The elderly population in Hyderabad is growing and it can be difficult for children of elderly parents to find the best care for them. There are many services available for elder care services Hyderabad but it can be hard to know which is best for your parents. Maid Agency Hyderabad can help you find the best care for your parents. In this guide, we look at the different types of care available for elderly parents and how to find the best care for them.
As families in Hyderabad are changing from joint families to nuclear families, the elderly parents are left alone in their homes. Most of the kids are working in IT hub like Gachibowli, Madhapur, etc. Some of the siblings might be living abroad. So, in such a situation, it is very important to choose the right elder care services in Hyderabad.
What do your parents need?
We have put together some simple lists of tasks that your parents need help with on a daily basis. This will help you to find the right candidate for the job, as well as ensure that they can carry out all of the tasks that you expect of them. Also list out the things that they are able to do for themselves, as this will prevent any awkward moments when they find out that you have hired help for them for things that they are perfectly capable of doing themselves.
Daily routine help
Elderly people with independent lives can do with some help with daily routine tasks like bathing, dressing, cooking, reminding them to take medicines on time, etc. A full-time maid in Hyderabad with some experience with elderly people would be ideal for this. She can be with the elderly person the whole day and will be the first one to notice any change in behavior or health of the elderly person.
There are lots of little things that can make a big difference to an elderly person. For example, your father might like his dal a bit thinner. Your mother might like her tea made exactly the way she likes it, at 6 am in the morning. A good caregiver will learn these things and make the house feel like home for your parents.
Medical/mobility needs
As mentioned earlier, a maid can help with most of the daily routine activities of an elderly person, but she cannot provide any medical help to a person with serious health issues. In case your parent is recovering from surgery of the hip, suffering from advanced dementia, or is on regular medication and requires wound dressing, then a nursing attendant would be more suitable. However, a full-time maid in Hyderabad can be of help in such situations as well, provided she is assisted by a nursing attendant.
Company/Conversation
Many single seniors are lonely and would appreciate the company of a part time maid in Hyderabad to sit with them in the evening for a cup of tea, go for a walk in the park or even have a fight with them over the captaincy of a cricket match. A warm and caring person is better than an efficient one in such cases.
Full-time/Part-time/Live-in – How to choose?
As the independence of the elderly parent varies, so will the type of care required. Elder care for elderly parents who are mobile but require help with cooking, cleaning and a few hours of check-in every day, would be best catered for by a part-time maid in Hyderabad.
If your parent needs 24×7 care then full-time help or even live-in help would be required. However, for live-in help the caregiver would need a proper room, regular rest hours and a week off. It is very important that you arrange for enough leave for the caregiver and also have a back-up plan in place for her absence.
Things to look for in a caregiver
Experience with older people
Do they have experience in dealing with older people? Can they tell you about situations they have come across and how they dealt with them? Do they have experience in dealing with older people who have health problems like diabetes, Parkinson’s disease etc. and how they deal with the awkward situations that the elderly people create.
Patience/Temperament
The elderly can be stubborn, forgetful and repeat themselves over and over again. They may even refuse to take a bath on some days. A caregiver who loses her temper easily is not going to be able to care for your parents well. During the interview, you can observe how the caregiver reacts to difficult questions and how she handles the situation when you have to repeat yourself.
Verification/References
For live-in nurse attendants or full-time maids for general help, make sure to ask for police verification, ID proof and at least 2 references of people they have worked for in the past. If the agency or the caregiver is being defensive about the verification then it is better to avoid them.
Language/Cultural Fit
A person who speaks the language of your parents (Telugu, Hindi, Urdu etc.) and is well versed with their food habits, timings of prayers, etc. would be able to better care for them in times of illness when they are unable to express themselves.
Why agency is usually better than informal hiring
We have come across families who have employed maids through neighbors and friends and had a wonderful experience. However, there are many families who have had terrible experiences with maids who have failed to turn up on numerous occasions, left without any notice, etc. Agencies screen all candidates before sending them to your home and provide a replacement in case the caregiver is not up to the mark. Agencies are also available to sort out any issues that you may have with the caregiver.
