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Saturday, February 15th
Comfort Keepers was founded in 1998 by a home health aide who wanted to offer more than just medical care to seniors and others in an in-home setting. The company has expanded so much that it became a Halifax brand, with 700 independently-owned and operated franchises in 12 countries. You can trust that any caregiver you work with through Comfort Keepers has had extensive background checks (including local/national criminal and DMV records), their personal and professional references have been contacted, and they are bonded and insured.
Locations in 45 states
We recommend that you start by pulling up the Comfort Keepers locations that serve your area. This senior care provider operates in all but five states, so chances are good that you'll have a franchise near you. Make sure to click over to the website specific to the Comfort Keepers branch serving your location: it makes it much easier to find out more.
Virtual and in-home assessments at no charge
One way that Comfort Keepers stands out is by offering both virtual and in-home assessments. It can be challenging to determine exactly what help is needed, so why not benefit from a professional's experience? The virtual aspect is particularly useful: maybe your elderly loved one would feel uncomfortable having someone come over at first, and so it would be an easier transition if the assessment is done remotely to get started.
Offers the typical senior care services
When Comfort Keepers provides non-medical care, there are many ways that they can support your loved ones. Some of the services your caregiver can offer include:
These services are available both in-home and in-facility, as a long-term arrangement or for respite. Comfort Keepers' caregivers can also be hired for 24-hour care, post-hospital help, or end-of-life care.
Private duty nurses available at some locations
Also, if you do need medical care, some Comfort Keepers locations offer private duty nurses. You would need to ask your local franchise to discuss your care needs and find out if that level of service is available.
Has won some awards
What about reputation? That's where things get a little more mixed. We took a long look at feedback from both caregivers and clients, and it wasn't consistently good or bad. True, anytime you're dealing with a company that has independently-operated franchises, a lot will depend on the location itself: the people who run the office, the caregivers they hire, how many carers are available compared with the demand locally, and so on. It's encouraging to see that Comfort Keepers rated higher in customer service than any other senior care provider for two straight years, according to a survey done by Newsweek. And yes, there are some clients and caregivers who have nothing but good things to say about their experience with Comfort Keepers.
Caregivers and clients aren't always happy here
On the other hand, we also found a lot of complaints. In some areas, caregivers report that their office is managed badly, that they're being asked to work on their days off because the demand is so high, and that they're only being given 25-cent raises once in a while. That's not a way to keep good people, in our experience. We also found clients ranting (and rightly so) about caregivers who never showed up, leaving their loved ones without food or medication - for hours or for days. There doesn't seem to be a standardized accountability method implemented by Comfort Keepers: no online check-in to report a visit, no requirement to turn in care notes after every appointment, and so on.
Good but not the best
Unfortunately, no senior care service is immune to the problems we found with Comfort Keepers, and the company's affiliation with Halifax is an indicator that you can probably get help if something isn't going the way you expected. In other words, there's a corporate headquarters and oversight of some fashion. And, Comfort Keepers' background and reference checks are a little more extensive than some of the services we evaluated, which is another plus. Still, we encourage you to look at the higher-rated senior care options on our list first, and then circle back to Comfort Keepers if you don't find what you need elsewhere.
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.
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:
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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