Many residents of Torrance and the South Bay have long found shopping for home care services challenging. After all, caregivers are individuals with unique strengths and weaknesses. So, the steps necessary for finding the right solution are different from those taken when buying a predictable product, such as a television or car. In addition, families have also struggled with finding the “right” agency operation in terms of customer service, reliability, and general flexibility.
Unfortunately, shopping for home care has become even more difficult due to COVID-19 and caregiver/nurse shortages. And this comes right as demand increases. More families are seeking in-home care as an alternative to senior living communities, which are vulnerable to virus outbreaks.
With these considerations in mind, here are tips that will increase the chances of success for families seeking home care in the days to come:
Prioritize Hospital & Healthcare Referrals
The South Bay is home to many caregiver agencies, so forming a “short list” of options can prove daunting. But there are smart ways to help narrow the field. One of the best is to prioritize companies that are referred by respected healthcare professionals, such as hospital case managers, social workers, discharge planners, and doctors.
Some hospitals, including Torrance Memorial, have lists of pre-screened caregiver providers. While the hospital doesn’t endorse any one company or guarantee a positive experience, the vetting process at least ensures listed agencies meet certain minimum requirements. These include the all-important confirmation of state licensing and insurance coverages (work comp, liability, and bonding).
Beyond lists, individual hospital and healthcare workers sometimes recommend specific agencies. These referrals should be taken seriously and are usually done with the best of intentions. Reputable companies don’t incentivize medical workers for referrals. And most medical professionals are careful to refer with integrity, refusing gifts and financial incentives.
Shop Local
Los Angeles County is home to dozens of caregiver agencies. But families living in Torrance, the Beach Cities, the South Bay, and Palos Verdes should know caregiver proximity matters. In other words, it pays to “shop local” when selecting a home care provider.
Some agencies have “ghost offices” with mailing addresses but no local operation. They will even create phone numbers with local area codes to complete the mirage. But if they don’t actively screen and hire local caregivers, as does BrightStar Care of Torrance, their faux regional presence is of no practical use to potential patients and families.
Caregiver reliability is critical to home care clients. And with COVID-19 cases at an all-time high, guaranteeing reliability is more challenging than ever before! One of the best ways to ensure aides show up to work on time every day is to assign them to shifts near their homes. Generally, families should be skeptical of caregivers who live more than 10 or 15 miles away.
Be Skeptical
Most South Bay home care agencies are mission-focused and genuinely care for the well-being of their patients. In fact, many, such as BrightStar Care of Torrance, actively cooperate with each other to maximize resources amid COVID-19 and caregiver shortages. However, not all companies operate with the same ethos.
If a home care agency representative seems to say, “Yes,” to everything without giving a thoughtful response when answering questions, she may be more sales focused than care focused. In other words, there are companies that over-promise and under-deliver. And such a practice ultimately hurts patients and their families due to poor caregiver reliability and quality of care.
The best way for families to avoid such an unfortunate scenario is to ask direct questions, including:
Asking prospective home care companies direct questions (as described above) promotes clarity and sets realistic expectations for all involved parties. But families should also try their best to provide an accurate caregiver schedule. Obviously, schedules change and can be amended. But competent home care agencies will want to have an idea of the schedule in order to provide an accurate assessment of their staffing capabilities.
Families should know that most caregivers regard their work as a “profession.” So, they are often reluctant to accept short shifts and intermittent assignments. While patients and their loved ones ultimately pay for the service are considered the customers, caregiver expectations still matter. After all, no agency can provide services without willing aides to deliver the care.
Historically, caregivers have desired shifts that are six hours or longer, with weekly schedules that include three or more days of care. And with COVID-19, many home care aides today are even more reluctant to work short shifts. After all, the risk for virus transmission is greatly diminished when visiting fewer high-hour clients versus many short-hour clients.
Read Reviews
These days, most people read online reviews before making big purchases. Many even research restaurants and hair stylists, not wanting to role the dice on lunch or personal appearance. So, families and patients seeking home care in Torrance and the South Bay should exercise at least similar due diligence when vetting caregiver agencies.
Online reviews are a terrific start, with Google probably being the most credible. But agencies also usually have “testimonials” on their websites. These are often more detailed and may even reference patients with similar diagnoses and needs, which can prove especially helpful. Finally, a caregiver company’s social media pages, particularly Facebook, can provide insight on its general standing within the community.
Final Considerations
Despite the challenges, most home care agencies ultimately view patients and their families as “customers” and want to accommodate their requests. However, all in-home care providers are between a rock and a hard place when it comes to staffing resources. Caregiver shortages are a real phenomenon—especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Families are therefore wise to do their homework by researching home care agencies and asking representatives direct questions.
If you’re seeking caregiver services for a loved one or patient in the South Bay, be sure to contact BrightStar Care of Torrance today for a free assessment from our Director of Nursing (Registered Nurse)!
