You have finally found a caregiver your mom loves and who seems to check all the boxes for experience and reliability. But, sometimes you feel there are little communication misses that tarnish the otherwise wonderful caregiver relationship.

You feel like your expectations are reasonable, and you can’t understand why little balls get dropped along the way. While the caregiver client relationship appears straightforward, each person’s needs vary. What seems like common sense to you might be completely wrong in another situation. There are unspoken rules between clients and caregivers. These rules are what allow you to set caregiver expectations but are you aware you may be breaking them?

Put it in Writing

No matter how small the task – put it in writing. In many home care organizations like ours, Green Tree Home Care, we create detailed care plans that outline every expected task. We then ask our Care Professionals to record there shift activity hour by hour every time they care for a client. They feel confident they understand the scope of care and we feel secure knowing all details are clear and we have appropriately set caregiver expectations.

That sounds like a lot of paperwork! It is – but when you write down the expectations and record what tasks are or aren’t accomplished you can easily address any discrepancies. You also have a legal record should you need to make a staffing change.

Avoid the Bait and Switch

You should create a scope of care plan BEFORE you hire a caregiver. Often people start the care conversation by saying: “I need someone to sit with my mom who has a little forgetfulness to make sure she gets breakfast and lunch.” Then, once care starts the duties start to pile on: wash the car-weed the roses-did I forget to mention mom has 7 cats-sometimes she bites when she gets upset.

Make sure you are very clear about what is required of the caregiver upfront. Caregivers may only specialize in one type of care. Companion caregivers may feel uncomfortable with transfers. Medical focused caregivers often avoid cases that require lots of cleaning support. The point – not every caregiver is comfortable with every kind of task. What you present as the scope of care in the beginning of the caregiving relationship should stay pretty consistent. If you need to make changes to the scope of care, have an open and honest conversation with your caregiver before making changes. If your caregiver is not comfortable with changing care responsibilities, you may need to find someone better suited to the new role. You can learn all about San Diego Home Care if you think you might need to make adjustments.

Professionalism Goes Both Ways

You have a lot on your plate managing your life and the care of your loved one. It is easy to get overwhelmed and caught up in all the moving pieces. It is important to remember that caregivers are people first who desire respect and support. Caregivers should not bring personal drama to work but it is YOUR responsibility to remember your loved one’s caregiver depends on you for employment and sustenance. Avoid changing the schedule often or canceling shifts. You want your caregiver to be reliable. They expect the same respect from you.

Communicate lateness if you are errand running with your loved one. You can’t always predict when the doctor runs behind or when the checkout line is backed up. But, leaving a caregiver to wonder when you and the client will arrive might cause frustration over time. If the caregiver arrives on time, but you do not, expect to compensate your caregiver beginning at the agreed upon start time. If your caregiver is a superstar she will appreciate your consideration and your ability to set caregiver expectations.

Don’t Be Stingy with the Praise

Caregivers don’t get into the business to make millions and live like the rich and famous. Most of them feel called to work with the elderly and disabled. Many caregivers supported a treasured loved one through illness, injury, and passing, and now want to support others in a time of need. Most people who receive care are on a fixed income and don’t have extra funds to share with caregivers. But, regular positive feedback and praise is sometimes all it takes to make your caregiver feel like a million bucks. Great caregivers don’t grow on trees. If you have someone you value, take the time to say so. A thank you card for a job well done, or an appreciation text after a difficult night makes a world of difference to your caregiver.

Wrap Up

Remember the caregiver/client relationship is founded on trust and excellent communication. As the leader of the care arrangement it is your role to set caregiver expectations. You can easily do this by making expectations very clear and in writing. Your awareness of the load you place on your caregiver and a willingness to plan for care together creates a partnership your caregiver will appreciate. Always act with kindness and integrity and you will attract like minded people.

 

You aren’t with your loved one every day. You vigilantly look for signs that her caregiver is not providing adequate care. But, you want more than the minimum! How do you know if your caregiver is good for your loved one.

When is comes to trusting others with the care of your loved one, you should keep your eyes open for signs your loved one is thriving. Great home care is about creating relationships between caregiver and client. The best caregivers strive to exceed expectations and improve the health and wellbeing of those they care for.

