Long Island, found in the southeast section of the state of New York, is the longest island in the conterminous United States with a length of 118 miles from New York Harbor to Montauk Point. With its majestic scenery, white sand beaches, and beautiful weather, Long Island is currently home to almost 40 percent of people in the state.
While the majority of Long Island residents are young people, about a quarter of the population are senior citizens. Some of the individuals from the aging group are living out their lives as they enjoy their retirement. Unfortunately, some are gradually losing their memory and suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Memory Care Assisted Living facilities provide specialized care for seniors facing memory problems like Alzheimer’s disease.
Statistics show that around 390,000 people in the whole state are suffering from AD, and if your loved one is one of them, you may be in the process of looking for the right Alzheimer’s in-home care in Long Island. To guide you in getting the appropriate help, consider the following pointers:
Identify Care Needs
Before you ask around or start calling agencies that provide home-based care, it’s best to take the time to think and list down specific care needs. Does your loved one have special meal requirements? How about his/her toileting and personal hygiene needs?
Apart from identifying care needs, you should also make a list of what you expect the caregiver to provide. Knowing your needs and expectations beforehand will be helpful when you’re screening potential care providers and agencies.
Seek Recommendations from Trusted People or Organizations
Ask your friends, colleagues, or relatives if they know senior care agencies that provide in-home assistance. You can also ask your family doctor, pastors, and other prominent members of your community for referrals. Inputs from people you know well and who have experienced what you’re going through can help make the journey more bearable.
Conduct Phone Screening
Collect the contact numbers of care agencies referred to you and those you found online and screen them by talking to their representatives on the phone first. Learn more about the agency and its operation by verifying the following:
- The number of years in the caregiving business
- Licenses and accreditation
- The quality control system in place
- Services that make them stand out
Given that you will be entrusting your vulnerable loved one to one of the agency’s caregivers, you should try to learn more about how they hire their personnel. Find out if the provider conducts criminal background and reference checks, and if they verify the personnel’s experience and certifications. You can also ask if the firm is open to connecting you with their former and existing clients so that you can learn more about the senior care provider.
Make a Shortlist and Do Interviews
Eliminate all the senior care providers that seem dubious based on the results of the phone screening and make a shortlist of the agencies you believe have the potential to provide excellent care. Call each one and request them to send a caregiver for an interview in your own home.
This step is crucial since you will have the chance to meet them face to face, ask questions, and observe their demeanor and body language. You can also show them around and see how they interact with your loved one. Note that you can learn a lot from talking to someone than by merely reading their bio on paper.
Choosing a trustworthy provider of Alzheimer’s in-home care in Long Island requires careful consideration and attention. Make sure that your aging loved one receives the best level of care by considering the tips mentioned above.
