- ORIGINAL NEWS
Op-ed: Finding a good caregiver can be daunting. Here are steps to hire the right one
- SUMMARY
As our aging population grows, the need for caregiving is increasing.
Most older people want to age in place, but this requires planning for logistics of how care will be provided.
Family members usually provide about two-thirds of the care needed, but at some point they may not be able to handle the load.
Finding good caregivers is the hardest part of delivering care in the home.
There are two options: using a home health agency or hiring private caregivers.
Both have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Home health agencies take care of all the small business functions like payroll, tax filings, and insurance, but they may not provide all the services that are needed and there can be high turnover of caregivers.
Hiring private caregivers takes time, effort, and organization, but can lead to both higher patient and caregiver satisfaction.
It’s important to write a clear job description that outlines expectations for duties, hours, pay, and benefits.
Having daily checklists and regular check-ins can help prevent problems from escalating.
No matter how care is provided, it’s a lot of work.
Setting clear expectations and creating good processes is essential for making the caregiving process less stressful and more successful.
- NEWS SENTIMENT CHECK
- Overall sentiment:
neutral
Positive
“Most older people want to age in place, but this is wishful thinking without planning for the logistics of how care will be provided.”
“Hiring private caregivers takes time, effort, and organization, but can lead to both higher patient and caregiver satisfaction.”
Negative
“The family either must use a home health agency or hire private caregivers to provide additional assistance.”
“The agency is paying the employees and taking on the cost of running a business, plus they also want to make a profit.”