When you or your loved one have suffered an injury or health condition that requires additional recovery beyond a hospital stay, you may need assistance from family members, friends or even licensed professionals to function on a daily basis. In-home care is a great asset for many Illinois residents, but not every situation goes well.
Sadly, many of the nursing neglect problems that are present in assisted living facilities often cause problems in the home care environment as well. A key to avoiding such problems often lies in the research you do ahead of time. It’s also important to know where to seek immediate support if a problem arises.
What constitutes quality in-home care?
There are many types of in-home care. Not every service company provides the same types of support. Part of finding a system that’s a good a fit for your family’s needs is first determining what your exact needs happen to be. The following information may be useful in helping you research what types of issues are important in finding quality home care:
- As with many types of medical services, experience is important. One of the first things you’ll want to ask a prospective service provider is how long they have been in business.
- Another key factor is whether or not the company you’re considering hiring is licensed by the state of Illinois.
- Medicare issues may be high priority in your situation. If so, finding a Medicare certified agency will be a top goal as you seek in-home care for yourself or your loved one.
- While you may feel awkward asking the question, it is critical to learn whether or not anyone has ever filed a malpractice claim against the company you are considering for hire.
There is no such thing as a perfect in-home care service, just as there is no such thing as a perfect nursing home setting or hospital. However, you have the right to reasonably assume that in-home care providers will act according to the highest levels of accepted safety standards and protocol.
What if that doesn’t happen?
If you are one of many Illinois residents who suffer neglect, abuse or a legal problem in an in-home care situation, know first that you are not alone in your struggle, and there are support networks in place to help you seek justice.