Many Hyderabad elder care services are not transparent about their matching process. At Maid Agency Hyderabad we are not looking to fill a vacancy for a short period of time. We are looking for the right person for the job for your household for a longer period of time. You can speak to the person in charge of placement for your household at Maid Agency Hyderabad.
Questions to ask before you commit
Make a short list of questions you would like to ask when you are talking to the Hyderabad maid agencies for elder care services.
• Is police verification done? Can I see the paperwork?
• If the caregiver leaves or does not suit us, how fast do you arrange a replacement?
• Have you placed people with seniors with similar needs to those of my parent?
• What are the working hours, weekly off and leave arrangements?
• Is there a trial period?
• What are the charges, in writing, including any joining fee?
Get everything in writing. Verbal promises have a funny way of disappearing.
Think about the whole household, not just one person
Elder care does not just affect the person being cared for, it affects the whole household. In the case of independent houses or quiet colonies, it is also important to consider who is at the gate to let people in. Many families with elderly parents also employ home security staff in Hyderabad such as a watchman or night guard to help the elderly parents who are at home alone.
A babysitting maid service in Hyderabad would be better for young grandchildren in the family rather than the elder care caregiver looking after the kids as well. A full time maid in Hyderabad can be hired for personal care of the elderly and a part time maid in Hyderabad can be hired for cooking and cleaning.
Set up your caregiver for success
Make the first week gentle
Help the new person in the house adjust in the first week. Show her where the medicine box is, where the kitchen is, write down the doctor’s number and other emergency numbers. Let her know that you expect her to treat your parents with the same patience and love that you would.
Stay in touch
Keep in touch with your caregiver on a daily basis. Have a quick call every evening, write down important information in a notebook, such as details of medicine and meal timings, and have a family WhatsApp group to keep each other updated. Drop in unannounced once in a while to see how things are going. Pay on time, give the caregiver proper breaks and say thank you every now and then. Your parents will benefit from the same caregiver over a long period of time.
Red Flags You Shouldn’t Ignore
• Your parent seems anxious or unusually quiet around the caregiver
• Medicines are missed or mixed up
• Cash or small valuables go missing
• Frequent unexplained absences
• The caregiver discourages visitors or phone calls
One sign alone isn’t a verdict. A pattern, though, deserves a conversation, and sometimes a change.
A Word on Budget
Cost of Elder Care Services Hyderabad varies as per the hours of care required, level of care, experience of the caregiver, whether the caregiver is living in or not. Avoid the cheapest quote as the agency might be cutting corners on several things including verification, training and fair pay to the caregiver. Get a clear breakdown of the costs and compare a few options to zero in on the one that best suits your requirements.
Final Thoughts
There is no perfect caregiver and no perfect arrangement. You just have to find the one that fits your family best. Take your time, ask as many questions as you need to, and trust your gut if something doesn’t feel right. If you would like to discuss the care of your parents, we at Maid Agency Hyderabad would be more than happy to help you find the right elder care services Hyderabad for your parents.
Read more: How to Choose the Best Elder Care Services in Hyderabad
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my parents need a caregiver?
You can look for signs of neglect such as meals being missed, medicine not being taken on time, house being in a mess, bruises on the body, increased confusion etc. Even a few of these signs are enough for you to talk to your parents and their doctor about the need of a caregiver.
Can a maid look after an elderly person with dementia?
A trained domestic helper can manage the daily routines of a senior citizen with dementia. However, for more advanced stages of the disease, specific care is required. You can inform the agency about the diagnosis and ask for a caregiver who has had experience in dealing with similar cases.
Is a part-time helper enough for a senior who lives alone?
This is possible if your parents are able to move around, are mentally alert and are comfortable with being alone for most of the day. If they have had falls in the past or are suffering from memory loss then a full time maid in Hyderabad or even a live-in arrangement would be best for them.
What if the caregiver doesn’t suit us?
It is possible that the caregiver that you have hired for your parents may not be suitable for them. In such a scenario, you can ask the agency for a replacement of the caregiver. This is why it is important to ask the agency about their replacement policy before you hire the caregiver.
Do I really need police verification?
Yes. It is a must. A stranger is going to be living in your house with your parents. You need to be sure that they are of good character and will not harm your parents in any way. Always ask to see the police verification report of the caregiver before you hire them.
