Deciding to hire a caregiver for an older parent can be a difficult and emotional decision for all family members. Some families choose to hire a personal caregiver directly, especially if the needs are basic and non-medical in nature. Many adult children, however, decide to hire one of the Washington DC home health agencies.

When conducting a search for a home health agency, ensure that the loved one who will receive the care is involved. Understanding three basic facets about home health care agencies can help make the hiring process smoother.

1. Levels of Care

When their loved one only needs help with caring for daily tasks like running errands, cooking, cleaning and shopping, some families may find that hiring a home care provider directly is a reasonable option. However, in many cases, an elderly homeowner may need several specialized services. These include health care, physical therapy and personal care needs.

2. Reliable Staffing

One advantage of hiring a home health agency is that all staffing issues are handled by that company. These responsibilities include providing aides to fit the clients’ needs, screening workers, providing replacements when needed, conducting background checks and quickly resolving problems.

There are several types of home care workers, depending on the needs of your loved one. These include personal aides, typically unlicensed, who primarily provide non-medical services such as light housekeeping, preparing meals and providing companionship. Home heath aides provide similar services as personal aides, but can also provide basic health services such as checking vital signs. Licensed nursing assistants (LNAs), certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) provide progressively greater levels of medical care.

3. Expenses

While the cost of hiring a home health agency is typically more expensive than hiring a private caregiver, there are other factors to consider when it comes to the costs. For instance, all human resource matters are handled by the home care company. These include payroll, taxes and insurance. Something else to think is that at least some of the expenses may be covered by Medicare in the event that the provided services are related to health care.

Although there are many additional factors that should be reviewed when it comes to deciding on whether to hire a home health care agency to provide care for your mother or father, understanding the three features considered in this article can prove to be the foundation for making a well-educated choice.