Nursing homes used to be the top solution for older people and their families in the United States. Most of these, however, focus mainly on providing medical and nursing aids. More often than not, practices and conducts that can nurture relationships are less pursued. This is just one of the many reasons why more families resort to home health care.
What is Home Health Care?
Basically, home health care means a patient is rendered medical care at his own home. Providers of quality home health care in Dallas and some other cities in United States hire and deploy medical professionals including licensed therapists and experienced nurses to get the job done. But with home health care industry’s vision to connect deeper with patients and provide companionship on top of quality health aides, skilled, non-medical care like social services or assistance with daily living are now included in most health care programs for homes.
Mostly targeting on the elderly, the ill, and disabled people, home health care programs have been providing a unique, highly convenient setting for families who also need physiological support with their daily lives. Such programs are usually less expensive, yet the services are just as effective as what are usually given in a nursing facility.
How to Choose the Right Home Health Care Service Provider
Choosing a home health care service provider is a critical undertaking. You have to make sure the team you are entrusting your loved one with is reputable and can fulfill the many responsibilities they are called to perform daily. In the past, people would easily pick a care provider without looking into its track records only to end up with low quality care that they never deserved. It would be wise to learn from them and heed these important tips on how to choose the right home health care agency for you or your precious ones:
1. Research is necessary. Choosing the wrong provider may compromise not just the health of your loved ones but their safety as well. Hence, availing of home health care services is not something you can just decide overnight. Early planning and researching of the health care services your loved one truly needs has to be made. If you have a limited idea of this, you can always utilize the internet and look for a list of reputable providers within your area with good feedbacks or simply know who your health professionals can recommend and choose from the range of services they offer.
Also, do not forget to communicate this plan to your loved one.Oftentimes, even if as a family member we have the best intentions at heart for our elders, we tend to ignore the value of detailed discussion with them about this kind of support. More often than not, we feel like we are in control of the situation that we tend to under communicate. The good thing is, home health care programs are designed to nurture relationships. The fact that they will get to receive the quality care and medication they need at the comforts of their home, it should be easier for you to make them understand. In the same manner, it should be lighter for them to accept such an advantageous proposal.
2. Check if the home care provider is licensed and certified. Licenses and certifications are a strong proof that the company has gone through thorough inspection and checkups not just in the actual facility but also on its official website. Such tests are made to help regulate safety, efficiency, and maintain quality service that every patient deserves to receive. If a potential provider fails to show these credentials, then better not take any chances or your loved one may end up at risk.
3. Scan through the provider’s official website. With more people transacting on the web, nowadays you can hardly find a business that has not put up a website to take advantage of its online market share. Businesses in the medical field like home health care centers are now just a Google away as they ensure to stay on top in the industry. Their websites most likely contain all the information you will need, e.g. services they offer, awards, accreditations, etc.
4. Don’t be afraid to inquire. The company’s website will most likely display its contact information. Don’t hesitate to dial those digits to inquire more about their services and offerings. This is also another way to gauge if they are genuinely versed and interested in hearing about your loved one’s condition and needs.
5. Check their on-call support. While in nursing homes, support and additional help are within reach, in home health care, a well-established on-call support is indispensable to make sure the changing needs of the patient are met and supported over time. On-call medical professionals should be up and ready to respond to emergencies.
6. Ask yourself: Are they eligible to nurse patients that suffer from worse illnesses?
You probably are eyeing on the right provider if its staff are rigorously screened before recruitment and continuously trained after appointment as these are necessary in dealing with patients who need extensive care like those who suffer from stroke, dementia, or Parkinson’s disease. Choose a provider that sees the value of trainings and seminars as a great means to improve core competency of their medical professionals.
7. Ask yourself: Are they sending out the best health professionals?
Aside from the care needs, the interests and personality of the patient should also be looked into to make sure the health professional’s personality matches to the clients.
8. Check if the company carries out regular quality assurance checks.
The right home health care service provider implements robust quality assurance procedures to check the quality of services its medical professionals are providing from time to time. Services provided are most likely of great quality if:
– The health professional heartily contacts the client early on to check on the latter’s condition.
– The provider tracks incidents and conducts review on how these were dealt with.
– The support staff are constantly present.
– The provider reviews its programs to check their efficiency and relevance to every patient’s situation.
– The provider openly takes feedbacks and suggestions and learn from them.
Before signing any deal, make sure your loved one is comfortable and at ease when the assigned health professionals are around. Do not hesitate to end the transaction if things appear otherwise and think things over. The right provider will support you instead of desperately forcing you towards the deal.
