How to choose the right nursing care for an elderly parent?
“I’m looking for someone trustworthy for my mother.” This is the phrase we hear most often when families in Ticino come to us for the first time. It’s a phrase that encapsulates all the love, concern, and often confusion of those faced with one of the most difficult decisions in life: who to entrust with the care of a loved one who is no longer completely self-sufficient.
Trust is undoubtedly the foundation of any caregiving relationship. But when health is at stake, when needs become complex and require specific skills, trust alone is not enough. In fact, it can become dangerous if it is not accompanied by competence, training, and professionalism.
In this article, we want to shed light on an often confusing topic: the differences between the various professionals working in home care in Ticino. Because choosing the right person is not just a matter of feeling, but of safety, dignity, and quality of life for those we love.
Home nursing care in Ticino: why it is increasingly in demand today
The canton of Ticino, like the rest of Switzerland, is undergoing profound demographic change. An aging population, combined with an increase in chronic diseases and a growing preference for home care over institutional care, has created a growing demand for home care services.
According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, over 70% of Swiss seniors prefer to remain in their own homes even when they need assistance. This preference is understandable: home represents security, familiarity, and independence. But turning this desire into reality requires skills, organization, and, above all, choosing the right professionals.
Find out more about Night care for the elderly and frail in Ticino
Home care in Ticino: why there is often confusion between nurses and caregivers
The home care market in Ticino is characterized by a wide variety of offers, which are often unclear to those outside the sector. Agencies promise “qualified care” without specifying the level of qualification. Advertisements speak generically of “experienced caregivers” without defining what this experience consists of. Services present themselves as “nursing” when in reality they only offer basic care.
This confusion is not just a marketing problem: it can have serious consequences for the health and safety of those receiving care. Entrusting tasks that require specific skills to an unqualified person can turn an attempt to help into a real risk.
Read the guide on how to choose Spitex?
Home care professionals: differences between nurses, home care assistants, and caregivers
Caregiver or family assistant: daily support but not nursing care
Who they are: Caregivers, more correctly called family assistants, are important figures in the home care ecosystem. Their role is mainly social and supportive in daily activities.
What they do:
- Companionship and emotional support
- Help with meal preparation
- Assistance with basic personal hygiene
- Support with mobility and getting around
- House cleaning and household management
- Accompanying the person on errands and to medical appointments
What they CANNOT do:
- Administer medication (except for pre-prepared oral medication)
- Performing complex medical procedures
- Managing medical devices
- Making healthcare decisions
- Assessing clinical conditions
Required training: There is no specific mandatory training program, although many caregivers take voluntary training courses. Quality depends largely on personal experience and self-taught training.
Caregiver assistance: when it may be sufficient
When it is the right choice: For people who are essentially self-sufficient and mainly need companionship, support with domestic activities, and basic assistance. Caregivers are invaluable in combating loneliness and maintaining independence in daily activities.
Social and Health Care Worker (OSS): the bridge between social and health care
Who they are: The OSS is a professional who has completed a specific recognized training program. They represent a bridge between social and health care, with broader skills than a caregiver but limited compared to a nurse.
What they do:
- Everything a caregiver does, but with greater competence
- Assistance with personal hygiene, even for people who are not self-sufficient
- Mobilization and positioning of bedridden people
- Assistance with oral therapies prepared by nurses
- Measurement of basic vital signs (temperature, blood pressure)
- Observation and reporting of changes in the person’s condition
- Support in simple rehabilitation activities
What they CANNOT do:
- Administer drugs by injection
- Perform complex dressings
- Manage catheters, probes, and stomas
- Make therapeutic decisions
- Change drug dosages
Required training: Professional training course of variable duration (from 6 months to 2 years) with practical internship and final exam. In Ticino, training is regulated and recognized.
When it is the right choice: For people with a moderate degree of non-self-sufficiency who need qualified assistance in daily activities but do not have complex health needs. It is ideal for situations that require skills beyond those of a caregiver but do not require a full-time nurse.
Home nurse: the healthcare professional
Who they are: Nurses are healthcare professionals with a university degree, registered in the professional register, with specific clinical skills and precise legal responsibilities. They are the only professionals authorized by law to perform complex medical and nursing procedures.
