Locally, the professional in-home care industry is playing a very important role, seeing that we have an ever-increasing ageing population and many elderly who cannot tend to themselves still prefer remaining at home.

Setting a meeting is crucial since this is the best way to interview the care company

If your loved one needs domiciliary care, whether it’s after surgery, due to an ongoing chronic illness or an ailment, you may be considering the use of home-care agencies in providing care and assistance.

Perhaps you are planning to sign up for a limited rehabilitation period or for a longer term; nonetheless, knowing what to look for is essential to receive qualified care and assistance. Such services are an excellent way to provide for your loved ones when you cannot take care of them yourself.

Finding the best care service provider for your elderly parents can be a daunting task with all the various companies available, so to make it easier we have come up with a few points on how to wisely choose the right in-home care service provider.

Draw up a list of companies available and narrow it down by visiting their website, reading their brochure and asking friends and colleagues for any experiences with certain providers. Now that you have narrowed down your choice, call the agencies to have some of your questions answered while sorting out your available options.

The right provider will treat your loved one with kindness and dignity, and through the initial phone conversations you should already be getting an idea of the level of professionalism that is to be expected.

Setting a meeting is crucial since this is the best way to interview the care company. Many professional companies offer an initial assessment.

To make it even easier for you, we have assembled a set of questions that should be reviewed when meeting the company representative.

Are your care workers and employees qualified? This question is the most significant of them all. A quality service can only be achieved by qualified employees; locally, we have shifted from having carers with minimal experience to care workers having the necessary education and experience that makes them fit to care for the vulnerable.

In Malta, there are various educational bodies that provide the necessary training for people willing to embark on this rewarding profession, so choosing a company that employs qualified people and offers its employees ongoing training is definitely the best option.

Care is a very sensitive subject, so it’s key to have the right professionals caring for your loved ones. If the agency or service provider does not provide qualified people, the implications can be devastating for you and your loved ones. Therefore your decision should primarily be based on the level of quality being offered.

Is the service offered 24/7? Having a care service available any time it is needed is also important, since no one can foresee the good days and the bad. Confirm that the company is willing to make an effort in providing the same care workers, since your loved one may feel uncomfortable having to get used to new people on each visit.

Another essential detail is to check if the company operates as a full-time, round-the-clock service provider. If it’s a part time company, chances are you will not find the right assistance when needed.

How do you handle emergencies? Taking care of emergencies is more challenging in a community setting compared with a clinical setting such as a hospital. Therefore ask what policies the company adopts to provide the right assistance, should an emergency arise.

Having a company representative available 24/7 is a plus point.

Preferably, all employees and care workers should have knowledge in basic life support and first aid; therefore ask the company representative if the employees are offered such ongoing training by the company. Qualified carers and personnel would already have this type of training so choosing a company that employs qualified staff is the safest option.

What are the legal matters that should be considered? Before commencing, ask if the service provider is a registered company. It is also fundamental to sign legal terms and conditions before purchasing the service; this way the company’s responsibilities towards you as the customer will be black on white, thus eliminating any issues that may arise down the road if expectations are not met.

Finally consider the price and your family’s financial budget allocated to care, always consider the quality of service for the value you’re paying for. Be diligent when choosing an in-home care agency and don’t be afraid to raise any concerns you might have.

Choosing a care provider is not like selecting any other kind of service; make sure your loved ones are being provided with the best service they deserve while being attended to with compassion and dignity.

Neville Zammit is a care manager.

www.dignityforlife.com

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