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Age does not come with limits. This group of spirited and joyful elderlies proves that by deciding to spend the last years of their lives doing something they love (singing) and improving the lives of inmates.

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Young@Heart "Forever Young" Live at Hampshire County Jail

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In 1988, Father Gregory Boyle began the company with the Dolores Mission Church in Los Angeles. Homeboy is an innovation in the prison reform system; they provide parolees with job experience, as well as education and tatoo removal

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This non-profit organization called Grameen Primacare is providing hard-working female illegal immmagrants with the quality health care that they need and should be given. They have bilingual workers who not only provide great meDical care, but also stress reliving and healthy living class and activities

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This is a way for the elderly to be in the comfort of their own homes while benefitting from having a companion that will aide the elderly person with all of the things they may not be able to do

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If you're like the majority of seniors, you probably want to live at home for as long as possible. You like your feeling of independence. Home care for seniors is healthcare and/or personal care support that's provided in-home. It is designed to delay or prevent moving to a nursing home or assisted living center. The thought of paying for an assisted living facility makes your heart flutter. But there are some activities of daily living (ADLs) like dressing, bathing driving or grocery shopping that can become difficult for some seniors. In-home care provides seniors with home health care, non-medical care and even companionship. You keep your independence and your house. In-home care professionals come to you. And with 78 million baby boomers starting to retire at a rate of 8,000 a day, the demand for in-home care will only increase, meaning more competition, better service and lower prices.

Why Senior In-Home Care and What to Expect?

One survey shows that 90% of seniors want to stay in their homes as long as possible. Your home is where you're comfortable. It's what is familiar. It provides comfort. If you move out to an assisted living community or nursing home, you're starting over. You may have to room with a stranger. With in-home care, you're able to remain as independent as you can be. Independence is a psychological boon, especially when the effects of aging are taking place. For example, you have hip replacement surgery. And instead of heading to a nursing home for care, you go back home, where a physical therapist helps your recovery. And a home health aide tends to your home until you can. The surroundings are yours. You sleep in your bed. All of this familiarity can help with your recovery. One study found that those who received in-home care visited the doctor 25% fewer times than those that didn't receive in-home care. Clients with Alzheimer's or other dementia diseases, made almost 50% less trips to the doctor.

As a team, home care workers can deliver most eldercare services that hospitals provide. Workers can be hired for complete caregiving needs, or they can provide respite (rest) for the person's spouse or other regular care provider. Most home care workers have the following job titles:

Health Care Aide

Registered Nurse

Companion or Homemaker

Physical therapists, social workers and other specialists make home visits too, as do charitable volunteers.

Home care has important benefits compared with alternatives. For example, compared with recuperating alone, receiving nurse-directed home care after hospitalization is associated with longer life and a lower risk of rehospitalization, according to a study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The same study found that because rehospitalization was less likely with home care, total medical bills for heart failure patients were about 35% lower.

Compared with moving to a nursing home or assisted living center, benefits of choosing in-home care tend to be:

Greater Convenience

Better Quality of Life

Lower Medical Bills

Examples of elderly home care services include:

Monitoring heart rate and blood pressure

Caring for wounds from injury or surgery

Managing IVs and catheters

Providing physical and cognitive therapies

Educating patients and caregivers

Preparing meals and cleaning the home

Providing transportation

Providing companionship

Additionally some of the best home care agencies offer enrichment programs that are tailored to each customer or patient. For example, a senior's customized home care enrichment plan might include playing word games, painting, taking walks and attending church with her caregiver.

Types of Senior In-Home Care

Not all in-home care is the same. There is service for any kind of need.

Licensed Medical Professional Care

For example, a man shows signs of Alzheimer's, but is otherwise physically healthy. He may just need help with paying his bills, getting to appointments, etc. He won't necessarily need medical help yet. Licensed medical professionals can include physicians, physician's assistants (PA), nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and some specialty home health aides who work under the direction of a physician.

A recent survey by Home Instead Senior Care of over 1,600 caregivers showed the following services used by clients:

Non-Medical Paraprofessionals Care

Non-medical paraprofessionals include as home health aides, personal care attendants, homemakers and companions. Home health aides provide hands-on care and assistance to with ADLs (see below). They can also help with cooking, shopping and laundry.