What they do:
- Complete and ongoing clinical assessment
- Administration of complex therapies (injections, IVs, chemotherapy)
- Management of advanced dressings and complex wounds
- Management of urinary catheters, nasogastric tubes, and stomas
- Monitoring of vital signs and interpretation of results
- Health education for patients and families
- Coordination with doctors and other healthcare professionals
- Management of emergency situations
- Planning and evaluating the care plan
Required training: Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (3 years) or recognized nursing diploma, registration in the professional register, mandatory continuing education.
When is a home nurse essential?
When it is the right choice: For people with complex conditions, in the post-operative phase, with specific health needs, in unstable clinical situations. It is essential when medical procedures, complex therapy management, or continuous clinical monitoring are required.
Why is entrusting nursing care to unqualified personnel a risk?
Professional training is the key to safety.
The risks of improvisation
Entrusting the care of a frail person to someone without adequate training is not only ineffective: it can be dangerous. Let’s look at some concrete examples of situations we have encountered in our experience:
Case 1: Medication management.Mr. Rossi, 78, diabetic and heart patient, was taking 12 different medications. The caregiver, despite her best intentions, had organized the therapies incorrectly, causing dangerous interactions and an emergency hospitalization for severe hypoglycemia.
Case 2: ‘Simple’ medication. Mrs. Bianchi had a small wound on her foot that seemed trivial. The caregiver treated it daily with products purchased at the pharmacy, but without the skills to recognize the signs of infection. When a nurse finally intervened, the wound had become an infected ulcer that required months of specialist care.
Case 3: The unrecognized emergency. Mr. Verdi began to show signs of confusion and agitation. His caregiver thought it was a normal deterioration due to age, but these were the first signs of a serious urinary tract infection which, not recognized in time, led to sepsis.
Competence as prevention
A trained professional not only knows what to do, but above all knows what NOT to do and when to ask for help. Training is not just about acquiring techniques, but developing critical thinking skills that enable you to:
- Recognize warning signs: A nurse knows how to recognize the early signs of clinical deterioration, infection, or adverse drug reactions. This ability to “read” the situation can literally save lives.
- Prevent complications: Many complications of home care (bedsores, infections, falls) can be prevented with the right skills and attention. A trained professional knows how to prevent them.
- Managing emergencies: When an emergency occurs, every minute counts. A trained professional knows how to react, what to do and what not to do, and how to communicate effectively with emergency services.
- Educating and involving the family: An often underestimated aspect is the ability to educate the family, to involve them in the care process, and to transfer skills that can be useful even when the professional is not present.
Private nurse and caregiver: why integrated care is often the best solution
At CAD Healthcare, we believe that true quality in home care comes from the integration of skills: professional nursing care, supported by qualified daily assistance.
Staff selection: a rigorous process
At CAD Healthcare, staff selection is not just a matter of qualifications, but of integrated skills. Our selection process includes:
- Verification of qualifications: Rigorous checking of all qualifications, certifications, and professional licenses. We never accept self-certifications or unverifiable documents.
- Technical skills assessment: Practical tests to verify actual skills, not just theoretical ones. It is one thing to know how to apply a dressing, but quite another to know how to do it correctly in a real situation.
- Interpersonal skills assessment: Home care is first and foremost a human relationship. We assess empathy, communication skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to work in a team.
- Reference checks: Direct contact with previous employers to verify actual experience and quality of work performed.
- Supervised trial period: Each new employee undergoes a trial period during which they are supervised by a senior nurse to verify their integration into the team and the quality of care provided.
Continuing education: a constant investment
Training never ends. In a constantly evolving sector such as healthcare, continuing education is essential to maintain and improve the quality of care.
- Clinical updates: Regular courses on new techniques, new drugs, and new scientific evidence. Each of our professionals must complete at least 40 hours of training per year.
- Technology training: With the introduction of new technologies in home care, it is essential that all professionals know how to use them effectively.
- Relational training: Courses on communication, conflict management, and psychological support to constantly improve the quality of relationships with patients and families.
