How to find in-home help for dad?

[Blue_playwright]

He’s still doing what he wants at nearly 90. Mowing, cleaning, cooking... he’s a fantastic driver and until my mom died last year, was mentally at about 95%, just forgot a few things occasionally. In the last year, he’s started forgetting things, losing words and names, the normal senior stuff. He recognizes it and has me go over important papers and bills.

He was on the roof last week cleaning gutters and sealing his screened in porch roof. 🙄 Told me later that night. But I’ve decided that if he keels over mowing his lawn, painting his cabin or falls off a roof then he’s gone on his own terms doing what makes him happy.

We aren’t to the point of needing help yet, but I am researching and unless he has a catastrophic fall, I plan to keep him in his home as long as I can. We may move in, if needed. It’s the least I can do for the grumpy old bastard.

So, who has used the big national in-home companies? Any recommendations or places to steer away from? My aunt was in a Catholic facility (and it didn’t burn down with the Baptist moving in) and I want him to be there if worst comes to worst. (At nearly 90, I see being in a home worse than death and he does, too.)

Thank you!

[DeminPennswoods]

1. Medicare now covers home health care

Don't know what state you are in, but it seems states are moving toward paying for care at home rather than in nursing homes, too. Medicare will pay for hospice care at home as well.

My dad was similar to yours, always doing, until he couldn't. If it means anything, I applaud you for trying to keep your dad at home.

[Blue_playwright]

2. I should have mentioned it...

He has railroad union retirement pension and fantastic insurance. Few restrictions on elder care. Mom’s last three months cost more than a quarter million dollars- Dad paid $250 for some fancy new medicated shakes. And they have now added those shakes to their coverage after dealing with Mom and at least one other railroad wife in the past year.

So money is literally no object. Thank goodness for unions.

[DeminPennswoods]

3. Ironic

My dad was also retired RR under RR retirement, but covered under my mom's teacher's union insurance.

[Blue_playwright]

5. It's a good retirement. We've had few worries!

Nt

[deek]

4. Local college?

I have recruited people from our college by posting flyers. CNAs or nurses in training make terrific in-home care workers. Sometimes people who are not in those fields work out extremely well too. It depends upon their personality and work ethic, which you can try to assess during an interview.