Once aging, loved ones in Fort Wayne need daily living assistance, and family members must find ways to ensure they receive the best elder care possible. Whether that care is provided in a hospital, assisted living facility, or private residence, personalized senior care plans are a reliable way to make it happen.

As a caregiving template of sorts, a personalized care plan considers an individual’s unique needs and preferences and adapts as those needs and preferences change. Using home care as an illustration, what follows are several ways personalized care plans benefit seniors and their families.

Improved Quality of Life

One primary advantage of having a personalized senior home care plan is that it can improve your loved one’s quality of life by allowing them to remain at home surrounded by friends and family. Because the plan is customized to their specific needs and preferences, a personalized care plan can help reduce stress and anxiety, improving your loved one’s overall sense of well-being.

Better Communication

Personalized senior care plans also help facilitate open and honest communication between family members and caregivers. Because the plan outlines the individual’s specific needs and preferences in detail, it’s easier to avoid confusion and misunderstandings.

A care plan helps ensure everyone is on the same page when it comes to providing care, which can minimize stress and tension within the family. For example, Mom’s caregiver might recommend a few home modifications that will reduce her likelihood of falling, reassuring you and fellow family caregivers in the process.

Increased Independence

Creating a personalized senior care plan can also help increase the independence level of aging loved ones. Because their plan addresses both functional abilities and limitations, the caregiving team can provide care laser-focused on helping your loved one maintain their independence. In general, seniors that lead more active and independent lives tend to be happier, healthier and even live longer than those who don’t.

Coordination of Care

Yet another advantage of a personalized care plan is that it helps ensure care is coordinated effectively. Outlining your loved one’s specific needs and preferences helps avoid duplication of services while ensuring all aspects of their care are covered. For instance, if your loved one has any dietary restrictions, those will be well-documented so even a fill-in caregiver can meet those special dietary needs if your loved one’s regular caregiver isn’t available.

Enhanced Safety

Having a personalized senior care plan in place can also help improve the safety of your aging loved ones. That’s because the plan can help identify safety risks and how to minimize them. For instance, if your aging parent has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, their care plan may include strategies to reduce their risk of wandering off or accidentally starting a fire.

Saves Money

No matter where it’s provided, long-term elder care can be costly. Creating a personalized home care senior plan can also help save money over the long run. Because it’s custom-tailored to meet the individual’s specific needs, you can usually avoid unnecessary expenses.

For example, if your aging loved one requires assistance with medication management, their care plan will include strategies to ensure the proper medications are taken at the right time. Greatly minimizing the likelihood for medication errors can help avoid hospitalizations and other costly interventions.

What it All Means

In summary, working with a home care provider to create a personalized care plan for your senior may provide numerous benefits, including improved quality of life, enhanced safety, and cost savings – all while ensuring they receive the best care possible depending on their specific needs and preferences.

How to Choose the Right Home Care Provider in Fort Wayne

Once you’ve decided to start home care, here’s how to find the best provider for your aging loved one:

Seek Referrals

Sometimes, knowing where to find home care providers is half the battle. Ask your friends, coworkers, neighbors, and relatives for referrals if you have never used an agency before. If you don’t live in the same community, a quick Google search can pull up the names and contact information for home care companies in your loved one’s area.

Research Their Services

Initially, your senior may only need a little help performing activities of daily living (ADLs), like bathing, dressing, or light housework. But if they were recently diagnosed with a serious illness or dementia, they may take specialized care to maintain their independent lifestyle and quality of life.

Look for a provider that offers a complete lineup of services, including dementia care, 24-hour care, live-in care, meal planning, and more. Be sure to also ask if the agency provides ongoing staff training and if their caregivers are certified per state requirements.

Read What Others Have to Say

In addition to referrals from trusted sources, you’ll also need to research what others say about each provider. Online reviews from clients and their families reveal much about an agency’s reputation, as do testimonials from current and former employees.

Reputable home care providers also conduct drug tests and extensive background checks on their employees, including criminal and driving records. While you’re at it, check to see if the agency meets all federal and state certification requirements. Have they received any awards in recognition of their achievements?

Determine How Much It Will Cost

Contrary to what you might believe, Medicare does not cover elective home care services like personal care or homemaker services. While your choice of an in-home care provider should not exclusively hinge on price, it will inevitably play a role. First, determine how much your loved one can afford based on her monthly budget.

In most cases, the cost of care depends on the number of hours the caregiver spends with their client, along with the type of services they provide. Before making your choice, research each agency’s hourly rates, as well as how much they charge for daily and overnight visits.

Screen Caregiver Candidates

Once you’ve narrowed your provider search to two or three candidates, you’ll need to progress to the interview phase. Schedule a screening interview for your loved one with each potential caregiver to ensure their personality and work ethic align with yours.

During the interview, be sure to ask the supervisor for references from previous clients, along with proof of insurance and other certifications. This is also the perfect time to discuss your loved one’s personalized care plan and how the agency would adapt to their changing needs.

Personalized In-Home Care for Seniors in Fort Wayne

When you need personalized home care, look no further than Senior1Care in Fort Wayne. We are a fully licensed and insured provider with highly trained professionals who are experts at delivering the nurturing your loved one deserves. While serving as an extended family in your senior’s home, our compassionate caregivers can perform various duties, including Personal Care, Companionship, Meal Preparation, Medication Reminders, Recovery Care, and Light Housekeeping.

While assisting clients in Indianapolis, South Bend, and Elkhart our agency’s focus is maintaining your loved one’s quality of life, along with their dignity, self-esteem, and independence. For your added convenience, all our in-home services can be individually personalized into an affordable package when and where you need them!

Please visit www.senior1care.com online now to learn more about us or schedule a FREE initial consultation for a senior in our service area.