Homemakers or companions provide services such as light housekeeping, transportation, and companionship. These activities are known as instrumental ADLs (see below). People with Alzheimer's will often use a companion to assist them.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) Instrumental ADLs

Housekeeping

Laundry

Change linens

General shopping

Transportation

Meal preparations

Managing money

Medication management

Dementia Home Care

Dementia is not a singular disease itself. Rather, it's a broad term that encompasses several types of progressive disorders with a wide range of symptoms. By far, Alzheimer's is the most prevalent form of dementia with nearly 5.5 million sufferers in the United States alone. Other types and forms of dementia include:

Vascular Dementia

Alzheimer's Disease

Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Huntington's Disease

Parkinson's Disease

Frontotemporal Dementia

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Mixed Dementia

Because of the complexity of dementia and the fact that multiple symptoms are typically present, 24-hour monitoring is often required, particularly in the later stages of these conditions. Recognizing the symptoms and staging early intervention such as professional dementia home care, therapies and medication can help delay the progression of dementia and even reduce current symptoms. Dementia patients usually suffer two or more of the following.

In the early and mid stages of dementia, some patients will have days where their need for care fluctuates. On 'good' days they may successfully attend to their activities of daily living by themselves and can perhaps tend to light housekeeping. However, on more challenging days, your loved one may need a full or part-time home caregiver for assistance for these tasks and other chores as needed. The goal of dementia home care providers is to help your loved one live safely and comfortably in their home where they tend to feel safer and experience less bouts of confusion and irritation.

Knowing when to seek outside help and where to find quality care can be challenging, as it's essential to find a caregiver who's experienced and qualified to handle the various and ever-changing challenges of dementia sufferers. We recommend seeking out Certified Dementia Care Managers or those with some form of licensure focusing on dementia care. This helps ensure that your caregiver is familiar with all stages of the disease, how it manifests and how to handle the symptoms.

Things to look for in a qualified dementia caregiver include:

Certifications of competency in memory care and current best practices in dementia care backed by confirmed experience.

The ability to lawfully administer medications, which may be pertinent in the final stages

The willingness to initiate stimulation and activities for memory support based upon the patient's current abilities and interests

Experience in behavior management and the ability to calm patients without medications when possible

The ability to provide a functional, supportive and safe environment that minimizes confusing noises and other stimuli that dementia patients are often sensitive to.

One who aggressively recognizing new or worsening symptoms and is able to adjust routines to center on each patient's unique needs.

Explore dementia home caregivers near you in our directory or call us for assistance.

Alzheimer's Home Care Services

Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia and is a progressive condition that typically begins with mild memory loss. Initially, seniors losing keys or forgetting to close the door may seem harmless enough. However, as this condition moves into the middle and final stages, memory loss worsens and can lead to more dangerous situations. Some common incidents include leaving the stove on, wandering the neighborhood and getting lost, forgetting to take essential medications or to eat and lead to bouts of anxiety attacks during states of confusion. Agitation, hallucinations, sudden outbursts, suspicion and aggression also commonly develop in the later stages. Alzheimer's home care services can be customized to meet patient-specific needs, regardless of the stage they're in.

In-home care for Alzheimer's patients can provide a much needed respite for caregivers in need of a break, and there are services that provide full-time memory care to ensure your loved one's safety and security when you're not able to. Having a caretaker come into the home helps ease stress on a loved one who prefers to age in place within their own home where they are comfortable. Studies indicate that those with Alzheimer's Disease who view their environment in a positive way experience less anxiety, stress and a greater sense of overall happiness.

Care for your loved one can be as minimal or comprehensive as they need ranging from 1 hour a day, a few hours a week or full time. Here are a few services you can generally request from home Alzheimer's care providers.

However, it's important for home Alzheimer's caregivers to have the proper training to be prepared to handle the symptoms of this progressive disease, which is why you'll want to find a provider with ample experience and education that includes one or more certifications in Alzheimer's or memory care. Choose a home provider who understands the various stages of Alzheimer's Disease and their symptoms. Most importantly, find one who also utilizes a person-centered approach to improve you and your loved one's quality of life by:

View qualified caregivers in your area with a quick search at SeniorLiving's Provider Directory or call us at (866) 859-7420, and we'll be happy to help connect you with Alzheimer's home caregivers in your area today.

Who Receives In-Home Care?

According to Home Instead Senior Care's survey of home care professionals, their clients fell into the following categories:

Who Gets Home Care?

