Finding the right professional caregiver for your senior loved one often takes time, adjustment, and patience. In the current caregiver crunch, when there are more HHA and CNA caregiver jobs than qualified caregivers, having a compatible and competent caregiver is valuable. But your loved one’s needs may change over time, perhaps due to memory loss, a stroke, or a new illness, and their current caregiver may not be suitable for the assistance needed. You may begin to consider requesting a new caregiver. Navigating a caregiver change requires honest communication between family members and your care manager and articulated expectations from family members. Here are a few things you should consider. Key Questions to Ask Before You Change CaregiversIf you are contemplating a caregiver change, first ask yourself if you have given the home caregiver enough time with your loved one. Take time to talk with your loved one’s professional caregiver and the home care services provider to share your concerns. They may be able to help navigate the issues. Also, be honest with each other and yourselves. A few fundamental questions to ask yourself and your loved one:
If you can’t resolve the issue with the caregiver and your home care agency. An experienced agency will work to see if they can provide another caregiver more suited to your needs. Before You Make a ChangeIf the current provider cannot meet your family’s needs or if your family isn’t comfortable staying with the agency, it is best to do your research before you make a switch. Some questions you should be prepared to answer:
Also, please keep in mind federal regulations require home health care agencies to be more responsive to their clients or risk losing Medicaid or Medicare funding. While it remains unknown when the changes will be fully implemented, it seems clear that new rules will continue to focus on the rights of the client and families. Going Forward with the ChangeYou and your loved one should never feel pressured to stay with a professional home health aide who does not meet your needs or an agency with which you remain uncomfortable.
If you and your loved one decide that changing home care agencies is the best option for everyone, be sure you have vetted a new home care provider before ending your agreement with your current provider. Here are the critical first steps to follow to help you:
Remember, too, to be patient as your loved one adjusts to a new professional caregiver. Sometimes, it just takes time. And sometimes, there’s a better fit. Either way, the critical thing to realize is that this is a problem that a superior home care agency like Visiting Angels can solve. Contact us today for a free in-home consultation. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA has been providing high-caliber in-home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our at-home living assistance, companion care, respite support, live-in and 24/7 home care, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, transitional aid, and private duty care services in Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Brookline, Canton, Watertown, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. As a result of our exemplary home care service, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has won the Best of Home Care Leader in Excellence Award; the Best of Home Care Provider of Choice Award; and the Best of Home Care Employer of Choice Award from the national client satisfaction survey firm, Home Care Pulse, for six years. We have been honored to receive the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work award for seven years and one of the ten best places to work in Massachusetts in 2021 based on diversity and inclusion. Our dedicated and well-trained caregivers love their CNA jobs and HHA jobs.
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It is so important to research and consider options carefully when looking into a home care agency to assist your loved one. Some agencies may not provide adequate screening or training of their caregivers. Also, finding a compatible caregiver for a client is crucial and should be a priority to the home care agencies you consider. Here are 15 questions to ask when contacting home care agencies. 1. How do you recruit caregivers, and what are your hiring requirements? In-home caregiver jobs have different requirements. Most highly regarded home care agencies require CNA or HHA certifications. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, for example, hires CNAs and HHAs with experience in caregiving, and the caregivers typically have a strong employment history in caring for seniors. 2. What types of screening and background checks are performed on caregivers before you hire them? You want to ensure that the agency has checked the caregivers’ background through legitimate records and databases, not through an unverifiable source. 3. Is your agency bonded and insured, and does your agency meet all state and local requirements? Visiting Angels Newton/Canton is bonded and insured. It not only meets Massachusetts state requirements but is also an award-winning home care agency. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has won the Best Home Care Provider and Best of Home Care Employer awards from Home Care Pulse, an independent satisfaction and quality assurance company, for the past six years. 4. What kind of health-related training, if any, do your in-home caregivers have? It’s essential to ensure that the caregiver or home health aide you choose is appropriately trained for your needs. For example, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton provides an orientation class for new caregivers, Visiting Angels University, an online educational program, and a partner program with a local community college. Caregivers are taught how to assist clients with transfers through Hoyer lifts and gait belts, provide comfort to seniors with dementia, and other crucial skills to help ensure clients are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. 5. Does your agency provide specialized and continuing education for caregivers? A good agency will have caregivers trained to handle specific needs, such as dementia care, through specialized education. Some agencies may have advanced training programs available, such as Visiting Angels’ Palliative Care Training. 