Visiting Angels Review
With services designed to help seniors remain in their homes for as long as possible, Visiting Angels offers an extra pair of hands when needed. Established in 1998, this nationwide franchise has more than 600 locations serving each of the 50 states. Each location offers home health solutions from trained caregivers who can assist with everything from dressing and meal preparation to nursing services, all delivered in an atmosphere that is familiar and well-loved.
With a complete continuum of care available, Visiting Angels caregivers are on hand to assist during a short-term rehabilitation or for longer durations when caring for patients with degenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. Care can range from a few hours of help each week to around-the-clock assistance that includes skilled nursing care.
Customers often mention the caring and compassionate staff that provide direct care to seniors, praising their attention to detail and willingness to go the extra mile for their customers. Family members agree that the care provided by Visiting Angels is often an essential ingredient in prolonging a loved one’s life and ability to live independently.
What You Need to Know About Assisting Hands
- Established in 1998 as a national franchise
- More than 600 locations across all 50 states
- Provides in-home personal, companion and respite care, as well as end-of-life support and services specifically for those with Alzheimer’s or other dementias
- Customizable care options that include hourly, overnight and 24-hour care models
- All Visiting Angels franchises operate individually and may offer different care models, so prospective clients may want to contact local providers to determine the levels of care offered
What Senior Care Services Does Visiting Angels Provide?
Care Planning Services
Visiting Angels caregivers meet with family members and seniors to determine the scope of care needed. By developing a complete care plan, Visiting Angels is better able to determine the type of care needed to preserve senior independence and quality of life.
Personal Care Services
While Visiting Angels offers assistance with all activities of daily life as part of its personal care service offerings, seniors can pick and choose which specific services they want. For example, a senior might only need help with light housekeeping and medication reminders, while other seniors might need more help throughout the day. Some examples of assistive services that are available through Visiting Angels include:
- Mobility assistance, such as help standing, sitting, walking, and transferring to and from bed, typically using a Hoyer Lift or similar durable device
- Medication reminders and assistance with packaging to facilitate taking medications on time and as directed
- Toileting, bathing, and dressing
- Grocery shopping and meal preparation during the work week or on weekends
- Dishwashing, making beds, and doing laundry
- Transportation services for medical appointments and/or social activities
Visiting Angels also offers a Select Your Caregiver program that is designed to act as a matchmaking service between seniors and potential caregivers. It allows seniors an opportunity to meet and vet options before committing to a specific provider. Working directly with clients and their family members, Visiting Angels creates care plans that detail the scope of assistance needed to allow clients to continue living at home, safely.
Companion Care
Companion care services are available for seniors who might struggle to get out and enjoy social activities. While some of the services provided are also available through personal care assistance, companion care typically excludes services, such as assistance with mobility, dressing, toileting, and other similar types of care. Companion care does include assistance with light housekeeping, transportation, meal preparation, and conversation, helping seniors stay more engaged and combat conditions, such as depression, which can be a result of increasing social isolation.
Memory Care
Visiting Angels offers memory care services from trained staff members that range from occasional, intermittent assistance for respite care to 24-hour help. Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias may be easily confused by a change of venue, making aging at home for as long as possible the preferred option.
Visiting Angels staff help make this a possibility by providing assistance with activities of daily living, which many of these clients need. In addition to a helping hand, these trained caregivers also provide memory exercises and activities designed to help stimulate cognitive abilities and slow the decline of those with dementia.
Caregivers handle moments of anxiety, confusion, and anger with positive reinforcement and de-escalation. They are also trained in wander prevention methods and provide all general personal care services offered to clients without dementia.
Respite Care Support
Family and friends often act as unpaid caregivers for aging loved ones. When caregiving for extended periods of time, the demands can be tremendous. Caregivers may lack the personal or free time they need to handle errands and their own health needs. When the time spent caregiving becomes too much, Visiting Angels is available with respite care options.
Respite care is an around-the-clock solution that is available for times when a primary caregiver might need to schedule a vacation or personal care time. Respite care can also be offered on a more intermittent basis, giving caregivers the occasional weekend off.
Respite care includes all basic personal care services, but it is typically for a longer period each day. Seniors get help with all activities of daily living, transportation assistance for medical appointments and other services that improve their quality of life.
Hospice or Palliative Care
Seniors with a chronic illness or limited life expectancy may benefit from hospice or palliative care. Hospice is specifically offered as an end-of-life service to help seniors live comfortably and in their own homes for as long as possible. Palliative care also strives to ensure senior comfort, but it takes a more balanced approach between pain management and holistic health.
Palliative care through Visiting Angels focuses on the four elements of total health: physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. While pain management is always a top priority, so is encouraging the continuation of routine activities. A client who enjoyed poker nights with friends for decades is more likely to remain in good health longer if those activities continue. By encouraging all types of wellness, Visiting Angels caregivers help seniors with degenerative, chronic illnesses to enjoy a longer and more fulfilled life at home.
What People Are Saying About Visiting Angels
Warm, friendly, and compassionate are words clients and their loved ones often use to describe Visiting Angels direct care staff. As one family caregiver wrote, “From the moment we called and scheduled the consultation, to when he ended up passing away, everyone at Visiting Angels was warm, friendly, and compassionate. They made us feel understood in our situation, despite what little time my grandfather had left, and worked to give us the best care possible.”
The patient and caring staff give the company high marks for its flexibility, mentioning that vacation requests are always honored and that employees can request client changes when there is a personality conflict. Clients enjoy the excellent service that results from satisfied employees. One wrote, “Visiting Angels did a wonderful job with my mother and was very proactive. Her caregiver got my mother to do things she normally wouldn’t. All of my mothers caregivers were compassionate, caring, well trained, and very patient!”
How Much Does Visiting Angels Charge for Home Care?
Home care costs vary based on several factors, including the type of services required, how often one needs assistance, and the timing of the services (i.e., overnight vs. daytime care). Where you live also has a significant impact on the cost of home care, as national chains scale their local prices to the cost of living in a given area.
When planning for home care costs, keep in mind that the national average cost is about $24 per hour, though prices in your location may be higher or lower. You can contact a Family Advisor at (800) 973-1540 to learn more about home care costs and payment options in your area.
Who Should Consider Visiting Angels?
Visiting Angels is a solid choice for seniors who need extra help around the house or day and night monitoring. Service levels vary based on the individual needs of each client. Visiting Angels provides various care options and is a good choice for seniors who need:
- Memory care: Cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, often require special care, and family members may not be equipped to handle a senior’s evolving needs. Visiting Angels direct care staff are trained to handle the most challenging aspects of caregiving for seniors with a memory disorder.
- Palliative care: Seniors diagnosed with a chronic illness may need specialty assistance specific to that illness. These clients might also need more frequent trips to health care providers or special diets. Working with clients to minimize pain and maximize quality of life is the foundation of palliative care through Visiting Angels
- Companion care: Social isolation can be dangerous for seniors, which is why Visiting Angels offers companionship and help around the house for seniors who don’t require as much assistance.
How to Get Started with Visiting Angels
Contact a Family Advisor at (800) 973-1540 for more information about Visiting Angels’ offerings in your area and to connect with a local home care provider. Our knowledgeable Family Advisors can provide one-on-one guidance to help you find the best home care service for your needs and budget, all at no cost to you. No matter where you are in the process of choosing a home care provider, a Family Advisor can help.