- Simulations and clinical cases: Practical sessions to deal with complex or rare situations, to maintain a high level of preparedness even for infrequent but critical events.
The multidisciplinary team: the strength of the team
One of the aspects that distinguishes CAD Healthcare is its multidisciplinary approach. We never work in isolation, but always as part of an integrated team.
- Clinical coordination: Each complex case is discussed as a team, with the participation of nurses, doctors, physical therapists, psychologists, and social workers. This approach ensures a comprehensive and integrated view of the person’s needs.
- Continuous supervision: Our operators are never alone. They can always count on the support of more experienced colleagues, specialist advice, and a 24/7 operations center.
- Sharing expertise: We regularly organize experience-sharing sessions where professionals can learn from each other, discuss difficult cases, and develop innovative solutions.
Home nursing care: costs, value, and false savings
The false savings of choosing the cheapest home care option
Families are often tempted to choose the cheapest option, thinking that ‘it’s just for company’ or ‘to help with household chores’. This view is understandable but dangerous.
An unqualified professional may seem cheaper in the short term, but the hidden costs can be enormous:
- Healthcare costs: Avoidable complications, hospitalizations, and emergency medical visits can cost much more than the initial savings.
- Emotional costs: The stress and anxiety of a family that does not feel confident about the quality of care has a huge emotional cost.
- Legal costs: In the event of accidents or negligence, legal and insurance costs can be devastating.
- Opportunity costs: The time lost dealing with problems that a qualified professional would have avoided has significant economic value.
Investing in the quality of home nursing care
Choosing a qualified professional service is an investment, not a cost. The benefits include:
- Prevention of complications: A qualified professional prevents many costly complications.
- Efficiency of care: A professional knows what to do and how to do it, reducing waste and inefficiency.
- Peace of mind for the family: The value of peace of mind is priceless.
- Quality of life: Professional care significantly improves the quality of life of the person being cared for.
- Sustainability over time: Quality care is more sustainable in the long term.
Legal and insurance guarantees in home care: protection for patients and families
Professional liability
When you choose a qualified professional, you also choose a system of guarantees and protections that do not exist in informal care.
- Professional insurance: All our professionals are covered by professional liability insurance. In the event of unintentional damage, the family is protected.
- Accident insurance: Our operators are covered by accident insurance at work. If they are injured while on duty, it is not a problem for the family.
- Clear legal liability: In case of problems, liability is clearly defined and covered by our insurance.
- Guaranteed replacement: If an operator falls ill or is unable to work, we always guarantee a qualified replacement.
Industry regulation and legal protections
The professional home care industry is regulated by specific laws that protect both caregivers and those receiving care:
- Regular employment contracts: All our caregivers have regular employment contracts, with all the rights and protections provided by law.
- Compliance with health regulations: We strictly follow all cantonal and federal health regulations.
- Quality controls: We are subject to regular checks by the health authorities.
- Mandatory training: Our professionals must maintain their qualifications through mandatory continuing education.
Home nursing care: case studies and concrete results
Case 1: Mrs. Maria and complex diabetes
Initial situation: Mrs. Maria, 82, an insulin-dependent diabetic with diabetic retinopathy, was being cared for by a caregiver who, despite her best intentions, did not have the skills to manage complex insulin therapy.
Problems that arose: Frequent episodes of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, unstable blood sugar control, onset of foot complications.
CAD intervention: We replaced the caregiver with a qualified nurse specializing in diabetology, assisted by a healthcare assistant for daily care.
Results: Stabilization of glycemic control, prevention of complications, significant improvement in quality of life, reduction in family anxiety.
Lesson learned: The management of complex diabetes requires specific skills that only a qualified professional can provide.
Case 2: Mr. Giuseppe and post-operative management
Initial situation: Mr. Giuseppe, 75, had been discharged after hip replacement surgery. The family had hired a caregiver for post-operative care.
Problems that arose: Incorrect surgical wound dressing, inadequate mobilization, failure to recognize signs of infection.
CAD intervention: We provided a nurse specializing in orthopedic surgery and a physical therapist for rehabilitation.
Results: Optimal wound healing, complete functional recovery, prevention of complications, return to independence in record time.
