Hiring overnight care can help family caregivers a great deal. Not only does it allow aging loved ones to receive the care they need, but family caregivers can receive a break and keep their sanity.
However, hiring help can be a difficult decision and you will want to look for the best possible caregivers. Here are some tips for hiring so that your aging loved one can be safe and happy.
Signs that overnight care may be necessary
It is easy for family caregivers to get to the point of complete exhaustion. When you are running on empty, it is hard for you to provide the care your loved one needs. Finding overnight care may be a solution, offering you a mental and physical break from your caregiving duties.
You may not know when to go about arranging overnight care for your aging loved one needs. One of the occasions on which it may be necessary is if a loved one is recovering from a medical procedure or surgery. Other times when overnight care may be necessary are when a patient has:
- A medical condition that needs continuous monitoring.
- Suffers from Alzheimer's and tends to wander off.
- Has a strict medication schedule that requires overnight administration.
- Has limited mobility and is not able to get out of bed on his or her own.
- Tends to be forgetful to the point where it is dangerous (such as not locking the front door).
If one or more of the above conditions apply, it is important to consider hiring a professional overnight caregiver.
Consider your options
The cost of 10 to 12 hours of overnight care varies, depending on the type of care needed, the state, and the qualifications and experience of a caregiver or agency. Many families are worried about the cost of hiring overnight help for their loved ones. They know that professional caregivers usually come at a price and think they can’t afford one.
However, some companies offer more affordable solutions. Tandem Careplanning, for example, is a company that provides personalized, private caregiving solutions. You can select, hire and schedule the care you need when you need it. It offers a more cost-effective option than traditional caregiving agencies.
Check qualifications, experience and personality
If you opt for a private caregiver, you should always check qualifications and experience. Personality is another factor to take into account. You do not want someone caring for your loved one that is not a good fit. You want someone who gets along with your loved one, is compassionate and does a good job of caring.
Be clear about what you expect
Think carefully about the needs of your loved one and write out a clear description of what you expect the caregiver to do. This will help you to figure out how many hours of care are needed and how much you can afford to pay.
Ask plenty of questions
You want someone who is responsible and trustworthy and so you shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions about experience and what the person would do in a certain situation. For example, if a loved one refused point blank to take medication, how would the person respond?
At the end of the day, hiring overnight care can make a huge difference in the quality of life experienced by both the patient and the family caregiver. Your loved one can remain safe and comfortable in their own home and you can stay calm and show up for your loved one in a way that you feel good about.