{"id":1315121,"date":"2019-09-29T20:20:01","date_gmt":"2019-09-30T02:20:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/haims-column-considering-home-care-what-to-look-for\/"},"modified":"2019-09-29T20:20:01","modified_gmt":"2019-09-30T02:20:01","slug":"haims-column-considering-home-care-what-to-look-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/local-news\/haims-column-considering-home-care-what-to-look-for\/","title":{"rendered":"Haims column: Considering home care \u2014 what to look for"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Whether you are looking for a home care provider here in Colorado or another state, finding the best agency involves more than just a phone call. You need to learn about their services, reputation and values.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re not just buying a product, you\u2019re buying services that are deeply personal. That\u2019s why it\u2019s vital to know the company that stands behind the caregiver who eventually comes into your loved one\u2019s home. As you consider different home care providers, consider the provider\u2019s values as a measure of the care they deliver. By seeking a company with high standards and sound values, you\u2019re likely to find the caregivers they employ are competent, compatible and compassionate.<\/p>\n

Reputation Speaks Volumes<\/p>\n

A provider\u2019s reputation speaks volumes. Quality agencies perform comprehensive and routine background checks to ensure their caregivers are vetted properly and suited for the intensely personal and often difficult tasks. Caregiver turnover is also important to know about. Companies with high caregiver turnover and caregivers that are not monitored for their prompt arrivals and departure should be avoided.<\/p>\n

Find out how long the company has been in business and inquire about what the company does to be a part of the community. Company stability and community involvement leads to creating a quality and reliable workforce that will be loyal and committed to establishing a successful relationship with the client \u2014 and the client\u2019s family.<\/p>\n

The Quality of Care<\/p>\n

Going with the lowest bidder may incur costs not measurable in dollars alone. While it\u2019s normal for our loved ones to worry about the cost of care, be wary of companies whose rates are far below other providers or that lack transparency about the real costs. Consistency of care is essential to superior home care. A revolving door of caregivers in your home is a red flag. An agency that promotes a consistency of caregivers and regularly trains its staff to evolve will ensure proper care and advocating.<\/p>\n

Listening to Learn<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re still getting to know a home care company, you want to see that they\u2019re listening to what you\u2019re saying \u2014 about your loved one\u2019s needs and your own. You want to know they value your input because your involvement may not just end when a professional caregiver enters the home. It\u2019s critical that the incoming caregiver recognize this fact and affirms the value of your ongoing insights and partnership. Adding a professional caregiver to the team requires a blending of personalities and efficient communication. Listening and learning from one another is key to preventing significant conflicts in addition to providing an optimal environment for care.<\/p>\n

Flexible Care Options<\/p>\n

A company with a long history of serving seniors and their families will understand the unique needs of aging seniors and providing different levels of care. As the needs of care evolves, a reputable provider can present ideas for increasing the level of care in a way that\u2019s respectful to the family while understanding costs constraints and family dynamics. By partnering with a company that has a long-standing reputation for delivering exceptional care, you\u2019ll experience a more personal and rewarding caliber of care.<\/p>\n

Education Matters<\/p>\n

Training is vital to developing and retaining a strong workforce. Make sure the home care companies you\u2019re reviewing have an active educational component. A company that prioritizes continued professional development will provide professional caregivers who will be prepared for a variety of needs and ultimately add value to your family\u2019s caregiving situation. Consider an agency whose caregivers receive specific training in dementia, movement disorders, fall-prevention strategies and social isolation remedies. This demonstrates a commitment to a higher standard of care.<\/p>\n

Serves the Whole Family<\/p>\n

Does the company recognize that a professional caregiver is there to support and serve the whole family, not just the senior? Do they stress the importance of advocating and fostering clear communication amongst caregivers and medical providers for the best possible success? Home care is a collaborative affair, so consider a company built on a collaborative family-focused foundation.<\/p>\n

Judson Haims is the owner of Visiting Angels Home Care in Glenwood Springs, Basalt, Aspen and the surrounding areas. He is an advocate for our elderly and is available to answer questions. His contact information is, http:\/\/www.visitingangels.com\/comtns<\/a>, 970-328-5526.<\/p>\n

via:: Post Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whether you are looking for a home care provider here in Colorado or another state, finding the best agency involves more than just a phone call. You need to learn about their services, reputation and values. You\u2019re not just buying a product, you\u2019re buying services that are deeply personal. That\u2019s why it\u2019s vital to know […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1315121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-09-06 21:48:24","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSKE Ski Country","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1315121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1315121"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1315121\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1315121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1315121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1315121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}