The best source of home care support may depend on the unique needs of a home care client and his family. In many cases, the best source of home care is a family member or friend of the person who is in need of help. Such a person may provide not only care, but also loving attention. If this type of home care is not available, the support of an independent home care provider or agency may be helpful. Additionally, respite is a type of home care support that allows regular caregivers a break.
It is difficult to evaluate which source of home care support is the best, as each individual’s needs may be slightly different. In many cases, however, people prefer the care of close friends and family members. The idea with this type of home care support is that family members and friends are more likely to take good care of an individual because of the emotional bond that exists. For this reason, this type of home care support may be a person’s first choice. Additionally, a patient's loved ones often provide care for free.
If family members or friends are unavailable to provide home care support, people often turn to home care providers who offer care for a fee. For example, an individual may hire an independent provider as a personal companion for himself or a loved one. Sometimes people hire independent home care providers because their fees may be cheaper than those an agency charges. This is not always the case, however.
In some cases, an agency may provide the best home care support. Home care agencies typically provide various types of home care help. For example, they may offer companions, homemakers, certified nurse aides, and even registered nurses, depending on the needs of the client and his loved ones. Some people may prefer to hire an agency because it relieves them of having to hire and train an individual provider. Often, agencies take care of things that may prove confusing or difficult for a client, such as background checks and withholding payroll taxes.
In some cases, the best type of home care support is respite care. This type of care is intended to give regular caregivers a break. For example, if a person’s primary caregiver needs a day off, a respite provider will provide temporary care. Usually, a respite provider performs the same tasks as the client's normal caregiver.