How to Find the Right Home Care

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Jan 25, 2010

Book/Edition

New Jersey - Essex, Hudson & Union Counties

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HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT HOME CARE
There are two types of support you can have in your homehome health and home care. They sound similar, but are quite different.
After a stay in the hospital, a doctor might require someone to have care at home on a short-term basis. This is home health.
It could be to monitor a health problem or manage wound care, among other things a skilled nurse can do. Your doctor or hospital will arrange for home health, which is paid for by Medicare.
If your doctor does not prescribe home health, and you pay for services out of your own pocket or through private insurance, you can receive home care. There are various categories of home care, such as companion/homemaker service, wheelchair escort service, nursing service, and home support aide service. When you look for home care, its important to ask the right questions.
Ask about the organizations employees. Make sure the nurses are licensed and the aides are certified. The initials after a persons name designate their licensure or certification. For example, RN is for Registered Nurse; LPN is for a Licensed Nurse Practitioner; PT is for Physical Therapist; and CNA is for a Certified Nursing Assistant.
Ask about the hiring practices. Does the organization conduct background checks and/or reference checks on all their employees? What about drug screening? Make sure the organization follows rigorous hiring practices.
Ask about supervision of the employees. If there is a problem with an employee, what can the customer do? If an employee doesnt show up for work, what happens? You want an agency that supervises their people and provides problem solving.
Ask about anything else that is important to you. If it is important to you to have the same caregiver over a period of time, ask that question.
Above anything else, Make sure you choose home care carefully so you get the quality you deserve.



Editors note: This information was provided by Cecile Sutherland, MS, BSN, R. She has extensive healthcare experiences gained through increasingly demanding and responsible leadership positions in nursing homes, hospitals and out patient surgery centers. Cecile can be reached at 973-746-0165

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