This article is by Michelle Allen, LCSW. Michelle is an experienced social worker and geriatric care manager based in Atlanta and is a featured expert providing guidance in our Helping Older Parents programs.
At some point, you may need to have someone help your older parent – or perhaps you – with care in the home.
So, what do you do when you need some more hands to help with housekeeping, meal preparation, dressing, transportation, medication management, etc.? How do you find qualified, reliable, kind, and trustworthy people?
About two-thirds of all help comes from unpaid caregivers — such as daughters, sons, and friends — and about one-third of all help comes from paid caregivers.
It is easy to understand how you get a family member or friend to help — you usually just ask. But hiring a paid in home caregiver can be a bit more daunting.
In this article, I’ll explain what you need to know, to better understand your options and get the care that is needed.