There are many care giving agencies out there that have branded themselves as long distance caregivers.
These, in most cases, should be avoided as they are more along the lines of a care giving consultancy than they are actual caregivers.
Long distance caregivers will serve important functions, such as money management, sharing information on home health aides, and even might be helping you to find an assisted living facility.
Yes, these functions are important, but with a full service local care provider, you can get the same needs met, but with a personal touch.
Local providers fulfill a function that a long distance agency cannot provide.
They get to know you on a personal level and are able to tailor suit the level of care being administered exactly to fit the needs of the individual receiving care.
With a local service, you can also come to know exactly what you will receive as far as benefits go.
There is no outside consulting or outsourced agencies stepping in to fulfill a function.
With a full service care provider, you can get everything you need or want from the same service.
These providers can help manage the level of care you receive, as well as give help paying the bills, arrange for doctors' appointments, and even help with chores around the house.
Full service care providers do more than just manage your needs.
They are providers first and foremost, and as such, they are caregivers as well as consultants.
They can get a better feel for what your needs are as a client and as a human being.
Long distance care giving agencies cannot do this as they are limited in how well they get to know their clientele.
By going with a local full service provider, you are giving yourself the best possible care you can get.
If you are arranging care for someone other than yourself, going with a long distance care giving agency might seem like the easiest choice.
But this is where you need to ask yourself if your ease of service is more important than the level of care that your loved one is receiving.
Sure, caring for a far away elderly relative can be tough, but you should have their best interests in mind.
Going with a long distance consultancy does not accomplish this.
Getting your elderly relative the best service that they can get might involve a bit of research or travel on your behalf, but in the end, the results will speak for themselves.
If you want your loved one to get the most out of their care giving experience, go with a service that gets to know them and helps them on an individual basis.
A consulting agency cannot do this.