Home care helps a wide range of seniors and their families. People most commonly choose home care when they're ill or recovering from surgery, or when they simply need help with activities of daily living (ADLs) because of "normal aging."

Some seniors' caregiving needs are covered by professional homemakers, who provide companionship while also keeping house, helping with errands and preparing meals.

Other seniors need assistance from people with medical training, such as entry-level health aides or skilled nurses.

Memory care patients receive home care too. However, home care for dementia patients is usually respite care (support for the spouse or other regular caregiver). Memory care patients generally need 24-hour monitoring for safety, so home care costs can add up quickly.

Many home care agencies have four-hour minimum shifts. Still it's possible to get care for just an hour a day. Caregivers are also available for overnight stays.

Cost of Home Care Services

Home care costs for seniors range from $0 to about $40/hour. This range encompasses rates for most professional homemakers, health care aides, licensed practical nurses and registered nurses. Some healthcare professionals charge significantly more.

Factors influencing the amount charged for home care:

the local cost of living

the level of care required (skills needed)

the senior's financial assets

the senior's military status

Free respite care and meals are available in most communities thanks to government programs and non-profit groups. Three nationwide programs to learn about are:

Your state's Department on Aging can direct you to additional free and low-cost home care resources. When more than respite care is needed, seniors with financial need may get home care subsidies.

How to Pay for Home Care

Paying for home care might be easier than you expect. First, compared with 24-hour nursing home care, light to moderate in-home care is lower cost. Second, many payment strategies are possible with public and/or private funds.

Also keep in mind that the IRS lets taxpayers deduct certain medical expenses. Deductions depend on the total cost of medical care in relation to income.

Here we introduce common payment solutions. For the most up-to-date and personalized guidance, do work with a financial professional! Financial guidance is available for free through state Departments on Aging and various nonprofit groups.

Private Pay

Many seniors pay privately for home care. They pay home care agencies or hire caregivers directly. The main advantage of privately paying for home care is freedom of choice in terms of:

1. Who provides the care

2. What services are available

Most taxpayer-funded programs give seniors less control over who provides their caregiving and what services are available. Private long-term care insurance companies have restrictions too.

Common funding sources for private payments are

Private Pay with Annuity Income

One strategy for stretching a nest egg is using savings to buy an annuity. When you buy a conservative annuity designed for retirement, you pay a lump sum to a financial institution, and they provide you with a predictable monthly income for life.

Immediate annuities may start paying in as little as 30 days.

Deferred annuities are meant for payoffs further into the future.

Advantages of retirement annuities are:

the security of a guaranteed income

the shielding of savings from Medicare/Medicaid consideration

cost-of-living protection (optional)

A possible disadvantage of putting cash into a deferred annuity is the penalty for accessing the funds early. Also, not all annuities provide guaranteed income! Some are vulnerable to market volatility and aren't intended as retirement security.

Paid Family Leave for Home Care

State laws for paid family leave let eligible workers receive part of their usual work income while caring for family. This financial benefit is sometimes called wage replacement. It's funded with employee-paid payroll taxes and managed through a state's employment disability office.

Three states and Washington, DC have family leave laws in effect in 2017:

The New York Paid Family Leave Benefits Law (PFLBL) will take effect incrementally starting on January 1, 2018. In 2017 members of Congress have proposed federal laws for paid family leave as well.

State family leave laws differ in terms of:

worker eligibility

maximum payment amounts

maximum time allowed away from work

The main advantage of choosing paid family leave is that a loved one provides caregiving. A disadvantage is that job security is not necessarily guaranteed.

Long Term Care Insurance

Long term care insurance pays for health care and personal care in different settings such as private homes, nursing homes and adult daycare centers. Most policyholders use their benefits to pay for home care. According to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance,

about 7.5 million Americans get in-home care but fewer than two million Americans are in nursing homes.

The definition of "long term" varies from policy to policy: The maximum length of time for receiving benefits could be capped at two years or five years, but it could be unlimited. Long term care insurance policies also differ in term of maximum payout per day. A low-cost plan might pay about $100/day. A pricier plan could pay $250 or more.
Long Term Care Insurance Tips:
Financial planners recommend buying long term care insurance long before it's likely to be needed. Insurance costs more when an individual is already in need of care. Plus, the younger you are when buying a policy, the lower your premiums.

Before choosing an insurance provider, research their yearly rate changes. If rates have jumped, you have reason to be cautious.

