For many caregivers, there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day. It is difficult to care for all of the needs of a family member and have time for your own family, a job and yourself. Exhaustion and stress can become overwhelming and additional help is needed.

Fortunately, there are many options. In fact, home care service is among the fastest-growing trends in health care. People who become care recipients most often would rather stay in their own homes than move into residential care. And, economically, except for round-the-clock nursing care, home care can be less expensive than most board and care homes, skilled nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

What types of home care services are available?

Professional care providers offer a variety of services. In general, they are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They may work by themselves or as a team on a shift, part-time, hourly, or on an as-needed basis.

Services range from household help or personal care, to more specialized medical care, like that provided by respiratory therapists or hospice workers.

• Home Health Care - Skilled care including nursing, physical or respiratory therapy, medical care, speech language pathologists, home health aides, and social or psychiatric care.
   
• Personal Care - Assistance with a variety of daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and feeding.
   
• Live-in Help - Home care best suited to long-distance caregiving or other situations in which the primary caregiver can't be there in person and the care recipient needs round-the-clock support. Room, board and, in many cases, a salary is provided in exchange for meal preparation light housekeeping, and other non-medical services.
   
• Homemaker Services - A person is sent to your or your loved one's home to do light cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, meal preparation - anything that will help keep the household running.
   
• Respite Care - A trained professional - stays with your loved one and takes over your caregiving role, whether for several hours or several days. These brief reprieves from a caregiving situation are healthy for the caregiver and also for the care recipient.a change of daily routine for both.
   
• Hospice Care - Specializes in the care of the terminally ill-someone determined by a medical professional to have no more than six months to liveIn addition to providing psychological and spiritual support for the patient and the family, hospice may also include skilled nursing care, palliative care, respite care, social work support and bereavement counseling. In addition, hospice workers are trained to answer questions about insurance benefits, funeral planning, and other end-of-life issues.

Tips on finding home care providers

Choosing services that are the best match to help a loved one can be confusing and overwhelming to caregivers. They need help finding help. To find agencies or providers, you can check the yellow pages oryour city or county Area Agency on Aging. Here are some additional possibilities:

• Referrals from local community organizations.
   
• Religious affiliations including churches and synagogues
   
• Doctor or hospital referrals from your care recipient's medical affiliations
   
• Home Care Aide Agencies may or may not be state licensed, but they select and supervise their own personnel, and are thus liable for any staff or care problems that arise.
   
• Registries - employment agencies for home health care providers. Typically, you will pay a fee (if not, then the employee will), and you will be responsible for payroll (including tax withholding) and all other employment regulations. You'll also be responsible for selecting and supervising your provider. The registry will not be liable for problems.
   
• Independent Providers. - these providers are found through ads or word-of-mouth; hiring an independent provider is like hiring any other employee without going through an agency. You will be responsible for payroll, as well as for selecting and supervising your provider.
   
• The internet - A way to do vast searches for a number of home care services. Links to helpful web sites are listed in our Online Information section. (link below)

The Eldercare Locator, a service of the U.S. government, has an online database of senior service agencies. To get more detailed information, call the Eldercare Locator toll-free at 1-800-677-1116 (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Eastern time). You will speak to an Information Specialist who can provide more specific and useful help.

Agency and independent home care providers tips

Typically, home health care agencies will be the most expensive; independent providers will be the least expensive. However, home health care agencies are also easier to use, since the agency finds and places the provider, handles payroll and problems, and usually provides coverage for sick or absent providers. Also, agencies that are licensed and bondedare generally safer (although there are always exceptions). You have avenues of recourse (complaints, legal action) when dealing with agencies that are liable for problems. There is no real recourse (except firing) when dealing with independent providers or ones found through registries.

Should a problem develop, discuss it with the care provider first. If that does not resolve matters, talk to the agency (if there is one). If the provider is independent and you cannot resolve the problem after repeated discussions, you may need to find a new care provider. If you suspect fraud or other criminal behavior, report it to your state's Department of Health and the Better Business Bureau.

Remember to read contracts carefully, check all references, and take time to talk with someone you trust before signing anything!

Source: Helpguide.org

Heritage Enterprises Inc. 
115 W. Jefferson St., Suite 401
P.O. Box 3188  Bloomington IL 61702-3188
PH: (309) 828-4361   FAX: (309) 829-5477