Your aunt has been receiving home care services for a short time, maybe just over a couple of weeks or a month, and while you’re aunt doesn’t talk much about things that happen in her life, you want to know how everything is going and whether she’s doing well. You do your best to gather as much information from her, and you certainly don’t want to come across as prying, but you were the one who convinced her that she needed an in home care provider so you feel responsible to make sure things are going well.
So how can you check in on home care services without being overbearing, rude, or a ‘snoop?’
One of the first things that you can do is simply open up the lines of communication with the in home care provider from the outset of their service that they provide to your loved one. Give them your phone number and even your email address, if you feel comfortable with that, and tell them that they can call or email you any time, whether to ask questions or talk about any potential issues that arise.
Depending on how strong your relationship is with your elderly loved one, you can have a weekly conversation with them to discuss how their week was, if there were any things that happened that they weren’t happy about, and if there’s anything that they may want you to do on their behalf.
The ultimate goal about checking in on home care services isn’t about trying to find out if there are any things that are going wrong, or to try and catch someone ‘not doing their job,’ but rather to try and make sure that your loved one has everything that he or she needs and wants. After all, the service that they are receiving is intended to provide them with the right level of support to help them live comfortably in their own home. If that’s not being achieved, then something else may need to be done.
Also, there are a number of misconceptions that surround home care services, such as abuse, theft, and other issues. While these incidents are extremely rare, in order to set one’s mind at ease, it’s a good idea to keep an open line of communication. That way you’ll know that your loved one is being cared for in the best, most effective and efficient manner possible.