Including inflation protection on your insurance policy can help ensure that your benefits align with the cost of living.

Medicare

For short time periods, Medicare may cover up to 100% of home medical care costs for seniors with low income. Medicare will also pay for in-home assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing and dressing - but only if skilled nursing or therapy is also needed following a hospital stay.

Initially needing hospitalization for three nights or more

Being homebound (either in a wheelchair, or having great difficulty leaving home) after discharge from the hospital

Requiring skilled nursing or skilled therapy as prescribed by a doctor

Having a doctor's plan for care that includes a projected end point (an estimate of when recovery/rehab services will no longer be required)

Overall the Medicare eligibility requirements are:

When seniors are ineligible for standard Medicare, they might still get in-home assistance with ADLs via a Medicare-Medicaid partnership called Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).

Medicaid & State Programs

Medicaid benefits differ from state to state. Some state Medicaid programs pay for home care. Others deny home care coverage but pay for nursing home care, which costs twice as much! Someday federal law might make Medicaid home care coverage mandatory... but for now you'll need to get state-specific Medicaid benefits info.

States have different ways of providing Medicaid funds for home care. Most common is using an "HCBS Waiver" or Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Waiver.

Additionally many states have non-Medicaid assistance programs. Some are specifically for people with low income. Others are tailored for memory care. You can learn more about non-Medicaid senior care options from your regional Agency on Aging.

Veterans Benefits

The Veterans Administration or VA offers a variety of subsidized home care services for veterans and their families.

Families in most parts of the US can also take advantage of VA respite care for up to 30 days a year. For VA home care a "day" is a maximum of six hours. In rare cases the care maximums may be extended. The cost is covered partially or completely by the veteran's basic Medical Benefits Package.

When more care is needed, impressive flexibility comes with the VA's Veterans Directed Home and Community Based Services (VD-HCBS). This program lets veterans who are candidates for nursing homes instead hire home care. Veterans receive VA funds to essentially become employers; they can interview, hire and fire their home care workers.

Another home care payment option for veterans and their surviving spouses is an increase in their Aid and Attendance pension. For eligibility a person needs to be homebound or require significant assistance with personal or medical care. A related Housebound VA pension increase is for vets who are housebound with a permanent disability. You can apply for Aid and Attendance or Housebound pension increases at your regional VA benefit office or by writing to your state's Pension Management Center (PMC) for an application.

Grants

Grants from nonprofit groups can help pay for in-home care. Often these grants are disease-specific. For instance, they might focus on home care for patients with diabetes. Best known are the respite care grants offered for families managing Alzheimer's or other dementia.

You can learn about respite for Alzheimer's caregivers by contacting the Alzheimer's fundraiser Hilarity for Charity, the Alzheimer's Association or the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.

Costs of In-Home Care vs Continuing Care

Nursing Homes average $222 a day for a private room; $200 for a semi-private room.

Assisted living facilities ("typically include at least two meals per day, housekeeping, and personal care assistance, were obtained for one-bedroom apartments or private rooms with private baths in assisted living communities.") average $3,300 a month.

In-Home Care averages $19 an hour for health aides; $18 an hour for homemaker/companion. Additionally, 82% of home health care agencies provide Alzheimer's training to their employees and 99% don't charge an additional fee for patients with Alzheimer's. Most elderly home care services require a minimum of 4 hours so the minimum cost is $76 /day.

If you're weighing the pros and cons of in-home care and continuing care, here are some numbers to think about. According to The 2012 Genworth Financial Cost of Care Survey, these are the national averages for senior care:

In-home care can certainly be lower cost solutions to assisted living depending on the kind of care you need, and how many daily hours you need this care.

Hiring Home Care Workers

To set up home care for an older adult, you can work with an agency or hire caregivers directly. Here we describe different kinds of home care agencies and suggest questions to ask when meeting with an agency director or interviewing home care workers.

In This Section:
Types of Home Care Agencies ↓
Questions to Ask Home Care Agencies ↓
Questions to Ask Home Care Workers ↓

Types of Home Care Agencies
Categories:

1. Medicare Certified Home Health Agencies

2. State Licensed Home Health Agencies

3. Non-Medical Care Agencies

4. Home Care Employment Agencies

Home care agencies in the US fall into four main categories. Comparing the categories, you'll see they vary in terms of licensing, services and accepted payments.