6. How are your training programs developed? Reputable agencies like Visiting Angels often provide training that has been developed with nationally recognized experts, such as their Dementia Care Professionals of America (DCPA), which is an Alzheimer’s Foundation of America-sponsored formal training and qualification program for caregivers. 7. What competencies will the caregiver have (e.g., lifting and transfers, homemaking skills, personal care skills including bathing, dressing, toileting, behavioral management training, cognitive support)? Not every situation will require a caregiver with all of these skills, but it is important to know what a caregiver can do. Be sure to share your loved one’s requirements and ask the agencies you are contacting if they have caregivers available with the skillsets needed to provide the appropriate support to them. 8. How do you assess what the caregiver is capable of doing? Not every caregiver is a match for every client’s needs. A good agency will conduct an initial assessment to determine the client’s requirements and evaluate each caregiver’s skills, strengths, and personality to provide a good match. 9. What is your policy on providing a substitute caregiver if a regular caregiver cannot provide the contracted services? Emergencies happen, but you need to know that your care needs will still be met. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton and other quality agencies have policies to ensure that clients are not left without a caregiver. 10. If there is dissatisfaction with a particular caregiver, can they be replaced “without cause”? Home care is very personal, and sometimes the right match between caregiver and client doesn’t happen right away. An agency like Visiting Angels Newton/Canton will work with you to find a different caregiver to make sure your loved one is cared for, and you have peace of mind. 11. Does the agency provide a supervisor to evaluate the quality of home care regularly? How frequently? Does supervision occur over the telephone, through progress reports, or in person at the older adult’s home? A combination of monitoring, such as telephone and in-home visits, is recommended to ensure the best level of care. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton assigns a case manager to each client and their family. The case manager supports the client and their family every step of the way. The office and on-call staff are also available to assist and support clients and their families twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. 12. How long has the home care agency been in business? A national franchise should have a high level of agencies with a long track record — at Visiting Angels, 60% of all franchises have been in business five or more years, which is more than 10% higher than the national average. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has been in business for over seventeen years. 13. How does the agency stay abreast of new techniques and research in home care? Franchise agencies usually have a strong network of ongoing skills training to draw on. Still, every agency should participate in local network and education opportunities to ensure they are providing the most current care modalities. The Visiting Angels Newton/Canton staff and owners participate in ongoing training and franchise conferences regularly. 14. What hours can the caregivers work? When are they available? You need to be able to schedule help when you need it, and a good agency will work to provide care. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton offers hourly care, 24-hour home care and live-in services, temporary or long-term care, weekend and holiday care, as well as respite for family caregivers. 15. Can we meet the caregiver before the person starts work? Meeting and approving the proposed caregiver before hiring helps to reassure you and prepare your loved one. Caregivers and clients build a special bond and feel like part of the family if there is a good match. Starting up home care for a senior loved one can be daunting. Too often, families don’t know what questions to ask, so they choose an agency that may not be the right fit. It’s so important to ask questions and be confident that the agency you choose can stand by you when you need them. We hope these questions will help you feel more confident in your choices. If you’re interested in more information about how in-home care can help your senior loved ones in Newton, MA, and surrounding communities, contact Visiting Angels Newton/Canton at 617–795–2727. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning home care agency providing high-caliber home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over seventeen years. Countless families have benefited from our home care assistance, senior companion support, respite for family caregivers, 24-hour and live-in home care, dementia, and Alzheimer’s care, transitional aid, and home health care services in Dedham, Needham, Natick, Wellesley, Stoughton, Brookline, Canton, Watertown, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. The non-medical assistance provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton home care can make a significant impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life. If you are interested in more information about how in-home care can help your senior loved ones, contact us today at 617–795–2727 to schedule a free in-home consultation. The COVID-19 outbreak has caused many unexpected disruptions in our daily lives, especially for elders dealing with isolation at home and social distancing. The older adult population continues to be most vulnerable to the disease, and family members and in-home caregivers are making necessary precautions to protect senior loved ones during the coronavirus. While the sudden changes created by COVID-19 are preparing us all for a “new reality,” it’s also important to instill regular routines and schedules for seniors during this time. Daily Routines are Important for the ElderlyIt may be challenging to think of practical ways to maintain or enhance the well-being of older adults under these complex conditions. With some lifestyle changes, your elderly loved ones can reduce their risk of getting infected from COVID-19 and other viruses. Making sure they stick to healthy routines and remain calm, comforted, and safe has never been more critical. Here are some tips you should encourage seniors in your life to follow as they adapt to new healthy routines:
