Insights into health care - The giving of care

Debra Reis

August 1, 2008

L ife happens to all of us, and personal situations can distract us from work. Most of us will face crucial personal situations that include family care issues, especially if it includes the challenges of an aging parent in need of care.

You can prepare for these personal situations and prevent the desperate challenge of care at a time when you might be distracted from making the best choices. How? Plan well, ask the right questions, and don't compromise until you find a reliable, quality caregiver.

Here are the top six qualities you should look for in a caregiver and his/her company:

1. Dependability. The caregiver and company should have a track record of being punctual and showing up to work. Some people do not value being on time and that's typically very important to an elderly person who may rely on that one point of contact each day. Ask for referrals and ask about timeliness and dependability of the caregiver and the company.

2. Flexibility. Many companies only offer one or two options that may not always fit your caregiving needs. In my efforts to locate a caregiver, I only needed help three times a week and only for a couple of hours. No company offered that option. I could only pay a four-hour minimum per day, which was far more time than needed. Decide what care you need for your specific situation and seek a company that can meet your requirements. Companies do exist that require no hourly minimum and allow a choice of caregivers.

3. Honesty. Specifically ask how a caregiver will chart time; where and how accurately they will note the day's activities; and ask for referrals to assess whether they will be trustworthy in the home. It's always a good idea to choose a company that runs background checks on caregivers. You also can gain insights on the integrity of a company through online comments, Web-based research and referrals.

4. Caring. The company and caregiver should be just that: giving of care. Compassion with clients is not always the norm. From the beginning a caregiving company and its caregiver should be working to meet your needs in a kind and respectful way. Watch for any hint of problems as you research and interview caregivers; if something doesn't "feel" right, it probably isn't.

5. Trained. Various licensures and training programs exist in the caregiving industry. Be sure the company you select offers caregivers with at minimum a Certified Nurse Assistant and states so prominently in literature and in discussions before proceeding with any contract. While a caregiver probably won't have medical training, you should require they are able and willing to properly assist a person with daily activities such as grooming, bathing and even shopping. If you have other requirements, such as transportation to appointments, discuss them openly and early in the process.

6. Understanding. This is perhaps one of the more difficult characteristics to define. The business of caregiving is, after all, relationship-based. And relationships obviously revolve around human imperfection; therefore, each one is unique and poses challenges. It's often hard to pinpoint exactly why the relationship "isn't working out." My mother and I experienced this when I was assigned a caregiver the company thought would meet my needs. When I contacted the company because my mother "did not like" the assigned caregiver, it was a difficult ordeal to switch to another caregiver. If you, as the client, feel a relationship is not a good fit, you have the right to request a different caregiver. The caregiver should be replaced without question. Period.

You can prepare to care for the needs of an aging parent or a family member in need by defining his or her care needs and asking the right questions of a caregiving company. You can avoid the challenge of a last-minute "personal situation" by discussing care needs and plans before they arise.

Debra Reis is president of Atlanta-based AmeriCare Alliance.