Eldercare Review: Is Eldercare Legit or Scam?
Eldercare is a term that refers to the care and support of older adults, especially those who need assistance with daily living activities, health care, housing, and other needs. Eldercare can be provided by various sources, such as family members, friends, volunteers, professionals, agencies, and organizations. In this blog post, we will review some of the options and resources for eldercare, and evaluate whether they are legit or scam.
How Does Eldercare Work?
Eldercare can be delivered in different settings and formats, depending on the needs and preferences of the older adults and their caregivers. Some of the common types of eldercare are:
- Home care: This involves providing services and support to older adults in their own homes or residences. Home care can include personal care, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and medication management; homemaking, such as cleaning, cooking, laundry, and shopping; companionship, such as socializing, reading, playing games, and escorting to appointments; and skilled care, such as nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
- Adult day care: This involves providing supervision, socialization, recreation, meals, and health services to older adults who attend a center or facility during the day. Adult day care can help older adults who are isolated, lonely, or have cognitive or physical impairments to stay active and engaged. It can also provide respite and relief to family caregivers who need a break or have other obligations.
- Assisted living: This involves providing housing, meals, personal care, and supportive services to older adults who live in a residential community or facility. Assisted living can offer older adults more independence and privacy than nursing homes, but less than living alone. Assisted living can also provide access to social activities, transportation, housekeeping, laundry, and emergency assistance.
- Nursing home: This involves providing 24-hour nursing care, medical services, personal care, meals, and activities to older adults who live in a licensed facility. Nursing homes can cater to older adults who have complex or chronic health conditions that require constant supervision and intervention. Nursing homes can also provide rehabilitation services for those who are recovering from surgery or illness.
- Hospice care: This involves providing palliative care, pain management, emotional support, spiritual guidance, and bereavement services to older adults who are terminally ill and have a life expectancy of six months or less. Hospice care can be provided at home or in a facility. Hospice care can help older adults and their families cope with the end-of-life process with dignity and comfort.
Eldercare Review
There are many options and resources for eldercare in the United States. Some of the most reputable and reliable sources are:
- Eldercare Locator: This is a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging that connects older adults and their families to local services and programs for eldercare. The Eldercare Locator operates a national call center (800-677-1116) and a website (5) that provide information and referrals on topics such as housing, transportation, legal assistance, insurance, benefits, health, and caregiving.
- Eldercare Review: This is a print and digital magazine, website (1), and newsletter that provides timely and informative insights on developments in the eldercare space. The Eldercare Review features articles, interviews, case studies, and best practices from experts, leaders, and innovators in the field of eldercare. The Eldercare Review covers topics such as technology, analytics, infection control, hospice care, home care, assisted living, and nursing home.
- SeniorAdvisor.com: This is an online platform that provides reviews, ratings, photos, and pricing information for thousands of eldercare options across the United States. SeniorAdvisor.com allows older adults and their families to search for and compare assisted living communities, nursing homes, retirement communities, home care agencies, adult day care centers, and hospice providers. SeniorAdvisor.com also offers advice, guides, and resources on various aspects of eldercare.
Is Eldercare Legit or Scam?
Eldercare is not a scam but a legitimate and essential service for older adults who need assistance with their daily living activities, health care, housing, and other needs. However, not all eldercare providers are created equal. Some may offer high-quality and affordable services that meet the needs and preferences of older adults and their families; while others may provide low-quality or fraudulent services that exploit or harm older adults and their families.
Therefore, it is important to do some research and due diligence before choosing an eldercare provider. Some of the steps that can help older adults and their families find a trustworthy and suitable eldercare provider are:
- Identify the needs and goals of the older adult: This involves assessing the physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial situation of the older adult and determining what kind of care and support they need and want.
- Explore the options and resources for eldercare: This involves learning about the different types and settings of eldercare available in the local area and comparing their features, benefits, costs, and quality.
- Consult with experts and professionals: This involves seeking advice and guidance from health care providers, social workers, geriatric care managers, elder law attorneys, financial planners, and other experts who can help with the planning and decision-making process of eldercare.
- Visit and evaluate the eldercare providers: This involves visiting the potential eldercare providers in person or virtually and observing their facilities, staff, services, activities, policies, and procedures. It also involves asking questions, checking references, reading reviews, and verifying credentials and accreditations of the eldercare providers.
- Choose and monitor the eldercare provider: This involves selecting the eldercare provider that best meets the needs and goals of the older adult and their family; signing a contract or agreement that outlines the terms and conditions of the service; and monitoring the performance and satisfaction of the eldercare provider on a regular basis.
What Customers Are Saying
Here are some of the testimonials and feedback from customers who have used some of the eldercare options and resources mentioned above:
- Eldercare Locator: “The Eldercare Locator was very helpful in finding a local agency that could provide transportation for my mother to her doctor appointments. They also gave me information on other services that she might qualify for, such as meals on wheels and home health care. I am very grateful for their assistance.” – Mary, New York.
- Eldercare Review: “I subscribed to Eldercare Review after my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. I found the magazine very informative and insightful on the latest trends and innovations in eldercare. I especially liked the articles on technology, such as smart home devices, telehealth, and wearable sensors, that can help older adults stay safe and independent at home.” – John, California.
- SeniorAdvisor.com: “I used SeniorAdvisor.com to find an assisted living community for my mother who needed more care and supervision than I could provide at home. I was able to compare different communities based on their location, price, amenities, services, and reviews. I found a community that matched my mother’s needs and budget, and she loves it there. She has made new friends, enjoys the activities, and feels well cared for
