These days, it seems Americans are bombarded with endless advertisements for products and services. Some may be quite useful while others attempt to sell “elegant solutions to imaginary problems.” The time-tested “infomercial” medium is probably the best example of companies working to create needs that may or may not actually exist.
But when it comes to caregiver services in the South Bay, patient and family needs are quite tangible. A senior recently discharged from Torrance Memorial Medical Center or Little Company of Mary Hospital is likely to require the assistance of a home care aide. Professional caregivers not only help with activities of daily living (ADLs), but they also promote safety, medication adherence, and better patient outcomes.
With that said, even people seeking crucial healthcare services have options. Here’s why quality caregivers matter most when deciding between agencies.
Caregivers are the product
American society is very product-focused these days. People shop online, searching for the best prices on similar items. In fact, this shift in purchasing habits has led to a massive decline in brick and mortar businesses, while companies like Amazon grow at unprecedented scale. Some Americans even purchase cars online without going for a test drive!
But despite advances in technology and buying habits, home care services will always be personal and sensitive. And caregivers are, first and foremost, service oriented. These essential workers are the product, and their ability to care for patients and clients varies from individual to individual. Every single caregiver is unique, for better or worse.
Home care agencies have different hiring and vetting practices
But if caregivers are all unique, then how can one company suggest its care team is “better” than a competitor’s? There’s no perfect science, but hiring and vetting practices often provide clues for families seeking top-notch aides. These procedures are far from universal, and some agencies might even hire workers sight unseen.
At a minimum, families and patients seeking Torrance home care services should ensure agencies run nationwide background checks on applicants and verify past performance with references. More selective companies will also mandate prior professional experience and may require the completion of various training courses. Considering the current pandemic, some leading agencies, such as BrightStar Care, are also requiring COVID-19 testing upon hire.
Well-trained caregivers provide better quality of care
“Caregiver training” is a commonly-used term among South Bay and Beach Cities home care agencies, but the definition is by no means universal. Some companies are simply referring to discussions on administrative and procedural expectations (completing timesheets, etc.), while others are providing healthcare training with more tangible client/patient benefits. Agencies that fall into this latter category, such as BrightStar Care of Torrance, usually focus trainings on topics of “fall prevention,” “Alzheimer’s/dementia care,” and the proper use of home-based medical equipment.
In general, highly-trained caregivers provide value for all home care clients. But their extra knowledge is absolutely critical when assisting patients with serious diagnoses or cognitive challenges. Families seeking care for a bedbound loved one or someone with dementia, for example, should always ask detailed questions about an agency’s caregiver training program.
Caregiver reliability is critical to positive patient outcomes
Great home care aides should be knowledgeable and passionate about their work. However, those attributes alone are not enough to ensure great quality of care. Ultimately, these critical workers must also be reliable.
The best caregiver in the world cannot care for the well-being of her client if she’s constantly missing shifts.
Admittedly, it’s hard to vet an agency for caregiver reliability. However, families and patients can ask about a company’s re-staffing policy in the event of caregiver no-shows. They can also ask questions about caregiver accountability/discipline measures and whether there are systems in place designed to help promote caregiver reliability. BrightStar Care of Torrance, for example, has 24/7 availability that allows the office to re-staff shifts with substitute caregivers when necessary.
Attractive marketing won’t offset poor caregiver performance
Given the competitive climate, some agencies are now investing heavily in highly-polished marketing campaigns. There’s nothing wrong with promoting one’s business, and home care marketing is both appropriate and necessary. However, savvy families and patients must be careful to separate less substantive claims from tangible benefits.
Does the prospective agency highlight a “proprietary” technology that improves quality of care? Perhaps their claim is valid. But as previously discussed, it probably has far less impact than does their caregiver training and hiring systems. And a home care agency that highlights its philanthropy should be commended. But donations to the community are of little comfort to a patient who suffers a preventable fall due to caregiver negligence.
Conclusion
Ultimately, families and patients seeking a home care provider must remember the unique nature of caregiver services. These aides provide critical daily assistance that impacts lives on a very personal level. And unlike consumer goods, such as televisions and automobiles, caregivers are uniquely human with individual strengths and weaknesses. So, a home care agency’s value should always be measured by the quality of their care team!
