New to Caregiving? Start Here

Considering a Professional Home Caregiver for the First Time? Read This First.

Whether you’re a parent caring for a medically fragile newborn, an adult child helping your aging parent along, a spouse caring for your partner with life-altering diagnosis, or something in between, being a family caregiver can be overwhelming. You’re doing the best you can, but you may be starting to think that both you and your loved one would benefit greatly from the services a professional home caregiver can provide.

Resources to make the right decision for you or your loved one

There’s a lot to consider when selecting an in-home caregiver for the first time. In addition to the tips and advice above, BAYADA—a trusted leader in providing a full range of clinical care and support services at home for children and adults of all ages—created this handy resource with tips to assist you in making the best decision for your family’s unique needs.

Rest assured you’re are not alone (1 in 5 Americans provide unpaid care to family members¹), and you probably have a lot of questions about finding and hiring a caregiver that’s right for your situation. While doing so may seem like another overwhelming challenge, it certainly doesn’t need to be with the right information and support.

When to start looking into in-home care

Many family caregivers experience elevated levels of depression and anxiety or a decline in physical health when their caregiving responsibilities become more than they can handle. That’s why support and respite care are so critical to avoid or alleviate caregiver stress and burnout.

If you are considering professional care for the first time, there were probably several signs that prompted you to start thinking about that possibility. You might have noticed some signs from your loved one, and others from yourself. If the following applies to you or your loved one, now is the time to start looking for home health care services. Are you:

• Fearful of leaving your loved one alone?
• Finding that your loved one’s care is becoming exceedingly demanding on your time, emotions, and physical abilities?
• Unable to have time for yourself?
• Unable to provide the advanced care that your loved one needs?
• Unable to take care of household tasks due to caring for your loved one?
• Missing out on your own social and personal activities because of caring for your loved one?
• Unable to assist your loved one with personal tasks (bathing, dressing, grooming) on a consistent basis?

While answering these questions honestly and observing the signs might be a little uncomfortable, it is a necessary part of the process. The answers to these questions will help you know whether it’s time to start looking into in-home care or not, and if you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, you know it’s time. If you're ready to learn more or make the decision to start in-home services for yourself or a loved one, contact your local BAYADA office or call (888) 864-2025 today.

Find the right in-home provider

Millions of people work as paid caregivers for older and ailing Americans, while others provide care for people of all different ages and needs. They can also have diverse skill sets and specialties—such as nursing, therapy, and personal care assistance—so before you start searching for who you’re looking for, first establish what you’re looking for in terms of home care for your loved one.

Asking some basic questions regarding your loved one’s unique needs is a good place to start. For example, if you’re an adult child caring for your aging parent you might ask the following:

• Does my parent need help with a few daily activities like dressing and bathing, or does my parent need full-time assistance?
• Does my parent need transportation for everyday activities and/or the doctor?
• Does my parent have mobility issues that put them at risk of falling?
• Is my parent experiencing cognitive decline or dementia?
• Does my parent need regular medical care?

Your answers will help you shape the requirements necessary to begin your search for the right caregiver. Working with a home health care organization like BAYADA will give you access to multiple qualified caregivers with a variety of experiences and certifications. A team member can assess your loved one’s needs—including what schedule may work for them and if insurance covers the cost of care—and match them with the right caregiver(s) to keep them safe at home.

These steps also apply to parents searching for pediatric in-home care for their child or for a seriously ill or disabled adult. The needs vary per person, but a full-service home health care company like BAYADA should be able to provide the level of care required—from high-tech nursing for complex diagnoses as well as lower acuity needs and assistance with personal care and other activities of daily living.

¹AARP, National Alliance for Caregiving. “Caregiving in the United States 2020.” AARP Public Policy Institute. AARP, May 14, 2020. https://www.aarp.org/ppi/info-2020/caregiving-in-the-united-states.html.