There comes a time in many of our lives when it becomes important to consider elder care for our incapacitated or declining loved ones. Generally, this time comes with numerous competing emotions and other family stressors. As one works through the issues, one thing stands out as most important: You want your loved one to have the best elder care services Westchester County.
The Marks of Exceptional Elder Care
Clearly, you are confronted by many choices. Here are some questions to think through as you determine the best course of action and begin to contact potential agencies:
- Is the agency licensed by the state?
- Is the firm managed by healthcare professionals?
- Does the agency employ certified nursing assistants?
- Do their home health aids have a background in nursing?
- Can client-specific care, such as walking for exercise or attending certain functions, be provided?
- Are the costs for home care reasonable and flexible?
- What is the spectrum of companionship services offered? For example, can the home aids provide shopping and help with meal planning?
- If possible, can you get a recommendation from a friend or relative?
Making Your Elder Care Selection
Initially, when you begin your research, you’ll find that there are many elder care agencies from which to choose. By using the answers that you came up with regarding the questions posed above, you’ll be able to narrow down your search expeditiously.
You’ll probably end up with one or two top contender agencies for your loved one. The final step in the selection process is to trust your innate intuition:
- Did you get warm and caring answers to your concerns and questions?
- Or, was there something in their responses that was less than your expectations for your loved one?
The answer to each of these last questions will lead you to the best choice.