You may think that this could be avoided if you live close by to your elder family. Certainly, it can be easier to oversee care when you can just pop in from across town and check on how things are going. Consistent oversight from any distance is key. Making unannounced visits gives you a chance to see first-hand how your elder looks, talk with them about how they feel, and evaluate the home environment.
Hiring someone outside an agency can be successful but has its own advantages and disadvantages. Many people want and like to be in control of the hands on, day to day management of this delicate and complicated situation. The cost is likely to be much lower as well. The downside? It takes a lot of time and energy to do this right. You and only you are responsible for finding a replacement for a sick caregiver, figuring out payroll, background checks and assuming liability insurance. Payroll can be contracted out and hiring a geriatric care manager can assist with many of these management tasks, but both add to the cost.
