Why should you hire through Elder Options?

Consumer Report

          Finding a good personal assistant or caregiver can be time consuming, nerve wracking, risky, and sometimes an expensive process, if you don't know the industry. Placing a classified ad, interviewing, calling references, and then taking that big leap of faith and selecting someone is taking a chance unless you know the Washington State laws for hiring home helpers. After you hire someone, what happens if your caregiver falls ill, wants to go on a family vacation or has a family emergency and leaves you with little or no notice? Then it's the whole process all over again.

           Elder Options offers two programs; Senior Living Home Services and Affordable Home Care Agency, with over 100 screened and certified caregivers at your disposal. If your caregiver falls ill you can call us any time and get a replacement. You can have a team member split a 7 day week to avoid caregiver burnout. You always have a safety net.... even if that means calling our scheduler at 2:00 am because your caregiver became ill on the job and had to go home. After interviewing hundreds of caregivers over the past 10 years, we find that we screen out half of all applicants. We know our business. We have a 15 point screening process and then after placement, we continue to monitor caregivers through our standards of conduct and client evaluations. Once caregiver applicants pass our screening, they are interviewed by our client (or client representative) so that our clients have the final decision about who is working in their home. The caregivers we refer out to jobs are top notch.

           Seniors often contact us after they have had a bad experience. In their haste to pay "bottom dollar," they do not screen their care providers and if they are too trusting, can be duped. There are some con artists who intentionally prey upon seniors living alone in order to access the senior's medications, savings accounts, and/or belongings. Problems that can arise when you do not go through an agency include; dealing with untrained help (caregivers should attend a 28-hour certification class, be tested, and participate in ongoing training), hiring those who avoid working for agencies because they don't want to comply with rules and industry standards, caregivers who have drug or alcohol problems, or caregivers who have irregular work histories. Some unlicensed care providers get signed onto their clients wills, take or "borrow" large sums of money, or bully or dominate seniors. Do not take chances. Elder Options has a 36 point crime prevention program. This, coupled with our stringent 15 point screening process, is precisely why we have become leaders in our industry.

Here's how certified caregivers can help improve the quality of your loved ones lives.

Care providers do one or more of the following during a typical work day:
  • Prepare home-cooked meals
  • Light housekeeping, including laundry, changing linens, and chores
  • Household management services
  • Assistance with exercising and walking to build strength and stay fit
  • Companionship to reduce boredom, loneliness, and depression
  • Transportation to appointments, social events, and other activities
  • Assistance with bathing and personal care
  • Safety monitoring
  • Providing fun activities such as crafts, games, and outings
  • Grocery shopping and errands
  • Transfer services for wheelchair bound or bedridden clients
  • Assisting incontinent clients with diapering and personal care
  • Taking vital signs such as blood pressure pulse, respiration, and weight
  • Monitoring and recording medications
  • Documentation for insurance reimbursement purposes
  • Generous smiles, hugs, and TLC

We guarantee satisfaction!

Call us today for a free consultation...
(360) 636-1000 or toll free (800) 608-2388.