Location, location, location! Some would say that’s the motto for real estate; however, it’s the same for healthcare. Elderly individuals that need long-term care must choose how and where they will spend their aging years. That choice isn’t easy, and it often depends on their well-being and family situation.
As the elderly age, they will most likely require some type of long term care assistance. Long term care includes medical and non-medical services and support for patients with a chronic illness or disability. When planning future residency as a senior, the following should be taken into consideration: physical and medical needs, home maintenance, social needs, emotional needs and financial needs. http://www.helpguide.org/articles/senior-housing/senior-housing-options.htm
These are tough decisions that need to be made so that the proper care can be provided. Once a location is determined, care arrangements need to be put in place to ensure the senior’s safety and happiness. As a caretaker or provider agency, your goal is to deliver the best quality of care to the patient regardless of his or her location. It’s your responsibility to care for the patient based on his or her current state; it’s also your duty to ensure proper communication between the patient, family and caregivers to confirm the plan of care is being met.
A patient may require different types of services, therefore it’s important that you determine the services in which your agency is qualified to better position your agency in the market. Not all providers can perform every service. For example, some agencies specialize in hospice care, some in medical care and some in non-medical care.
Tips that can help your agency succeed:
- Determine the services in which you have the best outcomes and success; focus on cases for patients that require those services
- Ensure you have the proper staff available for new cases
- Set forth ongoing mandatory training for your staff to assure they are up to date on the newest procedures
- Follow up with patients on a weekly basis to make sure their needs are being met, if they are satisfied with their caretaker, and if there is anything else you can do to better assist them
- Streamline the key daily operations; eliminate paper timesheets and automate your processes to ensure accuracy, accountability and compliance in order to increase cash flow
Don’t be afraid to ask the patient or family to share their experience with you. Client testimonials go a long way in helping individuals choose a provider. Patients and family feel more at ease hearing first hand from others that have gone through a similar situation. It all comes down to helping the patient; helping to choose the right location, the right provider, and the right plan of care. We want them to feel comfortable and happy with their services.
