How to Find the Best Senior Healthcare Providers in Your Area

As your parents or family members age, they may face chronic illnesses, mobility challenges, or cognitive decline, including dementia. Aging naturally brings increased vulnerability to frailty and accidents, and sometimes, these changes occur unexpectedly.

Caring for aging parents and family members is never easy. For many families, the responsibility of caregiving falls to untrained and unprepared family members. However, long-term care often requires specialized medical expertise. In some cases, an older adult may need the support of a geriatrician—a medical doctor specializing in the care of older adults—or other healthcare professionals with expertise in senior care.

Types of Medical Professionals for Older Adults

Older adults often benefit from the care of specialists who understand the complexities of aging. These professionals may include:

• Geriatricians: Doctors trained to manage the unique health needs of seniors.
• Primary Care Physicians: Often the first point of contact for routine checkups and chronic condition management.
• Specialists: There are many specialists, such as cardiologists, neurologists, or orthopedists, for specific health conditions.
• Physical and Occupational Therapists: To help maintain mobility and independence.
• Mental Health Professionals: Addressing cognitive health and emotional well-being.

Types of Long-Term Care Providers

In addition to medical professionals, seniors may require assistance from various long-term care providers, depending on their needs (see detailed information on long-term care services on LTC News.)

Often, older adults need help with daily living activities like getting in and out of bed, using the bathroom, personal hygiene, eating, and more. The types of long-term care providers include: 

• In-Home Care: Professional caregivers provide support with daily tasks while allowing seniors to remain at home.
• Adult Day Care: A community-based option offering daytime care and social activities.
• Senior Living Communities: Independent living options designed for older adults.
• Assisted Living Facilities: Providing housing and assistance with personal care, such as bathing and medication management.
• Memory Care Units: Specialized facilities for those with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.
• Nursing Homes: Offering 24/7 medical care for those with significant health needs.
• Rehabilitation Centers: Focused on recovery after surgery, illness, or injury. Often short-term, some individuals may require ongoing rehab for longer periods of time.

Research Local Providers

Finding the best senior healthcare provider for yourself or a loved one can be challenging, but it's critical for ensuring quality care. Start by researching local options, including both medical professionals and long-term care facilities.

Tips for Finding Senior Healthcare Providers:

• Online Research: Use search engines and review websites to identify providers in your area. Visit their websites to understand their services and specialties.
• Personal Recommendations: Ask friends, family, or your local community for trusted referrals.
• Professional Directories: Tools like the LTC News Caregiver Directory offer access to over 80,000 long-term care providers nationwide, including in-home care, assisted living, and nursing homes.

Check for Accreditation and Specialization

Accreditation and specialization are critical markers of quality when selecting a medical provider or long-term care facility. For medical professionals, accreditation bodies such as The Joint Commission or the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) ensure that hospitals and healthcare providers meet stringent quality and safety standards.

These organizations evaluate facilities based on patient outcomes, staff qualifications, and adherence to evidence-based practices. Additionally, hospitals may seek accreditation from the American Hospital Association (AHA) or the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), which merged with the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) and assesses their compliance with rigorous healthcare benchmarks.

For specialists dealing with older adults, board certification is an essential credential. Geriatricians, for example, receive specialized certification through the American Board of Internal Medicine or Family Medicine, ensuring they are adept at addressing the complexities of aging. Other specialists, such as neurologists and cardiologists, often complete advanced fellowship training to provide targeted care for age-related conditions like dementia or heart disease. Accreditation and specialization confirm that these providers have the expertise and resources to deliver superior care tailored to seniors' needs.

Long-term care facilities, including assisted living and memory care centers, also benefit from accreditation through organizations such as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). This ensures they meet high standards for resident safety, staff training, and program quality. By focusing on providers with the appropriate credentials and specialized training, families can feel confident in the level of care their loved ones will receive.

Accreditation and specialization are critical markers of quality when selecting a medical provider or long-term care facility. For medical professionals, accreditation bodies such as The Joint Commission or the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) ensure that hospitals and healthcare providers meet stringent quality and safety standards. These organizations evaluate facilities based on patient outcomes, staff qualifications, and adherence to evidence-based practices.

For specialists like cardiologists or neurologists, board certification in their area of expertise is a key indicator of advanced training and competence.

Hospitals and healthcare systems often earn accreditation from organizations like the American College of Surgeons or the Commission on Cancer, reflecting their commitment to excellence in specific care areas.

Specialized medical providers, including geriatricians and palliative care experts, often undergo additional training and certification in their fields, equipping them to effectively handle complex and age-related health issues. By prioritizing accredited and specialized providers, families can ensure that older adults receive comprehensive, high-quality care tailored to their needs.

Assessing Affordability

Senior healthcare services can be costly, so it's essential to evaluate affordability. While Medicare and supplemental insurance cover many medical-related expenses, they typically don't cover extended long-term care. Long-term care services can be expensive, and costs vary by location and care type. Use tools like the LTC News Cost of Care Calculator to estimate current and future costs in your area.

Long-Term Care Insurance and Medicaid

If Long-Term Care Insurance is in place, it can significantly reduce the financial burden by covering various levels of care. Medicaid is another option for those with limited financial resources, offering coverage for both medical and long-term care services.

Visit and Evaluate Providers

Quality of care is paramount. Visit facilities, when possible, to observe interactions between staff and residents. Ask about staff-to-resident ratios, employee qualifications, and patient satisfaction. Speak to families or residents for firsthand feedback. A comfortable, supportive environment is key to ensuring quality senior care.

Resources for Finding Senior Healthcare Providers

Look for a facility that provides long-term care services tailored to your loved one's specific needs. Use the internet to explore options in your area; for instance, if you're in Lafayette, IN, Lafayette's senior living options to find services such as memory care, assisted living, or nursing homes that match your loved one's requirements.

The LTC News Caregiver Directory makes this search much easier. For example, Digby Place in Lafayette, IN, is one of the many assisted living, memory care, and nursing homes available. You can search for any type of care, including in-home care, by using the directory and searching for the type of care near you or a loved one. 

Consequences of Aging

Caring for aging parents and family members requires thoughtful planning and research. Indeed, some older adults are independent and don't need help from anyone. However, most of us will need some help as we age. The consequences of aging and declining health, body, and mind adversely impact families and finances.

You don't start planning for aging once you are old. While thinking about older loved ones, take the time to prepare yourself for rising long-term care costs and declining health by adding Long-Term Care Insurance to your retirement plan.

For older family members who need help now, you can better help them by understanding the available resources, assessing provider credentials, and using the benefits of their LTC Insurance policy if they have one.

LTC NEWS has combined efforts with Amada Senior Care, a leading in-home healthcare agency with locations throughout the country, to help you process a claim from any LTC Insurance policy. There is no cost or obligation for this service - Filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim.

Aging is inevitable, but you can help your older loved ones maintain a better quality of life while preparing for your own aging by protecting your income and assets and reducing the stress and burdens placed on those you care about.