Home Healthcare Worker Checkup: Four Things To Look For When Evaluating Your Loved One's Care Worker

Once you've made the decision to hire a home healthcare worker to tend to your loved one's needs, you'll want to do an occasional checkup to make sure that adequate care is being provided. Here are a few things you should look for when you supervise the home healthcare worker.

Calm Bedside Manner

Having a calm, comforting bedside manner is critical for your loved one's well-being. Check to see how the worker interacts with your relative, and look to see if your loved one seems to feel comfortable throughout the visit. Your home healthcare worker should call the patient by his or her name during each visit, and he or she should be genuinely concerned about the patient's emotional and physical health. He or she should also be able to carry on a conversation with your loved one, as companionship is one of the many benefits of hiring a home healthcare worker. If you don't feel that your home healthcare worker is offering a good bedside manner, you may want to consider looking for a new worker.

Arrives On Time

Scheduling can be important for patients who need home healthcare. Your loved one may need to take medication at specific times, or he or she may have difficulty adjusting to changes in a routine. While being a few minutes late is sometimes acceptable, your home healthcare worker should not be late by a half-hour or more. If there is an issue with the caregiver arriving on time, you may be able to work with him or her to change the times of arrival each day to fit everyone's schedule. In some cases, the agency employing the home healthcare worker may reimburse you for billed hours if your caregiver is consistently late for each appointment.

Checks Your Loved One's Physical Condition

Your home healthcare worker should start each visit by doing a quick health assessment. This should include checking vitals, asking questions and generally looking over your loved one's current state. If there is an immediate concern, the caregiver should contact your loved one's physician to coordinate care and ensure your relative is receiving the proper doses of needed medications.

Performs All Duties As Assigned

Each home healthcare worker may provide different services depending on the needs of the patient and the terms of employment. You should remain in the home for the duration of the visit to ensure that all the services you are paying for are being provided. Your loved one's home healthcare worker may be responsible for meal prep, light housekeeping or personal assistance with bathing and toileting.

Even if you feel comfortable with the level of care your loved one is receiving, it is a good idea to do a periodic spot check on the home health care services being provided. This will help to give you peace of mind that your loved one is being cared for properly.