8 Reasons Why Having Two Home Care Companies for Your Parents is Best for Outcomes
November 29, 2024
When it comes to caring for aging parents at home, families often rely on professional home care agencies to provide assistance with daily tasks, medical needs, and personal care. While one home care company may seem sufficient, there are distinct advantages to having two home care companies involved in your parent's care. From ensuring continuity of care to improving accountability, here’s why choosing multiple agencies is a smart strategy for better outcomes.
Backup for Continuity of Care
Life is unpredictable, and home care agencies are no exception. Staff can call in sick, go on vacation, or face scheduling conflicts, which can disrupt your parent's care plan. By having two agencies involved, you ensure that there’s a backup in place if one agency is unable to fulfill its duties on a particular day.
A second company provides an automatic safety net. For instance, if one caregiver calls out sick or if an emergency arises, the second agency can step in immediately to avoid gaps in care. This prevents any disruption in your parent's routine, which can be especially important for seniors who thrive on consistency.Avoiding Staffing Shortages
ome care agencies sometimes face staffing shortages, particularly in areas with a high demand for caregivers. By having two companies, you diversify the pool of available caregivers. If one agency struggles to provide the needed support, the second company can help bridge the gap, ensuring your parent receives the required level of care without delay.
In addition, if one agency is unable to send caregivers with the specific skill set needed (e.g., memory care, mobility assistance), the second agency might have staff with the right expertise. This ensures that your parent’s care is customized to their evolving needs, without the risk of being compromised due to a lack of available staff.Compatibility Issues Between Caregivers
Sometimes, the dynamic between a caregiver and your loved one just doesn’t work. Personalities may clash, communication issues can arise, or the caregiver may not be as well-suited to your parent’s specific needs as you hoped. Having two home care agencies allows for greater flexibility in addressing compatibility issues.
If one caregiver isn’t working out, the second company can step in to provide a replacement, or perhaps even someone who better matches your parent’s preferences. This flexibility can make a huge difference in your parent’s emotional well-being, as they feel more comfortable with caregivers who align with their personality and needs.Checks and Balances for Quality Control
One of the strongest reasons for employing two home care agencies is the built-in checks and balances system it creates. When two separate agencies are involved in your parent’s care, they can report to each other and ensure that no task or responsibility is overlooked. This creates an important layer of oversight.
For example, one agency may track your parent’s daily activities and health status, while the other agency can conduct regular check-ins and report back on any changes or concerns. With this level of oversight, you reduce the likelihood of mistakes, neglect, or gaps in care. Additionally, caregivers from different agencies may notice issues that others might miss, leading to faster identification of any changes in your parent's health or behavior.Different Strengths of Agencies
Not all home care agencies are created equal. Some may specialize in medical care, while others focus on personal care or companionship. By working with two agencies, you get the best of both worlds — leveraging the strengths of each organization based on your parent’s needs. For example:
- Agency A might be known for providing excellent dementia and memory care services, while
- Agency B specializes in providing personal care and assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, and mobility.
This ensures that your parent is getting specialized care where it matters most, without having to settle for a one-size-fits-all approach.Providing a Layer of Accountability
When only one agency is responsible for your parent’s care, it can sometimes be harder to ensure that they’re meeting expectations. The risk of "overlooking" tasks or cutting corners may be higher when there is no one else to cross-check their work.
By having two agencies involved, you are effectively creating a layer of accountability. Both agencies are working toward the same goal — ensuring your parent’s safety, health, and comfort — but with independent oversight. Each agency can monitor the other’s work and ensure that tasks like medication administration, daily reports, and caregiver logs are being handled properly.Providing Greater Flexibility and Coverage
A second agency offers greater flexibility in scheduling. Sometimes, it’s difficult for one company to meet your exact care schedule needs due to their availability or staffing issues. With two agencies, you have a broader range of options when it comes to setting up shifts, especially if your parent requires care during non-traditional hours like evenings, weekends, or holidays.
The “More the Merrier” Approach
When it comes to providing the best care for your parent, the more resources and options you have, the better. Relying on just one company may limit the support available, but by integrating multiple agencies into the care plan, you can tap into the strengths of different organizations. Whether it's for providing backup care, offering diverse skill sets, or ensuring a safety net during emergencies, having more than one agency involved helps create a more robust, reliable system.
Moreover, this approach helps prevent any one agency from becoming complacent or “over-relying” on the trust you've placed in them. The presence of another agency encourages both companies to remain on their toes, constantly providing the best possible care.
While it may seem easier to work with a single home care agency, having two companies involved in your parent’s care is often the best option for ensuring high-quality outcomes. It provides the necessary backup for emergencies, ensures better compatibility between caregivers and seniors, and creates an important system of checks and balances to improve accountability.
In the end, the more resources and options you have, the better the care your parent will receive. It’s not about choosing between one or the other, but about combining strengths from multiple sources to create a well-rounded and effective care plan. After all, when it comes to your parent's safety and well-being, a “village” of care is always the best choice.
Want to learn more about Oxbow Health?
We hope this guide has been helpful in your search for the right care agency. At Oxbow Health, we're proud of how we measure up against these essential questions, and we'd love the opportunity to show you why we're different.
Our unique approach to home care, which we call "Flexible Care," is designed to address many of the common pain points in traditional home care services. We offer:
No minimum hours or long-term contracts
Consistent, highly experienced caregivers
Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
A family-centered approach to care
But more than that, we're committed to improving lives - not just for those receiving care, but for their entire families and our caregivers too.
We invite you to reach out and learn more about how Oxbow Health can make a difference in your life or the life of your loved one. Our team is always ready to answer your questions, discuss your specific needs, and explain how our approach to care sets us apart.
Ready to take the next step?
Call or text us at (480) 568-2138 to speak with one of our care specialists. We're here to listen, understand your unique situation, and show you how Oxbow Health can provide the flexible, high-quality care you deserve.
Remember, there's no obligation in reaching out. We're simply here to provide the information you need to make the best decision for you and your family. Let's start a conversation about better care today.