Here are five signs your caregiver is good for your loved one.

Your Loved One is More Active Than Before

Great caregivers know that activities lift the spirit and give clients something to look forward to. Your loved one’s caregiver is good for your loved one when she schedules appropriate activities. Outings can be as simple as walk around the neighborhood. Or, Your loved one may want to take full fledged vacations with her caregiver. Activities depend on the health and activity level of your loved one. Great caregivers do not choose activities based on their own interests. They chose activities that resonate with your loved one.

Your loved one’s caregiver might encourage simple trips to the grocery or post office. Small steps often lead to more willness on the part of your loved one to participate in activities. Great caregivers might also introduce new activities to your loved one like a bunco group or ladies luncheon. Your caregiver is good for your loved one when she works to make your loved one feel interested in life activities.

Your Loved One is Reconnecting with Others

Reclusiveness is a symptom of depression. It may also point to physical changes like reduced hearing or cognitive impairment. Your loved one’s friends may notice your loved one withdrawing from conversations and social events.

A caregiver is good for your loved one when she encourages your loved one to reconnect with friends and family. Forcing a client into social settings is stressful. Great caregivers gently suggest social occasions. Often people avoid social gatherings because they experience feelings of anxiety or frustration. Great caregivers know what triggers their clients fear, and plan social gatherings that avoid the trigger. For instance, if your loved one is hard of hearing and feels frustrated in loud social venues, your loved ones caregiver may schedule an intimate gathering in a quiet location to encourage participation.

You Notice Your Loved One is Eating More

Eating is a social activity. While fundamentally necessary for life and nutrition, food consumption deals a lot with state of mind and personal preferences.  As people age, the digestion process may become less efficient. Or, the taste of food may become less palatable. Malnourishment among the senior population runs rampant. Dehydration and poor nutrition contribute to weakness and susceptibility to illness.

This makes regular eating even more important. Great caregivers spend time on food presentation and taste. They look for ways to encourage your loved eat more regular nutritious meals. Simple gestures like dining together and learning favorite foods may make the difference between health and decline. Your loved one’s caregiver is good for her when you notice your loved one putting on healthy weight and getting regular meals.

Your Loved One is Gaining Strength

As people age they lose muscle mass. This process occurs naturally and is called Sarcopenia. Muscle loss increases with inactivity. Great caregivers work hard to keep clients up and moving. Protecting your loved ones mobility supports her independence.

Your loved one’s caregiver is good for her when she encourages movement and activity. Great caregivers encourage clients to participate and move. With consistent exercise support your loved one may gain mobility. By exercising together your loved one may improve her balance and be able to stand more easily.

Your Caregiver is an Excellent Communicator

Caregivers and clients often spend long stretches of time together. They form a relationship and bond over time. Often, caregivers have the most up-to-date information about your loved one since they have consistent, regular contact. Great caregivers know the importance of communication and pull family and resources together when necessary.

Your loved one’s caregiver is good for your loved one when she reports changes of condition immediately. Great caregivers also document visits and look for developing patterns. Your loved one’s caregiver should understand the importance of working with the care team. She should see herself as an essential member of this team.

Closing Thoughts

Your loved one’s caregiver is exceptional when she improves your loved one’s quality of life. It takes patience to change your loved one’s patterns of reclusiveness and sedentary lifestyle. Great caregivers make subtle suggestions and infuse times together with fun. The one-on-one care your loved one receives should result in stable or improving health if illness is not at work. Interaction, friendship, and planning may be enough to get your loved one interested and involved in life activities.

 

As you search San Diego in home care providers, you may come across the term “liv-in” home care. Upon first glance San Diego  live in home care may seem like the perfect solution to your home care needs. But, what do providers mean by live in care? Well, it depends on the person using the term.

The umbrella term live in care includes several different arrangements that you might come across. This article addresses San Diego live in care arrangements and covers the pros and cons associated with each care structure.