Hopefully, some of these tips can help your senior loved ones, and you establish a “new norm” that is beneficial, healthy, and safe. Despite the pandemic, elderly in-home caregivers remain resolute in delivering safe and compassionate personal care that is essential to the health and well-being of older adults. If you are struggling and need assistance, respite care services are also available to provide a break for as long as you want. The home-care professionals at Visiting Angels can help you find the work-life balance you need while caring for your senior family member. If you’re interested in more information about how at-home care can help your elderly loved ones, contact us today or call 617-795-2727. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton:
Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning local home care agency providing high caliber in-home care services to the elderly and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our home Alzheimer’s care, companion care, elder care, dementia care, respite support, transitional aid, and home care services in Canton, Stoughton, Westwood, Norwood, Brookline, Watertown, Needham, Dedham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Chestnut Hill, Roslindale, and nearby towns. While essential personal in nature, the care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can make a significant impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life. Contact us today for a free in-home consultation! A recent study, the National Poll on Healthy Aging, found that one in three seniors is lonely. “Living alone, in particular, was highly associated with feeling lonely. Among those living alone, 60% reported feeling a lack of companionship, and 41% felt isolated.” In the report, in-home care services were listed as one of the solutions to help alleviate this problem. The emotional impact aside, this research also showed that loneliness has significant repercussions on senior health. “Chronic loneliness can impact older adults’ memory, physical well-being, mental health, and life expectancy. Some research suggests that chronic loneliness may shorten life expectancy even more than being overweight or sedentary, and just as much as smoking.” Loneliness is a condition that can develop over time. It may start with increasing geographical distances between families as seniors are often left behind when adult children relocate for job opportunities. Then, one by one their contemporaries begins to pass away. Those seniors who survive their siblings tend to feel more isolated. Medical problems or the death of a spouse can make seniors even less likely to engage, compounding their feelings of loneliness. The study goes on to say that “encouraging and supporting meaningful social connections and more frequent interactions — through activities such as volunteerism, participation in community or religious groups, or home visiting programs — may help mitigate loneliness and its associated health challenges.” This is one of the many reasons why adding professional home care providers to your loved one’s life can have such a positive impact. Has Your Family Considered Homecare Assistance?Many people are balancing children, a career, and managing a household. It can feel like there are not enough hours in the day when you don’t have an opportunity to stop by and visit your loved one. You start to wonder: Did they eat a nutritious meal for breakfast, wearing their medical alert pendant? Did they remember to lock the front door and take their evening pills? Being a family caregiver is a lonely road. Many people don’t understand the challenges until they have experienced it themselves. If you’re on this road, now may be the time to explore home care assistance. Stephanie Cacioppo, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago, is also director of the university’s National Institute on Aging-supported Brain Dynamics Laboratory. She states, “The misery and suffering caused by chronic loneliness are very real and warrant attention. As a social species, we are accountable to help our lonely children, parents, neighbors, and even strangers, in the same way, we would treat ourselves. Treating loneliness is our collective responsibility.” That’s where Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can be of assistance to you and your loved one. The responsibility you feel can be shared with our compassionate home care aides and your family. We are here to ease the stress you are feeling while also providing your loved one with friendly, joyful companionship. Our home care assistance can include help with a wide range of tasks and activities. We can provide reminders to take medications, transportation to appointments or therapies, provide assistance with household chores, and help with personal care and hygiene needs. We’ll be there to ease your burden while helping to combat the loneliness your loved one may be feeling. At Visiting Angels Newton/Canton of Massachusetts, we understand the power of a team when it’s focused on the same objectives. To request a free in-home consultation, and find out more about our home care assistance services, contact us today at 617-795-2727. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton:
Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning local home care agency providing high caliber in-home care services to the elderly and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our Alzheimer’s and dementia care, respite support, companion care, transitional aid, and senior home care services in Norwood, Westwood, Natick, Wellesley, Needham, Dedham, Brookline, Watertown, Canton, Stoughton, Newton, Chestnut Hill, Roslindale and nearby towns. While non-medical in nature, the care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can make a significant impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life. Our caregivers are all CNA or HHA certified. They complete a full orientation training that includes a dementia care program that utilizes cognitive impairment simulation scenarios. We also offer specialized training opportunities for our office staff and caregivers throughout the year. We have received the Best of Home Care – Leader in Excellence, Trusted Provider, Best of Home Care Provider, and Best of Home Care Employer by Home Care Pulse for six consecutive years. We have also earned Top Places to Work by the Boston Globe for five years, and are proudly accredited by the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts. At Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, our personal care program is vital to the safety and well-being of seniors. Unlike companion care, which covers less intensive caregiving needs, personal care provides seniors with assistance for daily living activities such as dressing, grooming, and bathing. Given the sensitive nature of these activities, personal care providers need special skill sets to perform these tasks. One particularly important quality—that is often overlooked is gentleness. And not just physical gentleness, but emotional gentleness, too. Physical Gentleness When you consider the activities personal care entails, physical gentleness seems like a given. After all, you don’t want to be rough when helping seniors in or out of the shower or when brushing their teeth. Gentleness may suddenly seem like a tall order. When you help a person into and out of the shower, it takes a great deal of physical effort, and your main priority is injury prevention, not comfort. Meanwhile, simple activities like tooth brushing can be tricky to get right. Even with the best intentions, home care aides may struggle to apply the right amount of pressure or use the proper brushing technique. A mistake in one direction can lead to oral health problems. An error in the other direction can inflict pain during brushing, especially to sensitive gums. Without training or experience, caregivers can fail to strike the right balance when performing personal care tasks. And seniors who receive assistance may be unwilling or unable to speak up, causing them to endure pain and discomfort quietly. That’s why it’s so crucial that personal home care providers perform their jobs well and gently. For example, they know how to safely transfer seniors into the tub or shower without causing discomfort or comb an elderly adult’s hair while navigating painful knots. In short, they know how to attend to their clients’ physical well-being without compromising physical comfort. Emotional GentlenessIn personal care, it’s not enough to be physically gentle. Caregivers must also exhibit emotional gentleness toward seniors who feel uncomfortable and sensitive when needing personal care, which makes sense when you consider many of the private acts personal caregivers provide. Few of us would feel comfortable dressing or bathing in someone else’s presence. These emotions are only compounded by the loss of independence that many individuals feel in these moments. Navigating these moments takes a great deal of emotional intelligence and compassion on the part of caregivers; it’s a critical part of the job. If a client receives care and feels embarrassed or powerless afterward, a caregiver has failed to impact their quality of life positively. Compassionate caregivers understand this and take an equally gentle approach to the emotional components of personal care. They talk clients through care when appropriate, they stay quiet when silence is needed, and they remain attentive to the emotional sensitivities of caregiving. They also take time to check in regularly with their care recipient asking questions and seeking feedback to ensure they are not overstepping any unforeseen boundaries. At Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, we are passionate about providing in-home living assistance that is gentle, both physically and emotionally. Our caregivers are chosen because they share this same passion. We take the time to get to know your loved one personally, to understand their needs, and to put them at ease. Dignified, compassionate, gentle home care is always our top priority. Contact us today to request a free personal care consultation! Our CaregiversVisiting Angels Newton/Canton has an outstanding team of Caregivers who work tirelessly to provide quality care to our Clients. Our Caregivers are CNA or HHA certified. They must provide three professional references and have professional experience in the home care field. We perform both the MA state criminal record check (CORI) and national background screening(s) on each potential employee. Caregivers must pass an extensive home care exam and are interviewed at length by two Case Managers. Our new Caregivers complete a full orientation training, which includes a specialized dementia care program About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton:Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning local home care agency providing in-home care services to the elderly and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our Alzheimer's home care, dementia care, companion care, senior care, respite support, transitional aid, and senior home care in Westwood, Norwood, Brookline, Watertown, Needham, Dedham, Canton, Stoughton, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Chestnut Hill, Roslindale, and nearby towns. We are honored to have been awarded Top Places to Work by the Boston Globe for five years. We have also earned the Best of Home Care – Leader in Excellence, Trusted Provider, Best of Home Care Provider, and Best of Home Care Employer by Home Care Pulse. We are proudly accredited by The Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts. While non-medical in nature, the care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can make a significant impact on your loved one's happiness and quality of life. Call us at 617-795-2727 for information.
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AuthorVisiting Angels Newton/Canton is an award-winning in-home care agency that provides high quality home care to seniors and disabled adults in Greater Boston, MA. Archives
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