If you’re seeking home care services for a family member, friend or patient, be sure to call BrightStar Care of Torrance today for a free assessment from our Director of Nursing (RN)!
But when it comes to caregiver services in the South Bay, patient and family needs are quite tangible. A senior recently discharged from Torrance Memorial Medical Center or Little Company of Mary Hospital is likely to require the assistance of a home care aide. Professional caregivers not only help with activities of daily living (ADLs), but they also promote safety, medication adherence, and better patient outcomes.
With that said, even people seeking crucial healthcare services have options. Here’s why quality caregivers matter most when deciding between agencies.
Caregivers are the product
American society is very product-focused these days. People shop online, searching for the best prices on similar items. In fact, this shift in purchasing habits has led to a massive decline in brick and mortar businesses, while companies like Amazon grow at unprecedented scale. Some Americans even purchase cars online without going for a test drive!
But despite advances in technology and buying habits, home care services will always be personal and sensitive. And caregivers are, first and foremost, service oriented. These essential workers are the product, and their ability to care for patients and clients varies from individual to individual. Every single caregiver is unique, for better or worse.
Home care agencies have different hiring and vetting practices
But if caregivers are all unique, then how can one company suggest its care team is “better” than a competitor’s? There’s no perfect science, but hiring and vetting practices often provide clues for families seeking top-notch aides. These procedures are far from universal, and some agencies might even hire workers sight unseen.
At a minimum, families and patients seeking Torrance home care services should ensure agencies run nationwide background checks on applicants and verify past performance with references. More selective companies will also mandate prior professional experience and may require the completion of various training courses. Considering the current pandemic, some leading agencies, such as BrightStar Care, are also requiring COVID-19 testing upon hire.
Well-trained caregivers provide better quality of care
“Caregiver training” is a commonly-used term among South Bay and Beach Cities home care agencies, but the definition is by no means universal. Some companies are simply referring to discussions on administrative and procedural expectations (completing timesheets, etc.), while others are providing healthcare training with more tangible client/patient benefits. Agencies that fall into this latter category, such as BrightStar Care of Torrance, usually focus trainings on topics of “fall prevention,” “Alzheimer’s/dementia care,” and the proper use of home-based medical equipment.
In general, highly-trained caregivers provide value for all home care clients. But their extra knowledge is absolutely critical when assisting patients with serious diagnoses or cognitive challenges. Families seeking care for a bedbound loved one or someone with dementia, for example, should always ask detailed questions about an agency’s caregiver training program.
Caregiver reliability is critical to positive patient outcomes
Great home care aides should be knowledgeable and passionate about their work. However, those attributes alone are not enough to ensure great quality of care. Ultimately, these critical workers must also be reliable.
The best caregiver in the world cannot care for the well-being of her client if she’s constantly missing shifts.
Admittedly, it’s hard to vet an agency for caregiver reliability. However, families and patients can ask about a company’s re-staffing policy in the event of caregiver no-shows. They can also ask questions about caregiver accountability/discipline measures and whether there are systems in place designed to help promote caregiver reliability. BrightStar Care of Torrance, for example, has 24/7 availability that allows the office to re-staff shifts with substitute caregivers when necessary.
Attractive marketing won’t offset poor caregiver performance
Given the competitive climate, some agencies are now investing heavily in highly-polished marketing campaigns. There’s nothing wrong with promoting one’s business, and home care marketing is both appropriate and necessary. However, savvy families and patients must be careful to separate less substantive claims from tangible benefits.
Does the prospective agency highlight a “proprietary” technology that improves quality of care? Perhaps their claim is valid. But as previously discussed, it probably has far less impact than does their caregiver training and hiring systems. And a home care agency that highlights its philanthropy should be commended. But donations to the community are of little comfort to a patient who suffers a preventable fall due to caregiver negligence.
Conclusion
Ultimately, families and patients seeking a home care provider must remember the unique nature of caregiver services. These aides provide critical daily assistance that impacts lives on a very personal level. And unlike consumer goods, such as televisions and automobiles, caregivers are uniquely human with individual strengths and weaknesses. So, a home care agency’s value should always be measured by the quality of their care team!
If you’re seeking home care services for a family member, friend or patient, be sure to call BrightStar Care of Torrance today for a free assessment from our Director of Nursing (RN)!