Live In Care Through a Licensed Agency

San Diego home care agencies still use the term live in care, though the delivery of these services have changed dramatically. Before changes in overtime laws and home care licensure in California, San Diego home care agencies could offer massive discounts for home care that spanned an entire 24 hour period. Care that lasted 24 hours or more was called live in home care. Caregivers stayed at a client’s home for days on end. 8 hours of “sleep time” were deducted from the employee’s paycheck even though the caregiver could not leave the premise. Meals were provided by the client and the cost of the meals was further deducted from the employee’s paycheck.

After legislative changes, agencies could no longer apply the 8 hour sleep time reduction. Overtime laws became stricter and food deductions became more difficult to use. Licensure pushed agencies to conform to mainstream wage and hour practices.

Current State of San Diego Agency Home Care

Now, agencies pay caregivers time and ½ for all hours over 9 hours worked in a 24 hour period. This makes leaving one person on for more than 9 hours extremely cost prohibitive. 24 hour home care clients experienced a significant increase in the cost of home care. Volume discounts for live in home care disappeared.

San Diego live in home care agencies restructured operations to meet the new legal requirements. Many agencies now limit care shifts to 8 hours. They staff three people for a 24 hour shift rather than one. This change makes financial sense but creates a lot of daily change for clients. Clients sensitive to new faces and disturbances may find these constant shift changes disruptive.

Other San Diego home care organizations split live in shifts into two 12 hour shifts in a 24 hour period. They still pay overtime for the last three hours worked but opt for a staffing solution with less disruption. Some agencies pass the overtime charges on to clients and charge time and ½ for shifts longer than 9 hours. Green Tree Home Care does not charge clients overtime for longer shifts. We believe consistency and care continuity are essential. We don’t want to burden our clients with complicated overtime rate calculations so we keep the rate constant regardless of overtime.

The term live in home care no long means one person for 24 plus hours of home care. Agencies will still use the words live in but they staff 2-3 people per 24 hour shift. Make sure you ask your prospect agency if they charge overtime to clients and how many people they use to staff a 24 hour period. For the least amount of upheaval chose and organization that doesn’t charge overtime and staffs a max of 2 caregivers in a 24 hour period.

Live In Home Care from a Private Caregiver or Domestic Referral Agency

Live in arrangements are still relatively common in the world of private caregiving. Many people believe they are exempt from the laws that regulate San Diego home care agencies if caregivers receive an IRS 1099 form. Unfortunately, according to United States Department of Labor, an individual is classified as a W2 employee when she is economically dependent on an employer and is not in business for herself. There are several other factors that support the W2 status of caregivers over 1099 contractor status.

While some accountants and CPAs still may advise 1099 status for caregivers, legal trends point to W2 status as the safest bet. Reporting caregivers to the IRS is important. Penalties for misclassifying caregivers are often steep. If you misclassify a home caregiver, you may responsible for back pay for overtime wages.

Live In Home Care in Exchange for Room and Board

This is the most risky live in arrangement. There are a lot of laws that impact the viability of rent in exchange for caregiving. Basically  Rental agreement laws favor renters in the state of California. The moment you include rent in exchange for a caregiving you enter into a renter/landlord arrangement on top of the employer/employee relationship. There are several cases where caregivers were terminated for cause and the care recipient still had to go through the legal eviction process to remove the caregiver from the home.

Closing Thoughts

When arranging San Diego live in home care make sure to ask what type of arrangement the home care provider proposes. You now have a solid understanding of how the legal considerations surrounding live in home care. If you use the services of a licensed home care like Green Tree Home Care you will have 2-3 caregivers per day. You can hire a private caregiver but need to ensure you follow wage and hour laws. It is highly recommended you do not mix rent and compensation as it complicates the employer/employee relationship.

For more information about San Diego home care check out this article:

San Diego Home Care – Everything You Need to Know

 

Most adult children arranging home care for a loved one are not experts. While there may be lots to discuss between doctors, driving, and family support, the process of bringing in a caregiver is pretty easy.

Usually families realize a loved one needs additional support when there is an accident or when lapses in memory become regular and dangerous. So, arranging home care often coincides with major changes in health. 

Once you complete the tasks on this list, you will be ready to confidently arrange for a caregiver to support you and your loved one.

Talk to All Family Members Involved with the Care of a Loved One

While this step may seem cumbersome, many well intentioned care arrangements fall flat because a member of the family isn’t onboard. Often, the person receiving care doesn’t feel the need to have outside support. Adult children happily step-in to help mom and dad with simple chores. But, as care needs increase the burden of care may become too much for one family member.

It is important that you have open communication with your loved ones and family members. Talk openly about your concerns about arranging home care and open the floor to planning for the future.

Asking for outside caregiving help is a smart move since easing into relationships with caregivers feels natural and can make the change easier.

Determine When Care is Most Helpful

Once you have spoken with your loved ones and family about the need to arrange home care, you should discuss when care is most appropriate. Your loved one’s lifestyle is unique, and home care services should occur when your loved one finds them most valuable.

You should choose times based on the following considerations:

Does your loved one get regular meals without help or prompting?

If you answer no, then a caregiver or family member needs to be present during meal times to ensure proper nutrition. There are services like meals on wheels that deliver food and can cut down on caregiver support. But, proper fluids and nutrition are key to a healthy life. So, if there is doubt your loved one is getting appropriate nutritional support, then a caregiver or family member should help.

Does your loved one need help with transportation?

While your loved one can use ride sharing programs and public transportation, many people enjoy the flexibility and support of a caregiver providing transportation. Many clients choose one or two regular days to arrange home care. They set appointments and outings during the regularly scheduled times. This takes the pressure off having a stranger drive your loved one.

Is your loved one falling, and is there a high-risk time of day?

Falls are a big deal. Consider arranging home care during the times your loved one experiences falls. Bath times prone to fall events. Night time bathroom visits are also especially risky fall times. Make sure to set the home home up for success by lighting walkways and removing trip hazards. But, if this isn’t enough consider hiring a caregiver to help your loved one get around. You can even have a caregiver stay throughout the night to give much needed sleep to anyone else providing care.

Is your loved one able to care for his or her own hygiene?

Sometime people need help getting in and out of the shower, dressing, and looking their best! If your loved one is struggling to keep up with regular personal care routines it may be time to consider arranging home care. Caregivers can help your loved one with bathing, dressing, makeup, shaving, skin, hair, and mouth care. You may only need a caregiver to come in a few times per week to help with these tasks.

Are there times you need to get away from the house?

Often, arranging care is absolutely necessary for the wellbeing of the family caregiver. Family caregivers should take regular time away from caregiving responsibilities and remain plugged into personal activities. When arranging home care make sure to plan times that give a family caregiver the separation and support she needs.

Make a list of the Tasks a Caregiver Can Help With

Talk to your loved one about what she would like a caregiver to do. Visit with other family members and create a list of responsibilities you can share with your care provider. Duties to consider include light cleaning, cooking, transportation, specific personal care tasks, and ambulation support. For a full list of tasks most San Diego care provider offer, read San Diego Home Care – Everything You Need to Know.

What are the Most Important Caregiver Qualities

This topic should be part of your open family discussion. It may be uncomfortable to share a loved one’s personnel requests with home care providers. But, home care staffing is about skill and personal connection. You want to ensure caregiver meet all of your loved ones needs. It is also important to consider what care needs may exist in the near future. If your loved one will need more support with transfers and ambulation you want to make sure your caregivers are comfortable with changing job responsibilities.

What Resources are Available, and What is the Budget

As you begin arranging home care, you will need to consider what resources and family support you have to work with. Sometimes families will provide nearly all caregiving support with a few hours of respite here and there. Other times, a caregiving company will provide 24/7 care.

San Diego home care costs range depending on how much care is needed. You may find some financial support through the VA, and family members often band together to support loved ones who need more home care. Do some digging into your loved one’s financial picture to get a solid idea of the resource you have to work with.

Take Action

You are now armed with a plan of care that meets the needs of your loved one. You can reach out to quality care providers like Green Tree Home Care for direct conversation about arranging home care, and how they can support your loved one!

When it comes to home care, San Diego offers lots of choices. You may find choosing a provider difficult. But, the best San Diego home care agencies do much more than staff. They are partners in your home care journey, and often provide advice and support during difficult transitions.

