The best place to receive ongoing care may be in the comfort of your own home. But to receive quality assistance, it’s important to know what questions to ask so that you hire the home care agency that’s right for you.

To help you sort through your options, ask questions to help you evaluate the services. There are several facets to home care, and asking the right questions up front can help you choose the best agency for your needs.

Agency qualifications
•    How long has the agency been in business?
•    Is the agency evaluated and accredited by a governing agency such as The Joint Commission’s Home Care Accreditation Program?
•    Is the agency certified by Medicare? If so, that means it meets federal requirements for health and safety. An agency’s Medicare survey report is public information. If the agency isn’t certified, ask why.
•    Is the agency licensed by the state? Most states — but not all — require agencies to be licensed and reviewed regularly. These reviews may be available upon request and can be valuable for gauging the quality of an agency. To obtain a report, contact your state health department.
•    Can the agency provide references? Ask for a list of doctors, hospital discharge planners and former clients who have experience with the agency.
•    How does the agency protect client confidentiality?
•    What are the credentials of the providers?

Visit us at www.andelcare.com with any of your questions regarding home care in Seattle, Washington.

Here’s a great link to an article that is helpful to anyone considering starting elder care, home care, or geriatric care management services for an aging loved one.
Just click on the link below, and as always if you have questions or need help, please visit our website at www.andelcare.com.
My Mother’s Memory is Failing…..
http://donigreenberg.com/2009/02/28/dear-j-mother-memory-something/

1.    Privately paying for long-term care means paying for care out of your own income, investments, savings and assets.

2.    Long-term care insurance will pay for in-home care, assisted living, and nursing home care. This is the most appropriate and needed form of insurance protection available to us today. Long-term care insurance should be termed “lifestyle” insurance (it’s NOT nursing home insurance!). If your vision of your later years includes sitting at home in your own recliner, with your own remote control, watching your own TV….well, you should be planning for that future with long-term care insurance.

3.    Reverse mortgages (Home Equity Conversion Mortgages) have become one of the most popular and accepted way of paying for many different expenses, including the cost of long-term care. Reverse mortgages are designed to keep seniors at home longer. A reverse mortgage can pay for in-home care, home repair, home modification, and any other need a senior may have.

4.    Government assistance should be a last resort when considering how to pay for long-term care. This type of assistance refers to relying on the Medicaid system. Medicaid will pay for long-term care for seniors who cannot afford to pay for care themselves. Keep in mind that Medicaid is an under-funded and over-burdened system, therefore Medicaid resources are limited. This means that in many areas Medicaid beds in nursing homes are difficult to find. Families may end up driving long distances to visit their loved ones. Traditionally, Medicaid resources for in-home care are extremely limited, which means most seniors who apply for Medicaid end up in a nursing home type setting. The Deficit Reduction Act 2005 makes qualifying for Medicaid even more difficult for most families. Planning ahead is really the only viable option for families today.

5.    VA Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit: The Veterans Administration has established a pension program whereby your purchase of personal care and attendant home services may be paid for through your acquired pension. If you are a Veteran or the surviving spouse of a Veteran who has served at least 90 days or more on active duty with one day beginning or ending during a period of war, and you are in need of assistance at HOME due to your disabilities, you may be eligible for VA’s non-service connected disability pension.

Brought to you by www.andelcare.com.

Awards highlight innovation in workplace safety, job training and benefit programs
 
Olympia, Washington, February 2009

Representatives from 21 small, medium and large businesses paused briefly today to celebrate the innovations that earned them a Better Workplace Award from the Association of Washington Business.

The honors, presented at AWB’s Legislative Day in Olympia, recognize member businesses that go the extra mile in providing a family-friendly work environment, promoting safety and enabling employees to achieve their best. Awards are given to companies that demonstrate innovation in the areas of workplace safety, job training and advancement, and benefit and compensation programs.

“Running a business is no easy task, especially in today’s rough economy,” said AWB President Don Brunell. “The 21 companies we’re honoring today represent what’s working in today’s tough economy. These employers are investing in their employees and getting creative when it comes to solving challenges in the workplace,” he added.

“The private sector is the workhorse of Washington state’s economy. We’ll need more businesses like these to help keep people working and drive our economic recovery. It’s a great day for these employers and their employees.”

AWB members may submit nominations for the award. An independent panel of judges reviews all the nominees and decides the award based on factors including boosting morale, increasing productivity, improving recruitment and retention and reducing the costs of training. AWB also gives Continuous Commitment awards to companies that have won the Better Workplace Award in previous years and have continued to be innovators in providing a better workplace.

Andelcare, Bellevue

Andelcare, a private home health care provider in King County, offers numerous development and continuing education programs for its staff to help develop their caregiving skills. Andelcare is a proud member of The Senior’s Choice Network, which offers support and on-going training for senior care companies across the nation. The Senior’s Choice Certified Companion Aide (CCA) program ensures that Andelcare’s caregivers are the most highly trained in the industry. Andelcare leads the industry in training since it is the exclusive local provider of the CCA program. This intensive training regime includes the study of 19 essential subjects, including communication, personal care, mental health and illness, disability issues and nutritional needs of the elderly. Andelcare’s caregivers are totally committed, highly qualified and carefully selected individuals who are personally and thoroughly screened, bonded and insured. For more information: http://www.andelcare.com/.