How We Provide the Best Caregivers In Omaha

What does it take to become an A Place at Home Caregiver?

As many home care companies as there are around Omaha, what makes A Place at Home stand out from the rest? Maybe it’s that we’re locally owned; maybe it’s the CARE model (Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful, Ethical); maybe it’s our fabulous clients. Another reason APH stands out is that we’re a licensed company, and it’s not easy to become an APH Caregiver!

To become a part of our caregiving team, applicants first complete a phone interview. These include questions about why they wanted to become a Caregiver and what CARE means to them. During the face-to-face interview, the questions become more in-depth where we learn more about the applicant. It’s critical that we make sure they’re a good fit for us, and that we’re a good fit for them.

During the three-hour orientation, Caregivers learn all about APH from the company’s history, to our values, our processes, and more. They also complete a drug test, build a profile with the schedulers, and meet one-on-one with our RN, Denise. Building a Caregiver profile helps us accurately match Caregivers with clients, and meeting one-on-one with Denise in the skills lab ensures that they’re ready to provide the best care. Also, if at any time our Caregivers want to brush up on a skill, they’re welcome to come into the office and work in the skills lab and get their questions answered.

Lastly, we do background checks on all of our employees. Each Caregiver has passed a criminal background check as well as an Adult and Child Protective Services check for both Nebraska and Iowa. We also check public registries and their license(s) to make sure there have been no disciplinary actions.

Once our Caregivers complete everything, they’re ready to serve our wonderful clients. This process we go through sets us apart from other home care companies. A Place at Home takes pride in what we do, and part of that ensures we to provide the best, most qualified Caregivers out there.

– Leigh Chaves, A Place at Home Recruitment and Retention Specialist

Determining the Type of Senior Living Community to Best Fit Care Needs

How do you know what type of care at a senior living community is the best fit for you or a loved one?

It can be confusing when you first seek out senior living alternatives.  Many prospective residents make this move from their home, but others are coming from the hospital, or more likely, rehabilitation centers.  Everyone has a different story.

If you or someone you know is making the move, this does not necessarily mean that this should be made straight to an independent community.  If driving is a concern, most communities offer transportation.  However, if you also need assistance with bathing, toileting, dressing, grooming, etc., then assisted living is probably the best option.

Each community offers apartments with a base rent plus a care plan otherwise known as ADLs (Activities of Daily Living).  These ADLs will be added to the resident’s care plan.  Each prospective resident is assessed usually within a couple of weeks before moving in.  Once the assessment is completed, the community will go over the ADLs and what that additional cost will be.

If you are assisting someone who needs memory support, there are some things to consider.  There are assisted living community options that have a separate secured memory unit and there are communities that are secured and can support assisted and memory.  There are also some communities that are equipped for memory only.

If you are seeking a community for someone that is only having slight memory issues, then assisted living may be the way to go.  However, it’s a good idea to make sure that the community has memory support for when that time comes.  Many memory units or memory communities often offer an all-inclusive price.  They will still have someone from the community do an assessment before the move, but it will be solely to determine what ADLs that the resident will need.  Either way, the price will be the same.

If you or someone you know is seeking a senior living community, please call me so that I can be your senior living concierge.  The Senior Living Alternatives service is always free to families, and our knowledge of the various options and communities that might best fit your situation can be a huge time saver while providing you with the peace of mind that you or your loved one will receive the care they need.

 

Upcoming Events: Free Workshops on Ways to Pay for Senior Care and Caregiver Burnout

Join us for two free informational workshops this month.

June 21 – Ways to Pay for Senior Care – 3:30 p.m. at Swanson Library 9101 W. Dodge Road

June 29 – Caregiver Burnout – 2:00 p.m. at Primrose Retirement Community 1801 E. Kanesville Blvd. Council Bluffs

Read on for more information about each workshop. Anchor

Ways to Pay for Senior Care

How much will your health affect your retirement savings? Almost 70 percent of Americans who reach 65 will be unable to care for themselves at some point without assistance.  Learn about the costs associated with senior care and what kinds of programs from insurance to government assistance to getting creative with your own money can ensure you receive the care you need.     Anchor

Caregiver Burnout

There are more than 34 million unpaid caregivers providing care to adults over the age of 18 who are ill or have a disability. This can be emotionally and physically taxing on those that provide care. In fact, in a survey given to family caregivers, over 50 % responded that they do not have time to take care of themselves and 49% said they were too tired to do so.  Caregiver burnout is real. Learn more about recognizing the signs of caregiver burnout and how you can take care of yourself while taking care of a loved one.

If you are looking for a loving, caring option for keeping your loved one at home or in the place they call home, call us, we’d like to help make a difference in your life. A Place at Home provides a range of at home services, as well as advocacy, care coordination, and senior community placement to seniors in communities around Omaha and Council Bluffs.

Here’s to Positive Feedback!

We love hearing about how our clients and families feel about the care they receive from our A Place at Home team.

And while we believe that our Caregivers are the best, it feels great to hear it directly from our clients.  Here are some recent testimonials that we’d like to share.

Peace of mind

I finally have peace of mind knowing I have excellent in-home care from APH helping my 90yr old mom, Genevieve, with dressing, meals, baths and general companionship. APH makes it possible for my mom to remain at home, feeling safe and secure and enjoying the quality of life she deserves. I’m also extremely thankful for the Veteran’s Benefit hours my mom receives that Chris Cummings introduced to us. Thank you APH! – Betty M.

Putting needs first and foremost

I had tried several agencies and was about to give up on finding care for my mother when I found A Place At Home.  I gave them a try and it has been a very successful experience.  The Caregiver is very involved and caring, putting my mother’s interests and needs first and foremost.  Everyone in the company has been genuinely involved and goes the extra yard to make sure anything and everything regarding my mother is taken care of and cared for.  No matter the concern, however trite or huge, the staff works diligently to solve the situation and make certain that my mother (and I) are satisfied with the results and the services.  This company is truly client oriented. – Lisa V.

Feels good to be safe

We look forward to your constant care that we receive. It feels good to be safe. – The B**** Family

Thank you to all the families that we are allowed to care for.  If  we’ve made a positive impact on one of your loved ones, let us know! A Place at Home is proud to practice our “We are CARE” philosophy every day in everything we do.  CARE is Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful and Ethical.