Some parts of the U.S. are finding that they need to change regulations concerning senior care in order to ensure that the workforce in this sector is fully prepared for the growing sets of needs that the older population will have. To provide some context, the Baby Boomer generation–those born in the 15 year period after World War II ended–is increasingly growing in their need for care. This was the largest population boom that the United States had ever seen, and the care business is still not fully prepared to meet this surge.
That goes for both the public and the private sector. And it’s why states like New Hampshire have announced that there will be slight changes to the certifications and requirements that care services must have. For example, NH recently announced that all employees that work with populations that have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease must receive some sort of Alzheimer’s awareness training. Now, this is something that you would want your caregiver to have anyway, but the fact that it’s now mandated in NH could be a positive force on the safety of seniors in that area. It provides a cushion of safety that seniors might not otherwise have.
Ideally, all caregivers should have this background. If you’re looking for a care service for an older loved one, ensuring that you know that they are trained and experienced is vital to your peace of mind and their safety and health while receiving care. If you’re not sure what their background is, you need to ask when looking at a potential care match for a loved one.
States, like New Hampshire, will need to deal with a growth in the need for senior care independently unless some sort of federal law comes into play. Given the way that Medicare and Medicaid laws have moved in the last four years, this isn’t likely to be a major change, though. But even more important than how states deal with the growing need for senior care is how individuals and families respond to this need. What we do on a small scale might not seem like much–but it has a big impact on those around us. It impacts our loved ones directly and it can be a positive influence on neighbors, friends, and those that we are close to. Taking charge of your family’s care needs is a big deal, even if it’s only for a handful of people.
We’re here to help. If you’re located in the Bay Area, please feel free to reach out to us. We have a team of skilled caregivers who would love to help walk you through the process of finding the ideal caregiver for your family’s needs. You might find that in-home care isn’t the right choice for you–and that’s okay. We don’t expect our services to be the perfect solution for everyone. Rather, our hope is to help you figure out what your loved one’s needs are and how they can best be met. Even if that includes referring you to another service.
Ultimately, it’s not about creating a profit or a successful business. It’s about helping the people in our communities to live better lives. When that happens, everyone is a little bit better off than they were beforehand.
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