SEATTLE — People may need in-home care services for a variety of reasons and through different phases of life.
“Sometimes it’s someone who just needs a little bit of extra help around the home, an extra hand,” said Cindy Dedrick, general manager at Serengeti Home Care.
Others may need physical assistance to walk or bathe when recovering from surgery or while aging.
Asking the right questions can help you find the best in-home care option for you or your loved one. These include:
What types of insurance or payment options do they accept?
Knowing what types of insurance a company accepts is key, especially when considering years of care. These could include long-term care or private insurance, Medicaid or veterans’ benefits.
“Sometimes people have the funding out of pocket to pay directly, private pay, but may need some kind of insurance source down the road,” Dedrick said.
Are caregivers available to support a variety of services and care needs?
Consider the various levels of care that may be needed, not only now, but down the road. Ensure caregivers at a company are able to support a variety of services and care needs and have the skillset to provide direct, personal care.
Do they provide specialized, population-specific care for clients?
Ask what types of care a company provides outside of regular, everyday care, including memory and mental health care and find out if caregivers are trained in these areas.
What is their reputation as an employer?
Sites like Glassdoor and Indeed provide reviews written by employees of companies.
“Looking at those reviews and how the employees feel about their employers is really going to affect the way they provide the care and the service you’re going to hire them to do,” Dedrick said.
Dedrick says if you’re thinking about in-home care, it’s the appropriate time to start the conversation with providers.
“Do your homework and talk about things that could be a need soon or even years down the line,” she said.
Visit the Serengeti Home Care website to learn about various in-home services the company provides, and schedule a consultation to get these questions (and more!) answered.
Sponsored by Serengeti Home Care
Segment Producer Rebecca Perry. Watch New Day Northwest 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.