Poorly organized agencies can increase headaches and frustration. While the best agencies are burden lifters, with excellent support and transparency. Here are 5 habits the best San Diego home care agencies share.

Great Agencies are Super Selective About the Caregivers They Hire

Every agency says they have the best caregivers but that simply isn’t true. The type of caregivers an agency attracts depends a lot on corporate culture. The hiring processes the agency has in place determines who gets hired and might end up at your home. Great agencies have a dedicated team with clear expectations for every new hire.

Great agencies are more interested in the quality of their caregivers than number of people on staff. Since there is lots of competition for great care professionals, some agencies hire every applicant and see who sticks. You want to find an organization that practices selective hiring. Look for agencies who have long relationships with the care professionals on staff. Ask what standards the agency goes by when considering hiring a new person. Find out what criteria makes a potential caregiver a poor fit and makes a star employee.

The Best San Diego Home Care Agencies Offer Excellent Caregiver Support and Training

Caregiving is a calling. Special skills around communication, personal care, and medical processes are important to the caregiving role. Great home care agencies support their caregiving team with training and coaching resources. Training often includes a combination of online and hands-on training plans. Great agencies see themselves as partners with their caregivers. They offer support for educational goals, health insurance, and work life balance promotion. Smart home care operators know well supported caregivers share their passion for the craft in the quality and commitment of their care.

The Best Home Care Agencies are Hands-On with Client Service

The best San Diego home care agencies look at the opportunity to serve veterans, injured, and elderly as a gift. Clients trust caregiver organizations with the most sensitive daily tasks. The agencies responsibility is to be 100% available to the client. The best agencies handle after hours calls within leadership team so someone familiar with your case always answers the phone. They demonstrate patience with callers no matter the nature of the call.

Home care is very fast paced. Great home care teams answer questions and follow-up quickly to help families manage rapid changes. Your agency partner plays an integral role in your home care experience. Arranging home care for another person isn’t easy. Giving you support, resources, ideas, and regular updates are all part of great agency operations. For more information about setting up San Diego home care check out the article San Diego Home Care – Everything You Need to Know.

Great Agencies Provide Field Oversight

The best San Diego home care agencies know that excellent caregivers expect regular support and interaction from the agency they work for. Everyone likes to feel valued and it is especially true in the home care environment. Caregivers work very independentlyand can feel abandoned by supervisors without interaction. Great agencies realize they must have a strong field management presence to support the growth of their caregiving staff.

A strong field management presence insures clients receive consistently high-quality care. Sometimes, familiarity and a lack of management contributes to a decline in professional boundaries. Regular field management visits keep caregivers accountable for meeting company standards. Managers can address any concerns about care, changes in condition, and answer any questions clients have on site.

The Best Home Care Agencies Practice Fantastic Communication

Communication sets apart the very best agencies. There are lots of moving pieces in the daily operations of any home care company. Schedules change, doctor appointments pop up, and personal requests ensure that home care companies cannot practice a set-it-and-forget-it mindset . . . ever. With all those constant changes, it is essential that communication channels remain smooth.

Great agencies use technology to keep records and ensure services are provided as ordered. Good operators also used home based communication like a notebook so caregivers within the organization and authorized family members can communicate with each other daily. You should get updates regarding schedule changes and new caregivers coming to the house. The person providing care for your loved one should never be a surprise.

What You Should Expect

Your expectation for any home care organization should include several factors. Without a doubt, highly skilled, reliable caregivers are the foundation of your care relationship. You should also expect great agencies to practice excellent communication, field oversight, and ongoing training and support for caregivers.

 

What is the cost of home care in San Diego? Great question – short answer: it depends! But, we will get into hard numbers farther down the article.

Home care in San Diego is a slightly different beast then other areas of the country. There are a few unique factors that make this market a little pricier and complicated. Hourly costs are pretty broad between private caregivers, domestic referral agencies, and licensed home care agencies.

The following factors influence the cost of home care in San Diego county. Understanding why home care costs as much as it does helps put you in the driver’s seat when creating a home care plan for your loved one!

