It’s not an easy idea to wrap your brain around: How can I age well? Age isn’t a topic everyone wants to talk about, but doctors believe the more seniors talk about aging, the more they learn about how to stay healthy and active.
For some seniors it’s not just about a change in their stamina, and their mobility, it’s a change in their independent lifestyle. Many seniors should think about their future living situation. Is an adult facility the best choice? At what age should that change happen? What if you’re interested in home health care?
The Mayo Clinic has a list of questions for seniors and their families to look into if home health services are of interest.
- Is the agency licensed by the state? Most states — but not all — require agencies to be licensed and reviewed regularly. Reviews may be available on request through your state health department.
- Is the agency certified by Medicare to meet federal requirements for health and safety? If not, ask why.
- What type of employee screening is done? Can the agency provide references? Ask for a list of doctors, hospital discharge planners or other professionals who have experience with the agency, as well as a list of former clients. Ask doctors, family and friends for agency recommendations.
- Is the agency accredited by a governing agency such as The Joint Commission, an independent group that evaluates and accredits health care organizations and programs that voluntarily request review? If so, ask to see the results of the most recent survey.
The Mayo Clinic also suggests asking the following questions if a family is interested in a home health aide.
- What are the aide’s credentials? Make sure you’re comfortable with the aide’s training and experience.
- Can the aide provide references? Take time to check the aide’s references thoroughly. Ask doctors, family and friends for home health aide recommendations.
We specialize in providing our over 1,000,000 customers with relevant product and condition information created by our professional editorial staff which includes our team of medical writers, medical practitioners, and health educators. eDrugStore.com Staff on Facebook