Unfortunately, shopping for home care has become even more difficult due to COVID-19 and caregiver/nurse shortages. And this comes right as demand increases. More families are seeking in-home care as an alternative to senior living communities, which are vulnerable to virus outbreaks.
With these considerations in mind, here are tips that will increase the chances of success for families seeking home care in the days to come:
Prioritize Hospital & Healthcare Referrals
The South Bay is home to many caregiver agencies, so forming a “short list” of options can prove daunting. But there are smart ways to help narrow the field. One of the best is to prioritize companies that are referred by respected healthcare professionals, such as hospital case managers, social workers, discharge planners, and doctors.
Some hospitals, including Torrance Memorial, have lists of pre-screened caregiver providers. While the hospital doesn’t endorse any one company or guarantee a positive experience, the vetting process at least ensures listed agencies meet certain minimum requirements. These include the all-important confirmation of state licensing and insurance coverages (work comp, liability, and bonding).
Beyond lists, individual hospital and healthcare workers sometimes recommend specific agencies. These referrals should be taken seriously and are usually done with the best of intentions. Reputable companies don’t incentivize medical workers for referrals. And most medical professionals are careful to refer with integrity, refusing gifts and financial incentives.
Shop Local
Los Angeles County is home to dozens of caregiver agencies. But families living in Torrance, the Beach Cities, the South Bay, and Palos Verdes should know caregiver proximity matters. In other words, it pays to “shop local” when selecting a home care provider.
Some agencies have “ghost offices” with mailing addresses but no local operation. They will even create phone numbers with local area codes to complete the mirage. But if they don’t actively screen and hire local caregivers, as does BrightStar Care of Torrance, their faux regional presence is of no practical use to potential patients and families.
Caregiver reliability is critical to home care clients. And with COVID-19 cases at an all-time high, guaranteeing reliability is more challenging than ever before! One of the best ways to ensure aides show up to work on time every day is to assign them to shifts near their homes. Generally, families should be skeptical of caregivers who live more than 10 or 15 miles away.
Be Skeptical
Most South Bay home care agencies are mission-focused and genuinely care for the well-being of their patients. In fact, many, such as BrightStar Care of Torrance, actively cooperate with each other to maximize resources amid COVID-19 and caregiver shortages. However, not all companies operate with the same ethos.
If a home care agency representative seems to say, “Yes,” to everything without giving a thoughtful response when answering questions, she may be more sales focused than care focused. In other words, there are companies that over-promise and under-deliver. And such a practice ultimately hurts patients and their families due to poor caregiver reliability and quality of care.
The best way for families to avoid such an unfortunate scenario is to ask direct questions, including:
- How has COVID-19 affected your ability to staff cases?
- Do you now have hourly minimums?
- Will the caregiver drive and run errands?
- Can your caregivers perform more demanding duties, such as incontinence care, help with toileting, and transfer assistance?
Asking prospective home care companies direct questions (as described above) promotes clarity and sets realistic expectations for all involved parties. But families should also try their best to provide an accurate caregiver schedule. Obviously, schedules change and can be amended. But competent home care agencies will want to have an idea of the schedule in order to provide an accurate assessment of their staffing capabilities.
Families should know that most caregivers regard their work as a “profession.” So, they are often reluctant to accept short shifts and intermittent assignments. While patients and their loved ones ultimately pay for the service are considered the customers, caregiver expectations still matter. After all, no agency can provide services without willing aides to deliver the care.
Historically, caregivers have desired shifts that are six hours or longer, with weekly schedules that include three or more days of care. And with COVID-19, many home care aides today are even more reluctant to work short shifts. After all, the risk for virus transmission is greatly diminished when visiting fewer high-hour clients versus many short-hour clients.
Read Reviews
These days, most people read online reviews before making big purchases. Many even research restaurants and hair stylists, not wanting to role the dice on lunch or personal appearance. So, families and patients seeking home care in Torrance and the South Bay should exercise at least similar due diligence when vetting caregiver agencies.
Online reviews are a terrific start, with Google probably being the most credible. But agencies also usually have “testimonials” on their websites. These are often more detailed and may even reference patients with similar diagnoses and needs, which can prove especially helpful. Finally, a caregiver company’s social media pages, particularly Facebook, can provide insight on its general standing within the community.
Final Considerations
Despite the challenges, most home care agencies ultimately view patients and their families as “customers” and want to accommodate their requests. However, all in-home care providers are between a rock and a hard place when it comes to staffing resources. Caregiver shortages are a real phenomenon—especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Families are therefore wise to do their homework by researching home care agencies and asking representatives direct questions.
If you’re seeking caregiver services for a loved one or patient in the South Bay, be sure to contact BrightStar Care of Torrance today for a free assessment from our Director of Nursing (Registered Nurse)!