews or sometimes remove them completely. To truly understand how well a business operates, family members of aging adults may need to visit the nursing home or the offices of a home health aide company. At nursing homes, looking at the condition of the facilities and of the residents can help people determine if the facility offers adequate support and a reasonable standard of living. Looking at employment policies and even talking with individual caregivers can potentially help families choose between companies providing in-home medical support.
Remain actively involved
The sad reality is that it only takes one person leaving their job or one bad hiring decision for a previously trustworthy company to experience a major decline in standards. People can become abusive or negligent when burned out at work. Families need to make a point of visiting when a health aide or home nurse is with their loved one. They may also want to regularly stop in at a nursing home. That way, they can identify warning signs of negligence or outright abuse.
Addressing elder law concerns, including health support needs, can be a daunting prospect. But, with the right approach, families can help their aging loved ones secure the services they need to live the healthiest and happiest life possible given their circumstances.