Families face many challenges when a loved one is diagnosed with dementia. Some families opt for in-home memory care, but choosing the right provider is an additional challenge. This article offers actionable steps and tips to guide you in choosing the best in-home memory care provider for your loved one’s needs.
Understanding in-home memory care
With in-home memory care, your loved one receives personalized support while living in a familiar environment. This approach has many benefits, including maintaining familiar routines and surroundings for your loved one. With support from professional caregivers as well as family members, this option can adapt to your loved one’s changing needs, address many aspects of care, and enhance their sense of comfort and security.
What care does your loved one need?
If you’re thinking about hiring an in-home memory care provider, that means you have recognized the need for assistance. You might have noticed one or more of the following:
- Your loved one has increased difficulty with everyday tasks.
- Your loved one’s memory issues are becoming more noticeable, and/or it is becoming more unsafe for them to be alone for prolonged periods.
- The reliance on you to supervise or look after your loved one is becoming difficult to handle, whether due to time requirements, the physical or emotional difficulty of the tasks, or both.
Even if you can recognize the above signs that in-home memory care is a good idea for your loved one, it might be hard to know what your loved one actually needs.
The good news is that you do not need to make a full assessment of your loved one’s needs to start contacting in-home memory care providers. An experienced and trustworthy in-home memory care provider will ask appropriate questions over the phone during your first call to give them insight into what services they might need to provide to your loved one. They’ll also perform an official assessment in person when a representative visits the home.
You can start by writing a list of how you currently help your loved one as well as any concerns you have. Though you perform these tasks daily, talking about it can bring up frustration and emotions. This list will help you verbalize specific information in the moment when talking with providers. Make a list of the following:
- Household tasks: What your loved one can’t do without your help or at all. Consider daily chores, like doing dishes, and weekly chores, like taking out the trash and doing laundry.
- Personal tasks: What your loved one cannot do independently or without verbal cues. Consider daily tasks like brushing their teeth and taking a shower.
- Errands: Errands that you run or help your loved one complete, like driving to the grocery store or paying bills.
Now, you’re ready to begin your research, which we will explore next.
How to find an in-home memory care provider
Finding the right in-home memory care provider for your loved one might feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure where to begin. These steps can help you get started, simplify the process, and find great care for your loved one.
Reaching out to trusted professionals is a good way to start your search. They often know which local home care providers offer in-home memory care. You can simply ask them if they have a referral for an in-home memory care provider for your loved one. You can also reach out to people you know personally or do your own research. Some resources include:
- A local senior living advisor.
- Doctors (yours or your loved one’s providers).
- Nurses in the doctors’ offices.
- Social workers and case managers.
- Other professionals who may provide in-home care, such as physical therapists, nurses, or other skilled care providers.
- Trusted neighbors, friends, and family.
- Online home care directories.
With these resources, you should have success in finding in-home memory care providers in your area who can meet your loved one’s unique needs with compassion and professionalism.
Key information and essential questions for in-home memory care providers
When exploring in-home memory care options, you may feel overwhelmed. Some of the information, lingo, and concepts may be unfamiliar to you. Arming yourself with the right information and asking the right questions can help you better understand how each in-home memory care provider works, which in turn can help you select the best provider for your loved one and family situation.
Caregiver experience and care customization
Each caregiving situation is unique. The quality of care often hinges on the caregiver’s experience and how well the service is customized to your loved one’s specific needs. Providers focusing on personalized care planning, training and experience in memory care, and regular reviews of care plans can make a significant difference in your loved one’s daily life.
Questions to ask:
- How can you help my loved one manage their personal hygiene and other activities of daily living?
- What household tasks can you help my loved one with?
- Do you offer help with running errands or transportation? If so, whose vehicle will the caregiver use?
- What specific training and experience with dementia patients do your caregivers have?
- How are care plans created and customized for individual needs?
- How strictly do the caregivers adhere to the care plans?
- Does the patient and family have input on the care plan?
- How frequently are care plan assessments conducted to ensure they remain relevant?
- Can we request a review of the care plan if needed?
- What are the care services that are included in your base costs? What services cost extra? What services are beyond what your staff can provide, such as medication help and other medical services?
Minimum hours and shift requirements
Many providers have policies that specify a minimum number of hours for their services, which could be a minimum length of time for each visit or a minimum number of hours scheduled per week or month. It is important to ask about this requirement so you can decide if it suits your scheduling and financial needs.
Questions to ask:
- Do you have a minimum number of hours required to be scheduled?
- What happens if my loved one is in the hospital and we don’t meet the minimum requirement during that time?
- What happens if we have other family arrangements, such as a vacation or visitors in town, and don’t meet the minimum requirement during that time?
Contracts and flexibility
Most providers require that you enter into a contract with them prior to initiating services. Before committing, it’s crucial that you fully understand the contractual obligations.
Questions to ask:
- Do your services require a long-term contract?
- How long is the contract?
- What happens if our circumstances change during the contracted period?
- What happens if your rates change during the contracted period?
Scheduling considerations for in-home memory care providers
Scheduling caregivers for in-home memory care is one of the most crucial elements of ensuring this level of care works smoothly for your family and loved one. Most providers establish a weekly schedule with planned days and times for visits, ensuring consistent care for your loved one.
While many agencies are flexible and willing to adapt schedules to meet your family and loved one’s changing needs, it’s important to remember that caregiver availability can sometimes vary depending on the agency’s staffing needs. Discussing scheduling flexibility upfront can clarify how the provider can accommodate changes or special requirements.
Questions to ask:
- How is the weekly schedule determined?
- Will you meet our family’s requested days and times, or is scheduling based on your staff’s availability?
- Do you offer evening and weekend hours?
- Can you alter the schedule to meet any changing needs or circumstances?
- What happens when our assigned caregiver is unavailable, such as while sick or on vacation?
- What happens if we do not like the caregiver?
- How do we request any changes in the schedule?
- What happens if the caregiver doesn’t show up at the assigned time?
Fees and additional costs
A clear understanding of the financial aspects and responsibilities of in-home memory care will help prevent surprises. Depending on the provider, any insurance you may have, standards in your location, and your contract, you might incur fees for some of the additional services listed below. Be sure to ask about your financial obligation for the following:
- Hourly care rate: The cost charged per hour for caregiving services, which can vary based on the level of care required.
- Initial assessment: A fee for an initial evaluation that assesses your loved one’s care needs to create a personalized care plan.
- Overnight or extended care fees: Additional charges for overnight stays or extended hours beyond regularly scheduled visits.
- Transportation services: Fees for transporting your loved one to appointments or errands.
- Care plan updates: Fees for reviews and updates of your loved one’s care plan.
- Supply costs: Charges for any medical supplies or equipment provided directly by the care agency.
- Holiday and weekend premiums: Higher rates for services provided on weekends or holidays.
- Cancellation fees: Charges incurred for canceling scheduled visits without adequate notice.
- Emergency fees: Extra charges for unscheduled or emergency/urgent visits.
Questions to ask:
Ask the provider about any charges related to the list above as well as if there are any other charges not mentioned on the list.
Thorough research and informed questioning are crucial when selecting an in-home care provider. Trust your instincts and prioritize your loved one’s needs to find the right care. When you make a well-informed decision, you will have more peace of mind, and your loved one will have the best support.
