Individuals with disabilities sometimes require ongoing medical care. Some need supervision and support with daily functions, like hygiene practices and the maintenance of their homes. Others require more extensive support, such as medication administration or wound care.
Loved ones can seek professional assistance to meet the needs of adult family members. Families have several options available to them, including individual care providers or agencies. In this blog post, we will look at the pros and cons of each option.
Agencies offer some reliability
Families can turn to specialized support agencies that hire and dispatch care professionals. These providers can be privately hired or through benefit programs, such as Medicaid. Agencies can help provide continual support, regardless of timing challenges for individual employees or family members. Agencies attempt to have a roster of workers available to provide support to cover the needed time frames as well as possible back up workers. Agencies may also provide medical training to their workers, allowing them to provide more robust support services.
The drawbacks of working with an agency can include higher private pay costs and an ever-changing roster of workers due to low wages and other factors. At times there can be a shortage of caregivers, even for agencies.
Direct-hire caregiving is an option
Some families find an individual to work as a caregiver for a loved one with special needs. The caregiver might live with the supported individual or might spend a large portion of the day at the residence. These arrangements allow for a strong connection between the individual receiving support and the person providing it.
The downside to a single caregiver includes the lack of a backup in case the caregiver falls ill or has other obligations. Plus, there is a liability to hiring someone who is not insured or bonded.
There are challenges associated with both arrangements, as well as benefits that may work well for families in certain scenarios. Learning more about how to meet the needs of an adult with special needs can help ensure a better standard of living for the individual.