Making the decision to hire a caregiver, either for oneself or for elderly parents, can be a difficult. There is much to consider – the cost of caregiver, knowing what services they will provide and whether it is safe or even practical to invite a stranger into one’s home for do those tasks that can no longer be easily accomplished. But it is a decision thousands of Americans make each year, fueling solid growth in the private duty home care industry.
In a study conducted in March of 2009, the National Private Duty Association found that 71 percent of private duty home care companies saw increases in revenues from 2008 to 2009. Despite a tight economy, revenues remained stable for another 12 percent of private duty home care companies and about 83 percent added employees, according to the survey. The NPDA says that every day in 2011, 8,000 people will turn 65. By the end of that year there will be nearly 49 million seniors, so demand for private duty home care is expected to continue increasing.
There are a variety of reasons why people hire personal caregivers. Some are hired to provide short-term help for others following a surgery, during illness or after discharge from a hospital, but most are hired to provide support and care for elderly men and women who wish to remain living in their own home rather then move to a retirement community. Caregivers provide a variety of services. Many are nursing assistants and are qualified to help with medication management, incontinence care and personal care like bathing and dressing. Others provide companionship, transportation, help with shopping and errands, meal preparation and light housekeeping.
Adult children of elderly parents are often the first to seek help from a private duty home care industry and experts say it is often a brave and difficult decision to make. Many adult children feel that they should do those things that their aging parents may need help with – washing floors, doing the grocery shopping, helping with bills and driving parents to doctor appointments. But hiring a caregiver for one’s aging parents can lessen the burden on adult children and pave the way for more spending more quality time with each other, experts say. In many cases, a personal caregiver will serve as a liaison between the parent and the adult child – especially if that adult child lives in another town – providing communication and services that lessen the burden of caring for an aging parent.
Once the decision has been made to hire a personal caregiver, the tough work begins. Industry experts recommend that caregivers have CPR training, no criminal record, a clean driving record as well as experience and references. To make the hiring process easier, most people turn to a private duty home care business to select a qualified caregiver for them. In most communities, there are plenty of private home health care agencies to choose from. To help narrow it down, industry insiders recommend interviewing a few agencies to find the one that best fits your needs.
A few well-asked questions can help in the process and people should consider asking the following questions before hiring an agency.
1) Are your agency’s caregivers experienced? Do they have any felonies or “red flags” in their background checks? Can you provide references for the caregiver that is assigned to me?
2) Is your agency insured?
3) What happens if I don’t like the caregiver that is assigned to me?
4) What services will the caregiver provide?
5) What are the fees and how do I pay?
6) What is the average caseload of each caregiver?
Sources
The National Private Duty Association Web site, www.privatedutyhomecare.org/, Nov. 11, 2009
