Wednesday, December 4th
2024 Senior Care Service Reviews
Great AuPair
- $45 for a 30-day subscription
- $99 for a 90-day subscription
- $162 for a 180-day subscription
- Limited free plan
- Can pay for background checks on chosen candidates
- Has helped over 1 million families connect with care providers for seniors, children, pets
- "A+” rated by the BBB
Great Au Pair has been connecting families with various types of caregivers since 2001, including senior care providers. With over 85,000 caregivers available, the platform's filters make it hassle-free to refine search results and find suitable candidates based on location, availability, certifications, and more. However, to message senior care providers directly and access additional features like interviews and videos, a subscription is required, ranging from $45 for one month to $162 for six months. The availability of caregivers varies widely by location, and some areas may have limited options. While Great Au Pair has positive testimonials and an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, it's not the most robust option for senior care and we suggest exploring higher-ranked services first.
Sitter City
- $13/month (paid annually), $25/month (paid quarterly) or $37/month to use service
- Post a help wanted ad or browse caregivers near you
- Easy to see experience, location, and self-reported certifications at a glance
- Background checks may be available
- "A+” rated by the BBB
As you'd guess from the name, Sittercity is mostly focused on childcare but offers the ability to connect with caregivers for seniors too. Even though this company somehow manages to get an "A+” rating from the BBB, we recommend that you stay away: not only will you have to pay anywhere from $13-$37 per month just to connect with carers, you're probably also going to have a hard time finding any caregivers who have been active on Sittercity in the last six months. Go directly to any other senior care platform in our evaluation and don't waste your time with Sittercity.
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Where Can You Find the Best Resources for Senior Care?
Let's face it: as our loved ones get older (or as we do!), it can be hard finding the right resources for care. Most people resist the idea of going to an independent or assisted living facility, preferring instead to "age in place”. In fact, that's what two-thirds of Americans surveyed have said they plan to do, year after year.
There can be some challenges to making that happen. We all know that as we age, physical decline is to be expected: our balance falters, our memory gets a little fuzzy, and we may need to use the bathroom more often. Also, older people often struggle with daily tasks, like cooking and doing laundry, and they need someone to lend a hand from time to time.
Senior Care Service FAQ
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Plus, when friends and family aren't available, it can make it harder for everyone to feel comfortable with an at-home arrangement. Fortunately, senior care services can fill that gap, for everything from simple companionship a few times a week to more in-depth services like bathing and transferring from bed to chair and back again.
Having a care provider you can rely on is invaluable, whether you're the one receiving the help or the one getting the updates that yes, your beloved family member really is doing fine from day to day. But, we're all too familiar with some of the horror stories in the news - about senior citizens being taken advantage of (or worse) by those who were supposed to be there to help. It can make choosing a senior care service pretty nerve-wracking.
However, there are some amazing services out there with fantastic reputations. How do you sort out the good ones from the bad? Here are some criteria that can guide your decision-making:
- Care provider screening process. What is done to evaluate the people they hire? Background checks should be the bare minimum.
- Reputation. Look at what other clients have said about the senior care service and the individual carers (when available). Does the service have a good track record? See if the company has been rated by the Better Business Bureau, if it has industry accreditations, and above all, if previous and current clients have positive things to say about their experience.
- Availability in your area. The best senior care platform in the world isn't much use if they don't have carers near you. Double-check that their services are offered in your area before you get too involved in the process. Once you've determined that it's available, be sure to ask how long you can expect it to take to be matched with a caregiver: in some areas, it can happen quickly, but in others it may take a month or more.
- Rates and contracts. It's fairly common for a senior care service to have a minimum number of weekly hours, and pricing tends to start around $15-$20 per hour. Find out if your contract can be canceled or modified whenever you want.
- Multiple caregivers. Ask if the service will pair you with the same caregiver from visit to visit or if you would possibly be working with multiple individuals. If the senior requiring care is sensitive to change, it might be a deal-breaker if you could possibly see a new face every time.
While it can feel a little sad or scary to look for senior care, it's well worth the time to get the help that allows you or your loved one to keep living life to the fullest. The experts at here at Top Consumer Reviews have done a deep dive into some of today's most popular services, so that you can connect with a reliable service and compassionate caregivers as soon as possible.
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