Live Free Home Health Care, LLC. - Bristol, New Hampshire

All posts within: agency-employed caregiver

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Key Issues to Consider Before Selecting a Private Duty Care Provider

Selecting a private duty care provider can be a scary prospect. After all, you are entrusting the care of your loved ones to someone that is, for all intents and purposes, a stranger. It almost goes without saying that you want a care provider you feel you can trust. When choosing a private duty care provider, it is important to investigate a few key questions:

• What level of home care is required? Is just a companion/homemaker sufficient, is personal care such as bathing and grooming required, or is skilled nursing care also needed? You’ll want to be sure to select an agency with offerings that match your needs.
• What type of agency is the provider? Do they employ their staff (which is preferred) or do they use independent contractors (which pose risks and added responsibilities)? Is the agency licensed? Does the agency accept Medicare and/or Medicaid?
• What are the procedures used for hiring in-home care staff? Do they perform criminal background checks, credential and reference checking, competency testing, and have orientation procedures set in place?
• What are the care management practices of the home care agency? Do they perform initial and ongoing patient assessments, do they communicate regularly with family and medical providers, and do they have ongoing staff training and scheduling procedures?
• What is the background and training of the care managers? Is the care manager a nurse and how often are supervisors available if needed?

At Live Free Home Health Care, we believe that in order to support a successful care transition and viable long-term care solution, care in the home requires the services of knowledgeable, competent professionals who must have a good understanding of a person’s prognosis, and are trained to detect changes in a client’s physical, cognitive, or mental condition. We think you’ll find that the Live Free Home Health Care difference really does “make all the difference” in care for your loved ones in the Concord and Central New Hampshire area and Lakes region. To find out more about what sets Live Free Home Health Care apart, click here.

Tags:   agency-employed caregiver, better quality of life, in-home care providers, private duty agencies

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Thursday, September 09, 2010

Which Home Care Option is Right for Me?

Private Duty, Medicare, Home Health Care, Hospice…..what is the difference between all of these options, and the bigger question…which is the right option for my situation?

Trying to navigate through the maze of home care options can be confusing. Here are a few short definitions to help you differentiate between the different types of in-home care:

Private duty services are usually mostly “non-medical” services and can range from companionship to housekeeping, transportation, personal care, dementia care to 24-hour or respite care. Full service private duty agencies fully employ, screen and can train caregivers; whereas a nursing registry or independent hire will not provide this sort of protection to the senior. A nursing registry acts as a matchmaker service between caregiver and client and does not employ or manage the caregiver.

Home Health Care is skilled nursing care and certain other health care services one receives in a home setting for the treatment of an illness or injury.

Hospice Care is a special concept of care designed to provide comfort and support to patients and their families when a life limiting illness no longer responds to cure-oriented treatments. Hospice is generally depicted as end-of-life care and can be in a home or a hospital setting.

Medicaid Home and Community Based Care is intended to provide services for those who cannot afford to pay for care with the goal of keeping the person out of a nursing home.

Geriatric Care Management entails managing a client’s personal, daily money as well as household management that falls outside of the services of a direct care provider.

Live Free Home Health Care provides nursing and non-medical in-home care assistance to help seniors maintain independence and comfort while recuperating or requiring a little extra care for day to day needs. Servicing Concord New Hampshire, the rest of the Lakes region and central New Hampshire, we also provide consulting and expertise to help people with care needs make the best care choices for their situation.

Live Free Home Health Care can easily assess the situation, determine which requirements need to be addressed, and assist with available options - engaging services quickly if necessary. Call Live Free Home Health Care today at 603-217-0149 to schedule a free in-home assessment.

For further information on the models of in-home care and payment options for home care, click here.

Tags:   agency-employed caregiver, in-home care providers, private duty agencies

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