Medicare Certified Home Health Agencies (CHHAs)

Medicare is the USA's federal health insurance program for adults 65 and older. It also insures younger adults with kidney disease and children with disabilities. When Medicare patients receive home care, Medicare will only pay if a Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA) provides the services. Agencies eligible for certification provide skilled nursing and at least one therapy.

Each Medicare Certified Home Health Agency directly employs skilled nurses. (Direct employment means that the work isn't subcontracted.) Additionally each CHHA directly offers at least one of the following services and may subcontract others:

Some CHHAs offer personal care support that's subsidized by Medicare or Medicaid.

A complete list of Medicare Certified Home Health Agencies is posted at data.medicare.gov.

State Licensed Home Care Agencies

While the federal government certifies home health care agencies for Medicare, many state governments set agency licensing standards to help protect consumers. When states do not issue special licenses, the agencies only need standard business licenses for legal operation.

States that license their home care agencies may have more than one type of license available. The biggest distinction is whether a license approves medical care or non-medical care. Many home care agencies hold multiple licenses in order to offer a wide range of home care services.

Business plans and names of investors

Copies of criminal background checks for all intended workers

Proof of liability insurance and property damage insurance

Other evidence of readiness to effectively serve the community

Because each state sets its own standards, the laws governing home care agencies are quite different from place to place. Some states have rigorous licensing standards for home care agencies. Successful applicants provide:

States may also stipulate that licensed home care agencies have two administrators rather than one, and they may require than an RN be available 24/7. States also have the leeway to require that administrators have specific experience in healthcare management.

Some states have easy-to-meet licensing standards. It's important to know that states sometimes grant licenses based solely on paper applications. This lets new agencies run for several months or longer before the facilities are actually inspected by the government.

A minority of states lack industry-specific licenses. At last check the list included:

Home health agencies in the above states can legally operate with the same licensing required of any standard business or employment agency.

Whatever your state's licensing standards might be, knowing the best practices can help you choose wisely. For instance, if you live in a state without licensing for home care agencies, then specifically look for a center that conducts full criminal background checks on all its employees. With the following links you can see laws and license applications to get a sense of what state governments have deemed important.

Non-Medical Home Care Agencies (Companion Agencies)

Non-medical care agencies, or companion agencies for eldercare, are not subject to federal or state licensing. Workers are paid to provide friendly companionship and help their clients accomplish chores and errands. These services are not covered by public or private insurance.

Employees' qualifications are extremely varied. For safety's sake, work with agencies that show proof of up-to-date criminal background checks. Also check an agency's reputation with the Better Business Bureau.

Home Care Employment Agencies

Home care employment agencies give referrals to people seeking home care nurses and health aides. Clients may contact, hire and pay caregivers directly.

When you directly hire home care workers, the advantage of working with a reputable home care employment agency is that they've screened each person in their database. Additionally home care employment agencies may provide worker training and occasional on-the-job supervision.

Questions to Ask Elderly Home Care Agencies

What is the administrator's background? Ask the question in a friendly getting-to-know-you manner. All sorts of people direct home care agencies, and some are more qualified than others! A director's duties are important and diverse: setting the agency's policies, managing the employees, negotiating with insurance companies, ensuring compliance with healthcare laws, and more. Many states require that two people serve as an agency's administrators.

Ideally a home care agency becomes a family's trusted partner for senior care. When you meet with the administrator, getting answers to the following questions can help you avoid choosing a mismatch or substandard care.

The most appropriate educational background for a home care agency leader is in healthcare administration or public health. Typically an administrator has a master's degree, but competence for the role is certainly possible with a bachelor's degree plus work experience. Longtime healthcare professionals such as RNs and psychologists also move into administrative positions.

1. Is the agency Medicare certified? To receive Medicare coverage for home care, a patient needs to work with a Medicare Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA).

2. Is the agency licensed by the state? Not all states have industry-specific licenses for home care agencies. If your state has the option, choose a state licensed home care agency for assurance that state standards are met.

3. Does the agency carry insurance? Choose an agency that has its caregivers bonded and insured. A well-run agency also has professional liability insurance and general liability insurance.

4. What services are available? Home care agencies may provide medical services, non-medical services or both. Confirm that the desired services are available. For example, not every state-licensed center has an RN on call 24/7. Some, but not all, have caregivers trained in speech therapy, physical therapy, Alzheimer's therapy or memory care, and other healthcare specialties.