Licensure Adds Restrictions on Home Care Agencies but Not on Private Caregivers

In 2016 home care agencies were required to join the Department of Social Services Home Care Licensing Bureau. As you can imagine, new government regulations add cost burdens to San Diego Home Care Agencies. But, the new licensing requirements create a more protected environment for consumers. Companies have to meet certain standards for insurance coverage, training, hiring, background checks, and record keeping.

Unfortunately, the consumer protection requirements do not extend to private caregivers. While it is a very good idea to treat your private caregiver the same way a licensed agency would, many people do not know how to properly set up a private caregiving arrangement. For more information about San Diego Home Care, be sure to check out this article, San Diego Home Care: Everything You Need to Know. It gives deeper information about hiring privately, and how to work with San Diego agencies.

San Diego is Experiencing a Caregiver Shortage

The numbers of available caregivers go up and down all the time. But, the current trend shows more senior adults need care than there are caregivers available. This means that great caregivers stay busy, and care recipients must compete for the best, reliable caregivers. Years ago, San Diego home care agencies ran ads in the newspaper and Craigslist. Many caregivers would apply, and agencies could place the best applicants. Now, the hiring landscape for both agencies and private caregivers has changed dramatically. Hundreds of websites boast access to the best caregivers. Many of those sites have signup requirements and fees. Hopeful employers need to try several different channels to recruit the best caregivers. Social platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn may help connect you to excellent caregivers, but it takes more time than ever to find, recruit, interview, and hire great caregivers.

Rapid Rise in Minimum Wage Rates

First, most caregivers do not work for minimum wage. In fact, some caregivers make $20 plus dollars an hour depending on their skills and experience. But, as all wages rise, a ripple of wage increases progresses. In 2014, many caregivers worked for $11 per hour. Now the average wage for an agency employee is $14-16 per hour. Consider, every $1 increase equates to around $1.30 cost to the employer. And, small increases in hourly costs significantly affect overtime rates. Be sure to keep that in mind as you higher privately or compare pricing from agencies.

Socio Economic Gaps Around the County

San Diego is an expensive place to live. Some areas are significantly higher cost than others. Because San Diego ranges so much in affordability, there are pockets of caregiver shortages. Costal, and North San Diego county often have fewer local caregivers. You may have to look in surrounding areas for excellent caregivers. Sometimes, enticing caregivers outside their local area presents difficulties. Agencies may offer mileage for the best caregivers. The area your loved is in might affect of the cost of home care in San Diego.

What are the Care Requirements of Your Loved One

While many agencies and private caregivers don’t charge extra for more than one care recipient, others do. Make sure to clarify that point before you move forward with a provider. When you meet with a prospective care provider, he should ask you in-depth questions about the scope of care, and your expectations. Complicated dietary restrictions, specialty equipment, or behavior issues may limit the number of caregivers who are willing or able to provide support. Thus, costs may be higher. You should have a care partnership with your provider. All questions concerning payment and current and future job duties should be clear with a plan in view.

Cost of Home Care in San Diego

As of 2020, you can expect the cost of home care in San Diego to range from $13.00-$30 per hour. You might find private caregivers willing to accept $13.00 per hour. Most private caregivers charge $15-20 per hour. But remember, this does not include any of the tax, insurance, and management costs that are essential to protecting you and your loved one. San Diego home care agencies charge between $28-$34 per hour depending on the case and schedule. Of course, agencies are higher because they comply with licensing, deeply vet employees, carry insurances, and manage all employment responsibilities.

Your mom has always been there to help you through life, but as time passes the roles shift. Now, your mom needs your help. Finding the best way to support your mom can be a struggle in today’s busy world.  Whether your mom lives with you, in the same town, or across the country, finding a balance to meet everyone’s needs feels overwhelming.

Using a caregiver agency is a great way to support your family’s needs. So, what can a caregiver do to help your mom? The article below covers 7 things that caregiver services can help with.

 

1.  Meal Preparation and Feeding

Helping your mom get the nutrition she needs is very important. Caregivers can help cook and prepare meals. They can also do the grocery shopping and meal planning for her. A good caregiver can help prepare not only nutritious meals but meals that can meet any dietary restriction that mom may have. If your mother needs help with the physical action of eating, they can provide support for that also.

