It is easy to become overwhelmed with the multitude of choices for home health care. The home health care market in Indianapolis is very fragmented. The larger national companies make up less than half of the providers. The remaining 60 plus percent of Indianapolis home health care agencies are small to medium size companies. It is our hope that the information found in this blog will help you focus your efforts. How you determine which provider is best for your family will directly impact the quality of care your loved one receives. First we will discuss the different elements that make up the services offered by home health care agencies in Indianapolis. Particular attributes that make for a quality care provider will be identified. The blog will conclude with thoughts on expectations you should have as you contact potential home health agencies.
In Home Health Care – “Home” can mean anywhere that the patient resides. It can be a long term residence or simply a place that the patient has chosen because they want to complete this part of their life in. It is important that the patient feels safe and relaxed where they are. This setting will be the foundation for the intimate relationship between themselves and their caretakers.
Private In Home Health Care – You do not need to be famous in order to require that your care givers are discrete when they visit you. Your home is your sanctuary. Your attending home care providers need to demonstrate a respect for this. It is not out of the ordinary for a patient to request that their home health aide, nurse, or therapist use particular routes or schedules for their visits. This could mean parking in a certain place or making sure treatment schedules align with family activities.
Home Health Care Agencies Indianapolis – The term “Agency” is interchangeable with “company” . Make sure your potential supporting organization identifies core values that you hold yourself. Do not be afraid to ask them to list values off the top of their head. It is a good sign if they can not only do this without sounding scripted but give you specific examples of how they have practiced these values.
Pediatric Home Healthcare Indianapolis – Many people think that home health care is reserved for the elderly. The reality is that just as many people require care at the beginning of their life as the end. First make sure that your potential provider is truely experienced with pediatric patients. You will know instantly if your nurse is comfortable treating pediatric patients by their demeanor upon arrival. Watch out for agencies that may not have a sufficient pool of appropriate pediatric care providers. They may send a staff member that has little or no experience with pediatric patients. This is indicative of an inexperienced agency that will take any assignment they can in order to grow their business.
Senior Home Care Indianapolis – “It was a different time then…” An older person will may have a different perspective than a younger one. This can present a challenge when a home health care provider is significantly younger than the patient. A quality home care worker will be able to bridge the generation gap with respect and patience.
Respite Care Indianapolis – Logic says that people working in stressful situations will be more effective if they take breaks. Respite care is designed to give caregivers like family members relief from the stress of taking care of a loved one that may be permanently disabled or has become ill. The challenge here is finding a home health agency that can schedule respite care with little to no prior notice. This is because family members often wait until burnout sets in before seeking relief. A good respite provider is highly responsive.
Home Health Aides Indianapolis – Home health aides may be responsible for basic homemaking tasks such as cleaning or bathing. They may also perform medical tasks like checking a patient’s pulse or respiratory rate. Be careful to align your loved one with an aide that is comfortable providing the level of care your loved one requires. There is no substitute for experience. Ask your loved one how she or he feels about their confidence in the aides ability.
Conclusion-
~“The biggest problem with communication is the assumption that it has taken place.”
In conclusion it is important to remember that your situation requires you to be assertive in your request for care for your loved one. It is okay for you to position yourself as a “hard to please client” with your home health agency. Likewise, your homecare provider should over communicate their values and create expectations that exceed your requested level of service. Do not be afraid to contact your agency to request alternative care providers. They should be able to seamlessly plug in a caretaker that is a better fit. Poorly structured, inexperienced agencies will offer resistance when such a request is made. A good agency will understand that problems will happen and be prepared to address and resolve those problems.
Acme Health Care Services 