5. How are the caregivers trained? The best home care agencies have extensive orientations for caregivers and provide continuing education. One essential part of caregiving is effectively handling emergencies, so be sure to ask if emergency training is included in employee orientation. (Are employees trained in fire safety? Do they know the Heimlich maneuver and CPR?) Continuing education lets caregivers build their healthcare skill sets and stay up-to-date with best practices in home care.

6. How thorough are the agency's background checks? Effectively vetting a potential employee involves talking with their previous employer and other references. It also involves getting a full criminal background check to be aware of any felonies, misdemeanors and driving violations.

7. How many caregivers are assigned to each client? The best home care agencies assign more than one caregiver to each client. Because two or three people become regular visitors, a worker familiar to the senior is available even if one person takes time off or leaves the agency.

8. If the senior is unhappy with a caregiver, can another worker take the shift? You might also ask the director to explain their procedure for matching clients with caregivers.

9. How are caregivers managed? When caregivers are treated well, their patients can benefit. Before hiring a home care agency, observe how the management interacts with staff. Ask the director how the agency motivates its workers and recognizes great work.

The best home care agencies are led by people with relevant training and a genuine commitment to human well-being. If you get the sense that money is the manager's main motivator, then it's time to wiggle out of the interview.

Also ask about employee supervision and evaluation. Directors should occasionally observe their employees in the field - preferably unannounced to help ensure quality control.

Questions to Ask Elderly Home Care Workers

The following tips and interview questions may be helpful as you hire home care workers.

Before You Interview...

First things first! Protect your family's assets. Before letting people into the senior's home, verify that the space is insured against accidents. Renter's insurance and homeowners insurance can cover expenses in case of accidents that injure household employees.

1. List the specific areas in which help is needed. Some possibilities:

Personal Care: bathing, dressing, eating, dressing, using the toilet, lifting out of bed

Homemaking: preparing meals, cleaning, washing laundry, buying groceries

Medical Care: managing medication, intravenous treatments, dialysis, physician's appointments, physical therapy

Emotional Care: companionship, conversation, enriching activities

2. Calculate how many hours of care are needed daily or weekly. How long is each visit? What are the best time windows?

3. Decide how much you will pay per hour. Also list any special benefits of the job.

For help determining your pay rate, research the wages offered by local home care agencies.

Also put yourself in a worker's shoes... because paying the local norm isn't necessarily fair to the employee, which doesn't serve your loved one's best interest.

Next, clarify your needs before interviewing caregivers. Here are three steps.

Living on market rates can be especially stressful for entry-level home care workers. If the market rate is just $10 in your town, then a full-time worker would take home just $1600/month before taxes. Their annual income would be so low, they'd qualify for federal assistance.

If home care workers sense that they're "living on the edge," they can't keep up a high level of care for long! When setting a rate, put yourself in the worker's shoes.

Employment benefits can make your job offer more attractive. Home health care agencies typically offer health care and other benefits to their employees. A few examples of benefits you might offer:

Figure out how you'll make payments and comply with the law. When you hire home health workers directly, you need to report the expense to the Internal Revenue Service. Reporting the work may bring tax deductions, plus it gives social security benefits to the employee. For details you can see the IRS publications " Hiring Household Employees" and " Independent Contractor (Self-Employed) or Employee? "

Finally, start writing a job contract to protect yourself and your employees. A sample home health care contract is posted at RocketLawyer.com. It's wise to first have a trial agreement, e.g., for 30 days.

Preliminary Interview by Phone

Work hours

Relevant training and work experience

Access to transportation

Why the person is interested in the job

Before meeting a job applicant in person, interview him or her by phone. This can be a great timesaver. Covering the following topics might rule out an applicant.

Agree to meet in a public place unless you already trust the individual based on a friend's recommendation.

Ask the applicant to bring a photo ID, their job history or resume, and contacts for references.

If the phone interview is to your liking, then arrange to meet in person.

Full Interview in Person

Presenting your needs

Explaining the compensation

Deciding whether the applicant is a good match for your family

Below are ten interview questions for home health care workers. Remember that the main tasks of your interview are:

1. Why are you working in home eldercare?

2. What is your work experience as an in-home caregiver?

3. What do you like about home care?

4. What are the greatest challenges of home care work?

5. Why did you leave your previous job?

6. Are you insured to provide in-home care?

7. Can you provide documentation of your health status including immunizations?

8. Can you provide documentation of your relevant training?

9. Are you certified in CPR or willing to become certified?

10. How do you prefer to receive feedback? Would you be comfortable with a weekly or monthly check-in about progress and any problems?

