When you or a beloved family member finds themselves in need of home health care, finding the best way to access that care can feel like a daunting, insurmountable task. In Arizona alone, there are over 200 companies offering home health care services. How do you choose? And how do you determine exactly what you’re looking for?
In this article, we’ll offer some guidance for evaluating home health agencies in Chandler, Arizona, and how to make the right choice for the person needing care in your life.
Understanding Home Care Agencies
Home health agencies are organizations that provide a broad spectrum of health-based services to a patient’s home, instead of in a traditional medical facility such as a nursing home or hospital. Services can range from more skilled care such as tube feeding, wound care, and physical therapy exercises, to non-medical and personal care, including assisting with daily living activities, nutritional guidance, and light housekeeping.
There are many reasons why patients in Chandler, Arizona, might choose to use home care services, ranging from aging-related needs to short-term health challenges, recovery from illness or injury, or managing chronic conditions requiring long-term care. Regardless of the specific reason you’re searching out this type of care, the best home care agencies and the care professionals they employ should dedicate themselves to ensuring every client’s safety, comfort, and happiness to the best of their ability, while helping them feel understood and supported.
How to Choose Between Home Health Agencies in Chandler Arizona
When trying to choose between home health agencies in Chandler, Arizona, here are some things to consider:
Services Offered
Many home care companies offer a variety of services based on what the patient may need. For some clients, companionship and emotional support may be a central component of the care plan. Others may need help with basic tasks and chores, such as light preparing meals, cleaning, and running errands. Still others may require assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as eating, dressing, bathing, moving, or using the toilet.
Patients with specific health concerns, such as cancer or other chronic illnesses, may need services that focus on managing the symptoms of their condition and the side effects of any medical treatments they may be undergoing. For example, individuals with COPD might require help maintaining oxygen equipment, while those with chronic kidney disease may need assistance monitoring their blood glucose levels to make informed decisions about their diet and daily activities. These are the kinds of supportive services that a home care agency is well-equipped to provide.
It’s likely that the prospective patient in your life may need care that combines different elements of the services listed above. The best home care agencies in Chandler, Arizona, should tailor their services to the patient’s situation, needs, and desires, offering a customized care plan that combines specific goals with the flexibility to evolve as the patient’s needs change.
Qualifications and Experience of Caregivers
An agency is only as good as the caregivers they hire. When evaluating home care companies, consider exactly what you’re looking for from a caregiver so that the agency you choose can find the right care professional to provide it.
Some professionals who deliver home care, such as home health aides (HHAs), specialize in personal care, such as assistance with hygiene or mobility. Other caregiving professionals, like certified nursing assistants and licensed nursing assistants (CNAs and LNAs), can perform basic nursing assistant tasks as well as the personal care provided by HHAs. All of these professionals require hours of training and experience, with CNAs and LNAs also needing to pass a competency exam.
One of the benefits of accessing caregiving services through an agency is that caregivers are licensed, bonded, and insured through the agency. This means that the patient and their family are not held liable should the caregiver be injured or disabled while taking care of the patient in their home. Additionally, agencies conduct thorough background checks on the caregivers they hire, taking the responsibility of vetting the caregiver off the patient and their loved ones.
Agency’s Reputation and Accreditation
When choosing between home health agencies in Chandler, Arizona, don’t neglect to ensure that the agencies you evaluate are properly licensed and accredited. Additionally, consider the agency’s reputation, both in person and online. Does the company have a strong reputation in the community? Do you know anyone who received care through that agency, and if so, did they have any complaints or misgivings?
Just about everything is online these days, and home care companies are no exception. Look up each agency you’re considering, not just to read reviews but also to research the agency’s history. How new or established is this agency? Do they have a history of legal or financial issues? Immediately eliminating prospective choices that raise red flags will help you ultimately find the best option for your needs.
Comparing Costs
Be sure to examine and compare the costs and payment plans of the home health agencies you’re evaluating. Some agencies may offer additional services at extra costs, while others may not. Factors such as the level of care, the type of care provider, and the frequency and duration of services provided can all impact the cost. It’s also important to check what insurance coverage home health agencies in Chandler, Arizona, accept. Whatever pricing options a care company provides, it’s vital that their pricing is clear and transparent, with no unexpected fees or bills waiting in the wings.
What’s Your Choice?
Clearly, there are many factors that go into choosing between home health agencies in Chandler, Arizona. Home care is a broad field, and you or the loved one in your life deserves the best, most attentive care possible. So how can you get it?
Let Brightwood Health help you on your home care journey! Our home care agency is built on the foundation of offering attentive, patient-driven care that provides our clients with the best quality of life possible. Our compassionate, competent care professionals offer a wide variety of services and expertise. With a focus on clear communication and patient well-being, we create a unique care plan tailored to meet the individual needs of each patient, with transparent, structured pricing plans.
