Do your loved ones need a little extra help to live at home? Are you searching for a reliable private in-home care agency in Melbourne? If so, find out how Luxe Care can support you or your family member in the comfort of their own home.
There are many things to look for when choosing the best private in-home care provider in Melbourne. In this article, we will take a look at the following:
- List your requirements
- Check for nearby homecare agencies
- Do your homework
List Your Requirements
The first thing is to work out what you want and expect from a private in-home care provider.
There are different types of home care agencies on the market, and they offer a wide range of in-home care packages or private care to suit the needs of their clients.
You should produce a comprehensive list of the things you are looking for from a home care provider.
Things to consider are staff culture, language, gender, consistency, availability, and the different types of services provided by the agency.
Some of these agencies specialise in certain services and offer cheaper rates for such services. Once you have listed the needs of your loved one, you should move onto the next step.
Check For Nearby Homecare Agencies
You should choose a nearby local provider when looking for the best private in-home care provider in Australia.
There are many advantages when it comes to utilising an agency to care for your loved one.
A Google search will reveal a host of agencies that operate in your vicinity which is important in case any concerns arise. It is very difficult dealing with a company that operates in another state.
Another method to use is referrals. Speak with friends or even family members to see if they can recommend any particular in-home care agency.
Personal experience from someone you know and trust is very important due to the sensitive nature of this situation.
You should do some comparison shopping before choosing the right service provider for the job based on your requirements.
Do Your Homework
When you are interviewing and comparing various homecare providers in your area, you need to consider the following factors:
Staff – Does the home care agency employ their own staff or rely on agency staff? What is the level of training and certification of their employees? Do they have speciality training in the area you are looking for?
For example, if your loved one is suffering from dementia, you should opt for an agency with staff who specialise in caring for people living with dementia.
Fees – How much does the agency charge for administration and case management? This may vary depending on the type of agency you choose.
Most agencies may bill you weekly or monthly and most homecare providers charge hourly rates for personal care, cleaning, and allied health visits.
Communication & Customer Service – How often do care providers visit and speak with clients? How often do they review homecare plans? Does the agency guarantee consistent care workers?
Either way, make sure you do your homework and find a suitable in-home care agency.
When Siblings Disagree
Even siblings who grew up with the same set of parents may have vastly different opinions about what is best in terms of housing and care.
Suzanne Petterson works with residents and their families, and recommends that all of the adult children – not just the eldest or the executor of the estate – be involved throughout the decision-making process.
“Make sure that all siblings are hearing the same information at the same time,” she says. “If anyone is out of town, include them via conference calls or video conferencing. That way, one sibling is not translating anything in their terms to the other siblings.”
With that kind of open communication, you may be able to avoid a tremendous amount of conflict and behind-the-scenes bickering. That’s particularly true if you keep in mind that you’re all working toward a common goal – making the best possible decisions for your parents.
“I’m sure the last thing parents want is for there to be hard feelings among the children,” says Suzanne.
Unfortunately, life isn’t always so nice and neat. No matter how hard they try, some families still find themselves in a stalemate when it comes to what’s best for Mum and Dad.
If that’s the case, Suzanne suggests sitting down with aged care professionals to help make the best decisions for your ageing parents. Neutral third parties have the benefit of emotional distance from the situation, and can offer a non-threatening perspective and solutions that incorporate everyone’s needs and desires.
When Parents Resist
In addition to disagreeing as siblings, you may also find yourself at odds with your ageing parents. They may be resistant to moving to a care facility or even receiving care at home.
In that case, professional help is available to defuse the situation.
“Have a professional – your parents’ doctor or social worker – do the ‘dirty work’ of explaining to your parents why they need more assistance or may need to move,” says Suzanne. This way, you don’t have to be the bad guy. Instead, she says, you can take the role of helping your parents through the transition and talking about their feelings.
Just keep in mind that the transition can be traumatic, especially if your parents are accustomed to an independent lifestyle. To ease the process, Suzanne advises including your parents in as many decisions as possible. She also suggests keeping as much constancy as you can, even something as seemingly small as bringing a favorite chair or piece of art to the nursing home.
“If your mother needs a carer at home, start with the most crucial times of day, and then add services over time as she adjusts,” says Suzanne. “If your father absolutely refuses to move, try to put as many services in place as you can.” She recommends tapping into community resources such as Dementia Australia to help make your parents’ house as safe as possible.
While the ageing process can be challenging for everyone involved, a spirit of humility and compromise can go a long way in helping your family come together to make mutually satisfying decisions about your parents’ care.
How much does private home care cost?
Often your parents may need just a little help or at the very least, some regular care to ensure they are well supported to remain living independently at home. We find it works best to slowly introduce some help at home so by the time more care is needed, your parents are used to, and in the case of Luxe Care, trust and love the staff and want them around to help.
The most common type of care required at home is provide by Personal Care Staff. These staff may be called Carers, Care Givers, Personal Care Workers, Support Workers, or something else. The list goes on however they are essentially the same qualification.
Occasionally people may need some nursing care at home which is typically provided by a Registered Nurse. Registered Nurses undertake more complex care and can assist with wound evaluation and complicated dressings, specialised medication administration, health assessments, specialist nursing care and palliative care.
The costs can vary depending on the type of care you need and the day of the week care is delivered. This is because of the different Awards that ensure staff are paid appropriately late in the day, overnight or on weekends and public holidays.
At Luxe Care our rates are a modest amount for peace of mind. Typically we charge an hourly rate for staff however we do have some special rates for Sleepovers and 24 hour care. Rates can start from around $55.00 an hour for a stringently recruited, fully insured, high quality, Luxe Care Carer. Unlike many companies we only use our own staff and do not rely on other agencies for staff.
With Luxe Care you get to control the amount of care you want or need. After all, it is all up to you.