Caregivers give fluid reminders and encourage your mom to stay hydrated. Dehydration can cause dizziness or vertigo which can lead falls.There are some limitations with meal support. A caregiver cannot administer food via feeding tube. But, short of skills considered medical, a caregiver can make sure your loved one gets plenty of food and fluids.

2.  Transportation Services

Most caregivers can offer transportation services. Transportation can include critical activities like doctors appointments. It can also mean a trip to a favorite restaurant, or shopping for pants. Transportation support is often about promoting independence, and keeping your loved one engage in her favorite activities. Transportation services can help your loved one adjust to losing a driver’s license.

3.  Personal Care

One of the biggest struggles as we get older is losing our independence and requiring help in areas of our lives that are more personal. Caregiving services can offer your mom help with bathing, dressing, toileting, and grooming. Great caregivers can provide help with these sensitive tasks gracefully.  In some cases as people get older they may develop a dislike for bathing (don’t feel alone this is common!) Caregivers can help balance your mom’s personal desire with safety and skin care.

4.  Movement and Transfer Support

A big risk, as mom gets older, is the occurance of a fall. How do you prevent them? Caregiver services can provide support with movement and transfers that can help decrease the chance of a fall. This can range from stand by assistance to full bed bound care. Helping your loved one up from a chair or supporting her as she goes for a walk in the garden can give both you and your loved one peace-of-mind. Caregivers can also give reminders and encouragements for mom if she uses walkers or other assistive devices like grab bars.

What if mom is bed bound?  Bed bound care is a specialty area. When someone losing the ability to walk their care needs are different. They are at risk for rapid muscle loss, and bed sores, also called pressure ulcers. If your mom is bed bound, she needs to be repositioned every two hours to help prevent bed sores. Caregivers can help with the repositioning and help monitor for signs of pressure sores. There are also some devices like pressure relief mattresses, that you can get to help with pressure sore prevention.

5.  Medication Reminders

An important part to keeping mom healthy is making sure she is taking any prescribed medications. Caregiver services include providing medication reminders. This service is limited to reminders only as caregivers cannot administer the medication themselves. They can assist you mom by handing her the pre-dosed medications but cannot administer it into her body. If your mom needs more support with administering her medications there are other medical services available to assist.

6.  Light Housekeeping

Helping with the daily household chores is also in the scoop of a good caregiver. Caregiver services can include light housekeeping, such as washing dishes, helping with laundry, dusting, and cleaning bathrooms and kitchens. Caregivers can even help with chores associated with taking care of your mom’s beloved pet.

7.  Communication, Appointments, and Technology

Caregiver services can include helping your mom get and stay organized. Helping with her communication needs helps reduce the stress and anxiety for you and your mom. Caregivers can help schedule and keep track of appointments. They can also help mom with her technology needs such as using the internet or social media.

Great caregivers fill out daily notes to keep you updated and involved with your loved one’s care.  Some agencies even provide online programs for families to get daily updates. Please note, caregiver services should not include helping with bill pay or other financial decisions. If your mom needs additional support with her finances, you can contact a fiduciary for more information.

Taking care of your loved one is top priority. Using caregiving services can help provide both you and your mom with regular expert support.

For more information about caregiving services in San Diego check out this guide:

San Diego Home Care – Everything you need to know

As much as you might want to take care of your aging parents 100% of the time, few of us are capable of doing so. Even the most dedicated family caregivers need help from time to time. It’s important that your chosen caregiver is the right fit and able to make your loved one feel safe, cared for, and comfortable at home. Great caregivers will take amazing care of your loved one’s emotional and physical needs. They will provide companionship to keep your loved one from feeling isolated.

 

Caregiving is not an easy job and not everyone does it well. It takes a special kind of person to be a stellar caregiver and sometimes it is not immediately apparent whether the person you have chosen fits the bill. It’s important that you keep a close eye on the situation and honestly evaluate the quality of care your loved one is receiving.

 

Evaluating the quality and connection your caregiver and your loved one can be complicated. Cognitive impairment, complicated medical needs, and simple interpersonal chemistry can create grey areas. Sometimes poor connection or undone job duties may be the result of dementia related agitation or an unforeseen crisis.

