Backup care is always asked about when people are shopping around for a senior care agency.  A family member wants to know that they are not going to have to take off work and stay home with their mom or dad if the caregiver calls in sick.  They wantto know the agency can get someone last minute, even at night.  And they want to know that in an emergency,their mom or dad will not go ignored.

Let’s face it when you have children and you hire a private sitter, you expect that if the sitter calls in sick then you are going to be scrambling to find someone to watch your kids so you don’t miss work.  Many people who have an aging parent that has moved in with them and are now using a caregiver have that same worry.  Hiring an individual caregiver means that you are the employer and if the caregiver calls in sick…you miss work or that tennis match you were supposed to play in, or whatever you had on your schedule. Hiring an agency means you have the opportunity to have a backup plan.  Most agencies have caregivers whose job is to be a backup person.  They do not have regularly scheduled clients specifically so that they can be available to cover a shift if someone is sick. Now does this guarantee that the agency will be able to provide you with your perfect caregiver when your regular person is out?  Chances are good that the answer is more than likely "no".  This is usually because many clients are so attached to the caregiver who takes care of them day in and day out, that no one is seen as good enough. The important question to know is if the agency is going to do everything in their power to send a backup person to get you through the day. 

The advice I always give is to please be flexible with someone who is filling in.  They aren’t going to automatically know how your mom or dad likes things done and they aren’t going to know where everything is.  Often times they may have to move the schedule away from the normal visit times.  These issues are pretty typical so a little flexibility can go a long way to making the shift go by with ease. 

As for emergencies, you can never go wrong with an agency that cares about both their clients and employees.  Weather is the typical emergency most caregivers will face when it comes to scheduling. If bad weather is the problem,the agency should have a plan in place that they can inform caregivers what to do.   Usually the instruction is to "stay put".  This allows the agency to know that their employees are not on the road and are safe either coming in late for clients who can be flexible on scheduling or by staying late at a client’s home if it is too dangerous to drive home. Safe employees and clients are always more important that keeping to the schedule.

#11 Problem resolution if an issue arises with the agency or caregiver.

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#3 Are the agency’s caregivers employees or independentcontractors? (You might want an agency that knows its employees, not one thatjust acts as an employment agency.)

We at Synergy Homecare of North Georgia hire all of our caregivers as employees.  You may be thinking to yourself,"why does this matter?" The reason it matters is quite simply,you want your loved one cared for by the best possible person you can get. When Synergy Homecare hires a caregiver we go through an extensive process with every applicant of interviews and vetting that person to make sure they are someone we feel comfortable in allowing to work with your mom or dad.  As more than an employment agency, we get to know our caregivers personally. This way we can hand pick which caregiver has the best personality and skill set for your family, not just who is willing to take a particular shift. 

        Additionally,when hiring an agency who hires their employees directly, you can avoid some of the pitfalls of using a staffing agency.  The biggest pitfall is replacements.  Most people do not find the "perfect fit" caregiver right out of the gate.  With a senior care agency like Synergy HomeCare,you can feel comfortable knowing that if the personalities of your loved one and the caregiver do not immediately gel, then you can call Synergy and we will try a different caregiver.  The satisfaction of our seniors, their families and the caregiver all must be taken into account and balanced. 

        Finally, with Synergy Homecare, you can feel safe knowing that all of the pricing, payments, insurance and any other financial matter flow directly through the agency.  You will never be pressured by an aide to pay them directly as with some staffing agency caregivers.  Families need to have the burdens and stresses associated with elder care removed from their shoulders, not made more complicated.  Hiring an agency that takes the time and effort to put together a team of employees all working toward a common goal of improving the quality of life for their clients is the way to achieve actual help for seniors and their families.

The next installment will focus on checking out the backgrounds of caregivers.

#4 Are caregivers bonded and insured? (They should be.)#5 What type of criminal screenings does the agency run on its caregivers?

If you have missed the first 2 questions follow these links:

#1 Is the Agency a Licensed Non-Medical HomeCare Agency?

#2 Is the Agency locally owned and operated?

The post Avoid the pitfalls of hiring a senior staffing agency by hiring an agency that hires employees and does not use contract caregivers. appeared first on SYNERGY HomeCare of Suwanee.