Lesson learned: The post-operative phase requires specific skills that can make the difference between optimal recovery and serious complications.
Case 3: Mrs. Anna and palliative care
Initial situation: Mrs. Anna, 78, with advanced cancer, wanted to spend her last months at home. The family had tried to manage the situation with a caregiver.
Problems that emerged: Inadequate pain management, high family anxiety, difficulty in managing complex symptoms.
CAD intervention: We provided a team specializing in palliative care with trained nurses, psychological support, and coordination with the oncologist.
Results: Optimal pain control, peace of mind for the patient and family, and the opportunity to spend her last months with dignity in her own home.
Lesson learned: Palliative care requires highly specialized skills that only trained professionals can provide.
How to choose a home nursing service: a practical guide for families
Assessing real needs
Before choosing the type of care, it is essential to make an honest and realistic assessment of needs:
- Remaining autonomy: How self-sufficient is the person? Can they still manage personal hygiene, meals, and medication?
- Health conditions: Are there any chronic conditions? Complex therapies? Specific risks?
- Home environment: Is the home safe? Are there any architectural barriers? Is the environment suitable for care?
- Family support: How much time can family members devote? What skills do they have?
- Financial resources: What is the available budget? Is there insurance coverage?
The right questions to ask
When evaluating a home care service, it is important to ask the right questions:
About qualifications:
- What qualifications do the caregivers have?
- Are they registered with professional associations?
- What experience do they have in the field?
- Do they undergo continuous training?
About safety:
- Are they covered by professional insurance?
- Are they covered by accident insurance?
- How are emergencies handled?
- Is there professional supervision?
About the organization:
- How is service continuity guaranteed?
- What happens if the caregiver gets sick?
- Is there a coordinator in charge?
- How is quality monitored?
About costs:
- What are all the costs included?
- Are there any hidden costs?
- How are changes in needs handled?
- Are there any price guarantees?
Warning signs
There are certain signs that should raise alarm bells when evaluating a service:
- Promises of costs well below the market average
- Reluctance to provide information about the operators’ qualifications
- Lack of insurance coverage
- Absence of a professional coordinator
- Inability to speak directly with operators before the service begins
- Unclear contracts or contracts with unfair terms
- Lack of verifiable references
What to do when home care does not meet your expectations
The future of professional home care in Switzerland
The evolution of the sector
The home care sector is evolving rapidly, driven by an aging population, technological advances, and growing expectations for quality.
Increasing specialization: Operators will need to be increasingly specialized to manage complex conditions and advanced technologies.
- Technological integration: Technology will become increasingly important, requiring new skills from operators. Learn more about Advanced Telecare services in Switzerland
- Multidisciplinary approach: Home care will increasingly become a team effort, with different professionals working together.
- Personalization of care: Each person will have specific needs that will require personalized approaches.
The role of training
Training will become increasingly central to ensuring quality care:
- Mandatory continuing education: All professionals will need to keep their skills up to date.
- Specific specializations: Specializations will emerge for specific pathologies or types of care.
- Technological skills: All operators will need to know how to use increasingly advanced technologies.
- Interpersonal skills: The human aspect will remain central, requiring increasingly refined interpersonal skills.
Home nursing care with CAD Healthcare
Choosing who to entrust with the care of a loved one is not only a practical decision, but an act of love that can determine the quality of life, safety, and dignity of those we love.
The temptation to rely solely on a “trusted person” is understandable, but when health is at stake, trust must be accompanied by competence, training, and professionalism. It is not a matter of mistrusting people, but of responsibility towards those we love.
At CAD Healthcare, we believe that every person has the right to receive professional, qualified, and dignified care. This is not a luxury, but a fundamental right. And when it comes to the health and well-being of our loved ones, we cannot afford to choose anything but the best.
The next time you find yourself thinking, “I’m looking for someone I can trust,” remember to add: “someone I can trust AND who is competent.” Because love for our loved ones is also demonstrated through the choices we make for them.
And the right choice is always the one that puts their safety, dignity, and quality of life first. It is the choice of professional care. It is the choice of CAD Healthcare.
