Benefits Of Hiring A Home Care Agency

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1 Preserving Dignity Through Independence at Home Benefits Of Hiring A Home Care Agency Are you noticing changes in your aging parents that make you concerned about their safety at home? Are they chronically forgetful or unable to take care of themselves any longer? 1 Benefits Of Hiring A Home Care Agency It s common to experience lifestyle changes as we age. When we see these changes occur, many of us turn to a home care agency to help fill a void that we as children can t always fill or commit to because of our busy lives and commitments.

2 Before making any lasting decisions, you ll want to determine the type and level of care you or your loved one requires. There s a common misunderstanding that home care and home health care are one in the same the truth is, they are quite different. Home Health Care Home health care refers to medical-related home care, and provides in-home medical services to patients recovering from a medical situation, such as an injury, illness, or invasive surgery. Care is prescribed by a doctor and provided by medical professionals like nurses, licensed therapists and occupational therapists. Services generally include the following: Medication administration Wound care for pressure sores or a surgical wound Intravenous or nutrition therapy Injections Monitoring pain and unstable health status Check blood pressure, temperature, heart rate and breathing 2 Benefits Of Hiring A Home Care Agency

3 Home Care Home care focuses on providing companionship and assistance with the daily activities of life. It allows the elderly to enjoy independence in the comfort of their home, with just the right amount of support from a dedicated caregiver. Services are personalized, and could include: Activities of Daily Living Bathing and showering Dressing Functional mobility Personal hygiene and grooming Toilet hygiene / Assisting with Depends Instrumental Activities Housework Providing medication reminders Shopping for groceries or clothing Meal planning and preparation Use of telephone Using technology Transportation within the community In home care, we refer to our customers as clients, not patients, and we customize the care our clients need based on each client s unique situation and circumstances. The focus of home care is creating a safe and comfortable home environment that ensures independence at home. 3 Benefits Of Hiring A Home Care Agency

4 Why hiring a home care agency may benefit you in the long run If you ve determined you or a loved one need home you ll have to decide if you will engage a home care agency or hire an independent contractor. Though research should be done in any case, here are a few reasons why hiring a home care agency may benefit you in the long run: 1 A Caregiver that Fits Your Unique Needs Engaging an agency ensures your caregiver matches the unique needs of you or your loved one. This is because home care agencies have deep benches of experienced caregivers with a variety of skills and attributes ready to be matched to your specific service needs. Unlike an independent contractor, home care agencies offer an entire team focused on making you and your loved ones feel safe, happy and independent. And, if for some reason your caregiver has an unexpected situation that requires them to be unavailable, your home care agency is prepared and able to provide someone to step in and provide the care you need. 4 Benefits Of Hiring A Home Care Agency

5 2 Assurance and Peace of Mind Going with a reputable, certified home care agency assures reliable expertise. More importantly, home care agencies offer benefits that independent contractors don t. Here are a few of them: In Connecticut, home care agencies are registered through and overseen by the Department of Consumer Protection. When the agency is the employer, staffing changes can be easily facilitated through the office staff, avoiding potentially uncomfortable situations. Good home care agencies do extensive reference and criminal background checks on each person they employ, giving you verified assurance on the caregiver watching your loved one. Payment is handled directly through payroll, so you never have to exchange money directly with a caregiver. Caregivers are bonded and covered by Worker s Compensation and General Liability insurance. 3 Potential Cost Savings It s a common misconception that agencies cost more than independent contractors. Home care agencies are surprisingly more affordable than many private workers. This is because agencies are responsible for covering workers compensation insurance, the employer portion of FICA (social security taxes), federal withholding taxes and unemployment taxes, all of which are hard to obtain as a private/ contract worker. It s important to understand that when you hire an independent contractor, you become the employer. This means you must pay for all associated taxes. Or, if the contractor is injured on the job, you may be liable for paying for his/ her medical bills and expenses. Not only is this a risk for you personally, it s time-consuming. Many agencies offer health insurance and other benefits such as a companysponsored 401(k) plan with employer match to qualified caregivers expenses and administrative details you don t need or want. 5 Benefits Of Hiring A Home Care Agency

6 Flexibility and 4 Time Savings 5 Caregiver Trust and Morale Often the reason why you can t take care of a loved one yourself is because they re not located close enough to you. Hiring an agency provides the peace of mind you need to feel like your loved one is being well taken care of. Even if you live close, having an agency caregiver allows you to have flexibility in your own life. If you or a sibling were to become sick, or needed to leave the state unexpectedly, you may worry about who will be there to take care of your loved one. Having an agency on hand assures that there will be no gaps in coverage, regardless of sudden change of events. Hiring through an agency safeguards against uncertainties that can t always be avoided if you hire an independent contractor. Agencies must provide proof that employees are legally authorized to work in the U.S. They also closely monitor employee performance, including tracking client feedback and making periodic on-site visits. Many agencies provide ongoing training and education for employees. Training often provides the added benefits of learning and implementing new best practices in home care. 6 Benefits Of Hiring A Home Care Agency

7 Preserving Dignity Through Independence at Home Proud to be Connecticut s Most Trusted Home Care Provider We have been providing home care services to thousands of satisfied clients in Connecticut since Companions & Homemakers allows you or your loved ones to continue enjoying independence in the comfort of home, with just the right amount of support from a dedicated caregiver. Our staff is available 24/7 to speak with you. (800) Call Today for a Thoughtful, No-Obligation Conversation Don t approach home care responsibilities alone. Together, we can ensure independent living. Sources