By Maria Burke, RN
Owner, Celtic Angels Home Health Care
Choosing the right care partner for your beloved senior is one of the most important decisions you can make. While it often feels frightening to entrust your loved one’s care to anyone else, the right care partner makes a world of difference for both you and your beloved senior. Here’s what to look for in a great home care partner.
Important documentation. The first thing you should look for in a great home care partner is whether they have important documentation. For instance, you should always ask whether a potential care partner is licensed and insured. Additionally, you should ask about background checks to make sure there is nothing concerning such as a past legal issues or a criminal record, driving while under the influence, domestic issues, and the like.
At Celtic Angels, we are fully bonded, licensed, and insured. And our staff is thoroughly screened and checked through CORI. So, you can trust that your beloved senior is safe in our care.
Qualifications. Second, you need to be sure that your home care partner is fully qualified for the job. A great home care partner should be fully trained before working in a home care setting. Make sure to ask about the training a potential care partner has had. If you work with an agency like Celtic Angels, caregivers should receive training through the company, but they also may have prior experience.
It’s a good idea to ask about any certifications the care partner has — things like CPR certification, CNA or other licenses, and whether the care partner has experience caring for patients who have the same health conditions, like Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s and diabetes. It’s important that your caregiver has first-hand knowledge of your beloved senior’s conditions, or at least the agency you hire has a Registered Nurse on staff who does. Remember to ask for references, too.
Character. Third, try to get a feel for a potential home care partner’s character and personality. A great home care partner should be kind, caring, knowledgeable, and dedicated. It’s important that you and your beloved senior feel comfortable with the person providing care, so take time to get to know the person before agreeing to a contract. Make sure your personalities mesh well and that the home care partner is able to develop a rapport with your senior loved one.
At Celtic Angels, we always provide a no-cost, no-obligation appointment with you in your home prior to starting service. This gives us a chance to get to know each other and learn about your needs. We make sure you feel comfortable and confident that there is a good match before you agree to begin services with our company.
Availability. Finally, always ask about a potential home care partner’s availability and what happens if your home care partner becomes ill or has an emergency. It’s important to know that there is a contingency plan in place so that your beloved senior doesn’t experience a disruption in care.
Be sure to agree upon which times and days you need a home care partner to help with your beloved senior’s care. And find out what the backup plan is if your home care partner ever becomes unavailable during one of those times. A great home care partner will be sure there is a plan in place to provide continuity of care.
Are you looking for a great home partner for your beloved senior? Our care partners are the best in the field. That’s why we call them angels! Learn more about the Celtic Angels difference here: https://celticangelsinc.com/why-celtic-angels.