 

All of these complications and more mean that even the most skilled caregiver might not be a perfect fit for your loved one. So, how do you know when your caregiver is the right fit, or if it’s time to find someone new?

 

Here are 5 important signs that mean it might be time to start looking.

 

1. Your Loved One Isn’t Clicking With The Caregiver

 

The major goal of home care is to provide your loved one with an elevated quality of life. This definitely includes social interaction and general mental well-being. Sometimes, poor connection between your loved one and a caregiver is simply a matter of chemistry. Often, poor connection doesn’t reflect on the quality of the caregiver. Sometimes people just don’t get along. This is especially true if your loved one is not happy to have a caregiver in his home, or is suffering from cognitive impairment.

 

You may need a different caregiver if you notice signs of increased agitation, aggressive behavior, or withdrawal in your loved one. You know your loved one best. If she seems to act differently in the presence of her caregiver, it’s important that you take note.

 

2. Issues With Reliability And Punctuality

 

We depend on our caregivers to be trustworthy. After all, we are trusting them with the safety and well-being of our loved ones. It would be hard to imagine anything more important than that!

 

The fallout from a caregiver who is frequently late can be disastrous. Many people are on a very tight, demanding schedule. Tardiness can lead to complications for you and other caregivers .  You compensate good money to ensure this doesn’t happen!

 

The subject of reliability can be especially sticky in situations where the caregiver is otherwise a superstar and this leads a lot of families to simply put up with it. No matter how personable and effective your caregiver is, if you can’t rely on them to be on time, you should probably find someone who can do both. You want the best for your loved one. You shouldn’t settle for good enough when there is someone out there who can give you better.

 

3. The Caregiver Doesn’t Work Well With Family Members

 

Taking care of your loved one is a team effort, and a team is only as strong as its weakest link. If your caregiver adopts a know-it-all attitude that leads to arguments with other members of the team or tries to isolate the family from the patient, you should definitely draw the line there.

 

Sometimes this behavior can stem from your caregiver becoming overly protective. Caregivers spends lots of time with their clients and may feel they know what is best. However, it can also be a way to hide less-than-stellar care or even abuse. Either way, this sort of behavior is simply unacceptable.

 

Your loved one will be happier and better taken care of in an open environment that fosters feelings of trust, teamwork, and positive energy. Don’t let a bad apple spoil the bunch!

 

4. The Caregiver’s Personal Life Affects The Quality Of Care

 

Your loved one’s care should always be the main concern of the caregiver. Full Stop. Senior care, unfortunately, is fertile ground for abuse. Abuse begins when the needs of the caregiver start to overshadow the needs of her client. It’s a slippery slope and you should never tolerate this sort of behavior.

 

Now, everyone has a bad day from time to time. Nobody is perfect, but if you notice a pattern of personal problems creeping into the work environment, you should consider a new care provider. Your caregiver is there to provide comfort to your loved one, not the other way around!

 

5. Poor Quality Of Care

 

It’s incredibly important to monitor the level of care your loved one is receiving. Keep watch to ensure your caregiver is completing all required duties. You hire a caregiver because you need additional support and want piece-of-mind. If you notice a tendency to leave “little” things undone, your caregiver may neglect more important things, as well.

 

There is often “downtime” in home care.  Your caregiver should utilize that time to meet your loved one’s needs. If you notice a lack of tidiness, decline in your loved one’s hygiene, or lack of task completion from your caregiver, you need to take immediate action. If you aren’t sure what all your caregiver can do for your loved one, check out this article:

San Diego Home Care –  Everything you need to know

Sometimes a conversation with the caregiver is enough. If that fails to remedy the situation, you shouldn’t hesitate to look elsewhere for help.

 

Ultimately, trust your instincts. If your gut is telling you that your caregiver isn’t up to snuff, you should pay attention to that feeling. Additionally, it’s important to have a conversations with your loved one about her caregiver, from time to time. If you feel there are gaps in the care you are receiving, don’t be afraid to ask your caregiving agency to send someone new. Or, if you hire privately don’t settle for mediocre care. There is an outstanding caregiver who is a great fit for your loved one – you just need to find her!