If possible, have the senior participate in the interview.

After the Home Care Interview...

1. Call the job applicant's references. Previous employers and other references might confirm your impressions of the individual, or they might share "red flags" that you missed. When you speak with other employers, ask about the worker's punctuality and work quality. Ask why the person no longer holds that job position.

2. Pay for a criminal background check. Ask your local police station for guidance to get an accurate report. Many companies offer background checks via smartphone apps or the web, but their reports can be misleading.

3. Make the job offer. If the candidate accepts, then put your agreement in writing. Include mention of a trial period before the job position is considered permanent. A contract for home care should also include:

Job duties

Wages

Payment schedule and method

Start date

Time off and other benefits

Termination policy

Following a positive interview, here are steps you can take to help ensure an effective home care agreement.

When setting up employment, schedule a regular time to meet with the employee to concerns about the job duties or the senior's status.

Consider hiring a backup worker. You are hiring a human, not a superhuman! Be prepared to cover home care without stressing in case the employee falls ill or otherwise needs to skip a visit.

Check in during home care. When the work arrangement is new, spend time at the senior's home to familiarize the caregiver with the senior's needs. Periodically drop by unannounced during a shift to ensure that all is well.

Is There Senior Home Care Near Me?

For many seniors, in-home care is an alternative to assisted living that allows them to maintain their independence for as long as possible. Most providers are even trained to care for Alzheimer's clients. If you or a loved one are considering in-home care services, search our database for senior care providers in your neighborhood.

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Senior Home Care Services | Elderly Home Care & In Home Caregiving

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If you're like the majority of seniors, you probably want to live at home for as long as possible. You like your feeling of independence. Home care for seniors is healthcare and/or personal care support that's provided in-home. It is designed to delay or prevent moving to a nursing home...

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Prisoner Visitation and Support (PVS) is a volunteer visitation program to federal and military prisoners throughout the United States.

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This foundation works hard to improve the families, education, and health of African Americans, and to address all the issues that affect Afican American children.

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Our priority is improving the lives of African American children. We are concerned about making a difference in the areas that can significantly shift their outcomes in life.

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Our investments will improve outcomes for core issues in the following Philanthropic Focus Areas and work to improve key issues affecting African American children and families.

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Our Priorities - Jack and Jill of America Foundation

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Our priority is improving the lives of African American children. We are concerned about making a difference in the areas that can significantly shift their outcomes in life. We are committed to supporting services, programs and organizations that focus on impacting root causes of social problems affecting African American children and families.

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Breuer, Leo.  Path between the Barracks.  1941, painting, Yad Vashem Art Museum, Jeruselum, Israel.

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Organizations like this one are helping children around the world live healthy lives, by giving them treatments, preventing child deaths, and preventing AIDs and HIV

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Global Health Work Saves Lives

Nearly 5.6 million children die each year due to preventable and treatable causes, including 1 million babies who die on the day they are born. What's more, child malnutrition often leads to a lifetime of poor health and even death. More than 150 million children in developing countries are stunted. That's why we are committed to providing effective health programs that save children's lives and ensure they grow up healthy.

Thanks to generous donors like you, Save the Children is able to improve maternal, newborn and child health, help end child malnutrition and hunger and prevent HIV transmission, and ensure treatment for those living with HIV before they develop (or to prevent) AIDS - giving 86 million children a healthy start in life and helping 33.3 million children directly with lifesaving care, medicines, preventive treatments and so much more.

How Our Global Health Work Saves Lives:

Targeting the major causes of maternal, newborn and child deaths

Providing high-impact, low-cost care that saves children's lives

Prioritizing community partnerships, facilitating linkages with primary healthcare providers

Training and equipping frontline health workers to provide basic and lifesaving care

Responding rapidly during emergencies - when children are most vulnerable

Pursuing catalytic partnerships to develop and test innovative solutions

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Nearly 5.6 million children die each year due to preventable and treatable causes, including 1 million babies who die on the day they are born. What's more, child malnutrition often leads to a lifetime of poor health and even death. More than 150 million children in developing countries are stunted.