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Home Care Agency Screening
If you are looking for home care via a home care agency, this checklist will help you judge the quality and scope of services provided when you contact an agency in your community.

Aranging for Live-In Care
One of the most cost-effective and flexible arrangements for home care can be finding someone to live with your loved one. If there is a spare room in the family home, this can be a viable option for some caregivers.

Your provision of room and board will considerably off-set the overall cost of care. You might want to check your newspaper housing section for the going rate for a room rental. You can then establish wages based on a reasonable hourly rate or a monthly stipend.

Hiring a Home Care Worker
You can find a home care worker from a variety of sources including a home care agency, local registry or independent living center. You can also advertise for a home care worker in the help wanted or classified section of a local newspaper, use Craigslist.com, or via a college paper or bulletin board, particularly at a school of nursing. Some community newspapers or newsletters also feature ads from individuals seeking employment as a household helper.

Alzheimer's Warning Signs
The Alzheimer's Association has developed a list of warning signs that include common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (some also apply to other dementing illnesses). Individuals who exhibit several of these symptoms should see a physician for a complete examination.

What Level of Care Do You Need?
Home care services cover a wide range of health and social services for individuals recovering from surgery or an injury, those with disabilities and chronic conditions, or people with terminal illnesses. Services can range considerably in scope and often can be tailored to meet your needs.