Finding Emergency Home Health Care: How to Hire an In-Home Caregiver Urgently

Unexpected accidents, sudden weight loss, and worsening medical conditions can jump-start your search for immediate home care as you work to address a loved one’s urgent health care needs. Emergency situations look different for every family, especially depending on your family member’s unique health condition.

What options do you have if you’re a live-in caregiver for a loved one with dementia but you’re scheduled to be out of town for work next week and need urgent respite care? If your parent is about to be released from the hospital after a serious surgery, are you equipped to handle their recovery, or do you need a trained professional to help with their rehabilitation? When life circumstances shift and you need home care now, time is of the essence.

Typically, agencies will work to meet urgent and even same-day requests, depending on the availability of their caregivers and the specifics of your situation. Most home health providers employ a 24-hour staff, with caregivers working different shifts around the clock.

Before kicking off your search, identify what it is you need from a caregiver. Are you looking for urgent care because your family member is:

• Losing their current caregiver unexpectedly? Family or hired caregivers may suddenly need time away, leaving you to fill the gap in a pinch. Some caregivers and agencies offer readily available, on-call support for urgent requests. Identify if you’re seeking immediate, short-term, or long-term home care.
• Recovering from an illness or injury? If you need help in the wake of an emergency situation, home health care is a great option. Home health aides are medically trained and often have focused expertise in rehabilitation and respite services. Some home care services have special plans designed to help seniors readjust to life at home after being released from the hospital.
• Managing an ongoing condition? Progressive diseases or illnesses become worse over time, leading to the need for advanced care. Home health caregivers often have different specialty areas, with expertise in providing support for people with cancer, diabetes, dementia, and more.

Let our care assessment guide you

There are multiple ways you can begin the search for a caregiver. While you might normally take matters into your own hands and scour the internet for weeks to explore care options, turning to experts for hiring support may be the fastest route in an emergency. To find in-home urgent care, you can:

• Work with A Place for Mom. Our Senior Living Advisors will seek to understand your family’s urgent needs, help you identify caregivers in your area, and can even arrange interviews. You can reach out at any time of the day or night, and a Senior Living Advisor will get back to you with personalized support.

  Working with A Place for Mom or a similar professional service will allow you to receive individualized guidance, so you can find the right solution in a timely manner. Our specialists have helped more than 2 million families find senior care, and we’re ready to do the same for you.
• Use a home care registry to find a private caregiver. Online caregiver registries or forums can help you find an independent caregiver. This option gives families direct control over who they hire and bring into their home.

  This method will likely take longer though, as you’ll have to wade through profiles, reach out to determine interest and availability, conduct background checks, and set up a payroll and tax system.
• Work with a home care agency. Agencies have access to large databases of caregivers and can match you with a caregiver in an emergency. Caregivers who are with an agency have likely already passed background checks and are certified professionals.

  Corporate home care agencies typically have the ability to fulfill urgent requests because they have a large staff with a wide range of scheduling availability. However, some home care services require a hospital or physician referral or completion of preadmission paperwork. Another aspect to consider is that agency pricing is often more expensive than working with an independent caregiver or care service — and their prices for same-day or on-call service may come with an even higher price tag.

Talk with a Senior Living Advisor

Although you’re in a rush to get in-home care now, make sure you’re looking in the right place to find a great caregiver. Because you’ll be welcoming a home care aide into your personal residence, it’s essential that you feel comfortable with your caregiver and that they’re a good fit for your family. Thinking through the following considerations will allow you to put together a quick but effective care plan.

Understand the types of home care

In-home care is often preferred by those who wish to age in place where they’re most comfortable, but need some additional day-to-day support. Caregivers will work with seniors and their families to create personalized plans that meet a client’s individual needs. Make sure you understand the differences between home care and home health care to identify what type of support your loved one requires.

Home care services include transportation, companionship, and assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). Generally, home care aides aren’t licensed to provide medical support. Caregivers can offer medication reminders, take care of light housekeeping tasks, and run errands.

Home health care services are provided by trained professionals and include medication management, specialty medical testing, and health condition monitoring. These agencies employ registered nurses, physical or occupational therapists, and other licensed aides. When you need help after an emergency, home health care is a great option because caregivers are trained in helping seniors recover from falls, surgery, or stroke.

After the uncertainty and upheaval of an emergency situation, home care and home health care companions can provide a calming and knowledgeable presence in your residence.

What to ask caregivers during interviews

You’ll want to make sure the home care aide you select has the appropriate skill set to match your loved one’s condition and has a schedule that aligns with your needs.

• Qualifications and certifications. Determine what skills or competencies a caregiver should have to provide urgent, tailored care. During your interviews, ask about any specific certifications that caregivers have and what trainings they’ve completed.

  Do they have training to respond to ongoing medical conditions? If you’re looking for someone who can support your parent as their dementia progresses, make sure they’re trained in memory care. Are they trained in emergency response and preparedness? If your family member requires medication management, confirm that an aide meets proper medical qualifications.

• Hours and scheduling. When seeking immediate home care, you’ll likely need a caregiver to start as soon as possible. Inquire about an urgent start date and find out what their upcoming availability looks like.

  If your parent is dealing with an ongoing condition that requires round-the-clock support, find out if caregivers can accommodate a full-time schedule. For respite care or rehab situations, determine how many hours a week you may need a caregiver’s help.

• Rates and insurance coverage. Ask for information about hourly rates and minimums to determine a schedule that fits your budget. On average, if a caregiver works 40 hours a week, the monthly cost of home health care will be $4,680, while the cost of home care is an estimated $4,506.^[01] When you need home care now, keep in mind that prices for same-day services may be higher than normal. Immediate service is often billed “per diem” or as a “shift” rate instead of at a company’s standard pricing.

  Home health services that are prescribed by a doctor are generally covered by Medicare and private insurance plans. Medicaid covers home care and home health care, though coverage rates will vary.

Managing a loved one’s care during a time of crisis can be extra stressful for a caregiver, but remember that you’re not alone. While home care may be the right solution for many families, some will discover that senior communities are better suited to fit their loved one’s needs. Many senior communities offer short-term stays for rehab care, so be sure to consider all the options available to you.

When Joy Harper from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, was told that her mother could no longer live alone due to progressive Alzheimer’s disease, she needed help fast. Joy connected with A Place for Mom and her search for care was instantly kick-started.

“My Senior Living Advisor was fantastic,” said Joy. “He sat and listened to what we needed and wanted, and within 90 minutes, a place was already calling to set up a virtual tour.”

Start your search today with one of our Senior Living Advisors. Our compassionate advisors are available at absolutely no charge and are ready to support you every step of the way.