In-home care is typically not at the top of people’s minds—until something terrible happens to their loved one, such as a stroke, a fall, or some other serious condition or injury. During an emergency, families rush to find a home care agency. Oftentimes, they end up partnering with the first available care provider they find, even if they don’t fully meet all the needs and requirements of the family. To avoid ending up with the wrong care provider for yourself or a loved one, you need to be more proactive. Start searching for a home care agency in Washington DC as early as possible.
Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for a home care agency.
Talk to Your Doctor, Friends and Family
The first step is to talk with the people you trust and who care for you, such as your friends, family and your doctor. To get honest feedback about the best type of personal care you need, you need to be open and honest with them. Your doctor will tell you what type of medical-related assistance you need. They can also provide you detailed instructions that you can give your caregiver. It’s also inevitable that your doctor and caregiver will have some interaction in the future, so it’s best to include your doctor with your plans from the start.
Assess Your Home Care Needs
Once you’ve got some feedback from the people you know and trust the most, it’s now time to list down what kind of help you need. You may also want to include how often you’ll need assistance with the tasks you’ve listed.
Know Your Budget
Before approaching a home care agency, you first need to measure your budget. Determine your source of funds, so you can have an idea of how much you can spend on home care services. If you’re tight on budget, you might still be able to get some extra funds. Check with Medicare, Medicaid, or other health or long-term disability insurance about your eligibility for coverage for certain medical conditions.
Your doctor can help confirm this when you talk to them. If you still need more funds, you can ask your family if they are willing to shoulder some of the expenses. They may not have the ability or time to assist you themselves but are willing to help out financially. All you have to do is ask.
