Senior In-Home Care Provider: Helping Seniors Age-in-Place

Senior In-Home Care  |  June 11, 2024

What Every Senior in Edmonton, AB Needs to Know About Choosing an In-Home Care Provider

Do you know what questions to ask a senior in-home care provider? Family caregivers often learn that they need help caring for a senior parent. For some, it’s hard to manage caregiver responsibilities alongside the responsibilities at work and home.

However, giving up some of the responsibility to someone else can be difficult. After all, how will you find a caregiver who provides the same degree of quality caregiving and devotion that you provide your loved one?

To help you accomplish this, Comfort Keepers® has assembled a list of important questions to ask when choosing a senior in-home care provider.

10 Critical Questions to Ask In-Home Care Providers:

#1 – How long has your company been in business?

Inquire about an agency’s reputation with resources such as the Better Business Bureau, local senior service and healthcare providers, your community church, neighbors, and friends or family members.

Well-established providers generally have higher staff retention rates than fledgling organizations and thus offer more experienced, trained caregivers.

#2 – Can you send me information about your services and fees?

This will do more than help you compare services and fees. The quality of the informational materials you receive may indicate the care an in-home care provider gives to all aspects of its operations. Also, ask for references.

#3 – How do you select your in-home caregivers?

Look for agencies that balance experience and training with a person’s innate gift to serve and care for others. No amount of experience makes up for a lack of true compassion.

It is also essential that an agency thoroughly screen and interview candidates. This should include criminal and other background checks, personality assessments (which can identify people who possess caregiving qualities), interviews and reference checks.

Also look for organizations that provide training to candidates who pass the screening process and require that caregivers, once hired, complete ongoing training to maintain and update skills.

#4 – Are your caregivers bonded and insured?

Ensure that the agency you choose is insured and has coverage to protect your loved one and your family. The provider should carry professional and general liability insurance, with bonded employees and able to support employees with workers’ compensation.

#5 – How are caregivers supervised?

Some agencies, such as Comfort Keepers®, make regular quality assurance calls and visits to ensure that caregivers are consistently delivering quality care. It is also recommended to ensure that all caregivers are regularly and closely supervised by a qualified company representative.

#6 – Will you provide an in-home assessment before starting services?

An in-home assessment will help to discover the senior’s needs and help you determine whether the organization can meet them to your satisfaction.

#7 – Will you provide a written care plan before you begin service?

A written care plan prevents misunderstandings. You can use it for reference when calling the in-home care provider with concerns. To be effective, the plan needs to be developed with your input and flexibility so it can be updated as your loved one’s needs change.

#8 – What if I am not satisfied with the caregiver assigned?

Reputable in-home care providers will assign a new caregiver when a match does not work out.

#9 – What procedures are in place for emergencies?

Ask how the agency or caregiver will deliver services in situations like a power failure, snowstorm or natural disaster. Does the organization provide 24-hour telephone service for handling emergencies during weekends and holidays?

#10 – What is the process for addressing problems?

Confirm up front whom to contact—and how—when you experience problems or have questions or requests.

Additionally, family caregivers frequently come to the realization that they require assistance in caring for a senior parent. Finding a caregiver who matches the level of quality care and dedication you provide can seem like a daunting task, that’s why we’re here!

Comfort Keepers® in Edmonton Can Help with In-Home Elder Care!

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with retirement care, 24-hour care, respite care, senior care, companionship care, end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, senior living transition services, and much more! 

All in all, Comfort Keepers®’ are trained caregivers who help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. 

Companionship Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses companionship, safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Moreover, our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality: empathy. Empathetic care is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs. 

Home Care Edmonton

To learn more about senior care in Edmonton, contact the Comfort Keepers® office to discuss our unique service offering. If you live in Devon, Edmonton, Sherwood Park, or Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact Comfort Keepers at 780-465-4665.

Is Invoicing Modelling and Client Direct Home Care the Right Option for You?

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is an Approved Service Provider for the Client Directed Homecare Invoicing (CDHCI) Program Offered by Alberta Health Services. Read more about the program HERE.

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible. Recently awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada, our Edmonton location has achieved the highest available certification in Canada for Home Care services, clearly demonstrating Comfort Keepers’ commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in Edmonton.

Share This Post: