How Involved Families Should Be When Choosing In-Home Care

When it comes to in-home care for older adults, patient-centered care is one of the key components of meeting quality standards. As part of that, it’s critical for the family members to be involved in the decision-making process as much as possible.

Why Family Involvement Is Crucial for In-Home Care Decisions

By working together, family members can reduce some of the stress of choosing the right professional caregiver and give loved ones much-needed support. In turn, their involvement avoids damaging relationships and delaying comprehensive care for older adults.

Additionally, family involvement can provide insight for in-home care professionals, which can improve the safety of their loved ones. Let’s look at the roles that each family member can assume and why their involvement is so beneficial.

Sons and Daughters

In general, a son or daughter becomes the primary family caregiver when parents get sick. However, any other living sons or daughters can chip in as well. They may have special skills or expertise in helping their parents find professional in-home care. For instance, they can perform research, make a list of critical questions to ask, manage the finances or provide legal assistance.

Brothers and Sisters

Brothers and sisters of older adults might be able to share possible triggers for their siblings and recommendations for caregivers that they or friends have hired before. Whether the feedback is negative or positive, it helps narrow down the options to find the best caregiver to meet their siblings’ needs. Also, brothers and sisters are often trusted voices for those who need guidance to make a decision.

Friends of the Family

Close friends of older adults could offer unique insight and perspectives that might be overlooked by family members. Sometimes, they know intimate details that aging parents hide from their children and siblings. Other times, they have special skills or expertise in areas that family members don’t. They could have caregiver recommendations as well.

Grandchildren

Grandchildren are often overlooked when it comes to making care decisions regarding their grandparents. However, they could have different viewpoints and more candid insight. Furthermore, they have unique skills when it comes to researching and validating in-home caregivers. For instance, they may be more bold and less afraid of offending caregivers when it comes to asking questions.

Choosing Caring Home Care for In-Home Assistance

Using a nurse registry is one option for choosing in-home care for a loved one. Caring Home Care is a service that coordinates care for families and their aging loved ones. From companionship and respite care to live-in caregiver assistance, a range of services are available.