What Is In-Home Care?

In-home dementia care services provide the care you need to live safely in your own home. The services included in an in-home care package depend on your medical and nonmedical needs. Some people may require care from a qualified health professional, such as a registered nurse or occupational therapist, to manage a health condition. Others may need nonmedical help with their daily activities. Common options include:

• Skilled care services from a health care professional, such as wound care, medication management or physical therapy
• Support with bathing, eating and other personal care tasks
• Cooking, cleaning and other homemaker services
• Companion services, such as supervision and social support

Often, care agencies provide several types of in-home care. Working with an agency can be helpful if you or a loved one has multiple care needs because they can coordinate a suite of services to meet all your requirements.

How to Find an In-Home Care Provider

Various professionals and organizations can connect you with local in-home care providers. If you have specific health needs, your primary care provider is usually a great starting point. Your doctor will have in-depth knowledge of your medical, social and physical health profile, enabling them to recommend the most suitable requirements for your circumstances.

The Administration for Community Living's Eldercare Locator can help you find in-home care agencies where you live. Enter your details in the Eldercare Locator online tool or call (800) 677-1116 for a list of suitable providers. Alternatively, charitable organizations like the Alzheimer's Association provide in-home service search tools to support people with dementia and their families in locating care agencies.

Finally, consider asking friends and family for personal recommendations. Getting advice from people with experience receiving or arranging in-home care who know your family well can help you confidently navigate the process.

Choosing the Right In-Home Care Provider

Finding an in-home caregiver you trust provides peace of mind, but choosing the right provider can feel daunting. Before starting your search, list which services you or your loved one needs and how you prefer them delivered. Knowing what you're looking for in an in-home care agency can help you determine which providers best suit your requirements.

Next, contact prospective agencies via email or telephone to describe your needs and check whether they offer your required services. Prescreening agencies this way prevents you from wasting time meeting organizations that don't provide the right service options.

Reputable in-home care agencies will be happy to meet you in your home. Preparing a list of questions beforehand can help you better understand each agency's services and ethos. Questions to consider include:

• Do your caregivers have first aid and CPR training?
• Do your caregivers have experience supporting people with a specific health condition?
• Do you have arrangements to cover sickness and leave?
• Is your agency bonded to protect me against losses?
• Are your caregivers trained and experienced in dementia care?
• Can you deliver care at my preferred times?

Finally, check your chosen care agency's references before committing to working with them. Established agencies will usually provide references to help you assess the quality of care they provide. Many will also conduct criminal background checks on individual caregivers, and it's worth checking whether this has been done to ensure safe care for you or your family member.

Sharing as much information as possible with your chosen care agency enables caregivers to deliver high-quality, person-centered support. Ensure caregivers know about the person's health status, preferences and background so they can tailor care to their needs.

Alternatives to In-Home Care

For some seniors, staying in their own homes provides comfort and familiarity while living with dementia. However, in-home care isn't suitable for everyone, especially those with unsafe home environments or significant mobility or behavioral issues. Some people may also experience isolation if they're alone for large portions of the day or don't have a wide social network.

Memory care communities like Bethesda Gardens Thornton offer an excellent alternative to in-home care for older adults who can no longer live at home or need higher levels of practical and social support. Our memory care residents receive 24/7 personalized care in a friendly neighborhood setting with their own studio apartments. Our trained team delivers a range of high-quality services to meet the medical, social and emotional needs of our community members in a tranquil, secure environment.