Advances in the quality of life for seniors are being delivered by a relatively new concept allowing them to maintain their independence and comfort of living in their own homes. This is commonly known as elder home care.
The notion of a “concierge” is growing as a desirable option for seniors and their adult children. For years, support alternatives for seniors were either: a.) leave for a retirement center, or 2.) move into the home of an adult child. And while those are not necessarily negative options, experts agree seniors remaining in their own home as long as possible is the most desirable arrangement.
Real Life Experience
I not only agree with that conclusion, but also have personal experience on the subject of elder home care.
Along with my sister, who lives on the east coast, we were looking for an arrangement to help our mother who lives in Dallas to enjoy her golden years. With my sister thousands of miles away and me having personal and professional obligations, it did not make sense for mom to move in with me. But more importantly, she did not want to leave her home. There were too many memories, too many comforts and a feeling of independence.
But she was also faced with challenges making life more difficult like driving to appointments and running errands, staying on top of home maintenance and upkeep, preparing meals, paying bills and other administrative tasks. Through our research, we found senior concierge services were becoming more popular. The concierge is available to the senior client to provide support according to their desires, needs and schedules.
As I did my homework, I found myself not only intrigued by the concept, but also by the idea of developing my own company that served seniors. More than just running errands, I wanted to provide a menu of options that helped seniors with health needs, financial management, nutrition, home repair, travel and more. Seeing a need not only for my mother, but other seniors across the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex, I created Elderly Care Concierge. Our business is built on the concept of three different service levels to meet the requirements of the client and their adult children, who themselves are seeking reassurance that the needs of their parents are being met.
Personal Decisions
Decisions regarding our loved ones are extremely personal and not necessarily beholden to a universal checklist. Whether it is support from a concierge, moving in with a family member, living in a retirement community or a nursing home, the first step should be to do your homework and learn of the options. Talk with professionals who can outline the specifics including the financial commitments.
Specifically for a concierge, it is important to have a written contract of the services offered. The concierge company should be able to document the process on how it selects its concierge staff and assigns them to clients. Related to that, it is important to know how the company onboards its concierge team and builds the relationship with a client.
The concierge in most cases is a facilitator of services. They will utilize partner service providers to deliver support in such areas as home repairs, coordination of care, nutritional services, transportation, etc. Again, clients should ask questions as to how those partners are selected and what controls exist to ensure high quality performance.
Lastly, the element of responsiveness in an elderly home care arrangement is paramount. There could be situations where a client needs immediate or timely response to an issue. How quickly can the concierge align the appropriate service? What is the response time to a client call, email or text? Is the concierge accessible 24/7 and on weekends?
Elder Home Care Gaining in Popularity
Concierge-type relationships are proving to be well-received. Seniors remain in their homes and maintain an independent lifestyle. When issues do arise, they have timely support at their disposal. For the adult children, especially those who do not live in the same city as their parents, there is peace of mind delivered through the concierge relationship.
There are many measures of a successful concierge relationship, but to me the best one is the smile I see on my mother’s face and the sparkle in her eyes because she is enjoying a quality lifestyle with the help of a concierge.
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