The staff at Roper St Francis provides tips and resources for choosing the right home-care-providers, whether it’s for yourself or a family member.

If you go back a few generations you find that nearly all medical care took place in the home. With the rise of modern medicine and more sophisticated technologies the majority of care has moved to hospitals and doctor’s offices. But, there are still times when home is the best place to be for care and recovery. If you do need healthcare at home, keep the following tips in mind for finding a good home care provider and for establishing a great relationship with them.

Tips for Choosing a Home Care Provider

When choosing a home care provider there are a few essentials you will want to know:

• First, you should verify that any agency you are interested in is Medicare certified and licensed in your state. You should then ensure that the agency provides the specific services you need. This is also a good time to ask how many years they have been providing those services.
• You will also want to clearly understand the agencies’ procedures for arranging your visits. A good agency should have someone on call 24/7. They should also let you know who you can call in an emergency or if you have any questions or complaints.
• Communication is key in home care. Ask the potential home care agency if they include the client and their family in the development of their care plan. You also need to confirm that the home care agency is providing regular feedback about your condition and progress to your doctor.
• Be sure to check with your insurance provider that the agency and services you need are covered within your plan. And, for anything not covered by insurance ask how payments are handled. It is also a good idea to ask for references.

Tips for Building a Relationship with Your Home Care Provider

Home care is unique in that you are bringing someone into your private world. In many ways this a wonderful thing, allowing you to receive care in the place you feel most at ease. However, for some people having someone new in their home takes a little getting used to.

A positive partnership with client, family and caregiver promotes the best outcomes. Here are few things you can do to make the experience more comfortable for you and your caregiver.

• Open communication is the cornerstone of rapport between the client and caregiver. It is important for both the client and the caregiver to discuss their expectations of the relationship upfront. You should talk about the successes you can expect along with any limitations of the care that will be provided. Be willing to ask questions of your provider – the only way they can really help is if they know how you are feeling.
• It’s okay to get to know your caregiver on a more personal level. This is only natural when you invite someone into your home. Don’t be afraid to ask your caregiver about their interests or hobbies, as these conversations can enhance relationship building. After time the caregiver and client relationship can grow to become almost like family.
• It is also important to be open to different cultural preferences and diversity in the client/caregiver relationship. And remember that communication takes place through body language, tone of voice and words.
• Finally, don’t expect an instant rapport with your caregiver on the first visit. A great relationship takes time to build. If you keep the lines of communication open, set realistic expectations and take time to really get to know your caregiver, chances are you will have an excellent home care experience.

Roper St. Francis offers a compassionate, professional staff to assist you in meeting your healthcare needs in the home setting. For more information, call (843) 402-7000.