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How Do You Deal with Elderly Home Care Problems?
Date Updated: December 9, 2024
Written by:
Sarah has produced thousands of articles in diverse niches over her decade-long career as a full-time freelance writer. This includes substantial content in the fields of senior care and health care. She has experience writing about wide-ranging topics, such as types of care, care costs, funding options, state Medicaid programs and senior resources.
Reviewed by:
Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a health care professional, researcher, and an experienced medical writer (2000+ articles published online and several medical ebooks). She received her MD degree from “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine, Romania, and her HD diploma from OCHM – Toronto, Canada.
You deal with elderly home care problems by discussing matters with seniors or in-home care providers, depending on the particular issue. Sometimes, problems arise from seniors’ behavior or cooperation with informal caregivers or agency staff. Other times, individuals have complaints about home care companies.
Issues Related to Older Adults
Diverse potential problems exist with elderly home care, ranging from safety and accessibility issues in a senior’s property to anger toward caregivers and aggressive behavior. Other issues may include managing dementia symptoms, loneliness, financial stress and inadequate caregiver training or support, particularly when family members provide informal care. Various solutions exist, depending on the issue. The following tips may help resolve home care problems:
- Install home modifications, assistive devices and alert systems, such as fall detection and anti-wandering technology.
- Attend caregiver training and participate in local support networks.
- Maintain open communications with older adults to address concerns.
- Consider respite care to avoid burnout.
- Seek professional support, such as professional in-home or home health care.
- Consider alternative settings — such as memory care units, nursing homes or assisted living communities — for seniors with cognitive impairment or medical needs.
- Find enrichment opportunities, for example, through senior centers.
Check benefits and apply for relevant funding.
Problems Concerning Home Care Providers
Sometimes, seniors feel dissatisfied with their home care agency. Issues may involve individual aides or overall agency management. Crucially, families should encourage open communication with their aging loved ones and agency staff to learn of any complaints as early as possible. Depending on the specific issue, these tips can resolve home care problems:
- Review care plans to ensure services fully meet an individual’s needs.
- Ask about staff training, qualifications and background checks.
- Visit frequently to check on your loved one.
- Discuss concerns with the provider’s administrator.
- Switch caregivers.
- Change home care providers.
Report negligence, neglect or abuse to local adult protection and law enforcement agencies.