6 Questions to Ask a Home Care Agency

Simplify your search for a home care agency by asking the right questions to ensure quality care, personalized plans, and peace of mind for your family. Ensuring a safe environment is crucial for the well-being of your loved ones.

Key Takeaways:

• Identify essential questions when choosing a home care agency.
• Understand caregiver hiring, qualifications, and training processes.
• Learn how personalized care plans and respite care benefit families.
• Explore the cost and affordability of home care services.
• Ensure agency adherence to health protocols, including COVID-19 measures.
• Confirm 24/7 availability for ongoing family caregiver support.

Finding a home care agency to watch over a parent, grandparent, spouse or another older loved one is a serious responsibility. Do you know what to look for in a home care agency to ensure that you’re making the best choice for your loved one?

Here are six questions to ask when selecting an agency:

1. What Services Do You Provide, Including Home Health Aides?

Common home care services provided by home health aides include bathing, dressing, feeding and preparing meals, transferring from bed to wheelchair and back and transportation to appointments. These services are particularly beneficial for older adults and their family members, helping them maintain independence and manage health conditions at home. For instance, if your father needed help shaving his mustache and making dinner, he wouldn’t need specialized care – just standard home care services. You’ll also need to assess how often your loved one will require care; they may only need home care services twice a week.

2. How Much Do Your Services Cost, Including Personal Care Assistance?

In-home care is typically paid for out-of-pocket. However, home care can help save money by reducing immediate medical expenses and delaying the need for more costly nursing home care. There are many ways to pay for services, such as long-term care insurance. A representative of the home care company you are interviewing can help you and your loved one decide which method is best.

3. How Do You Handle the Hiring Process for Caregivers?

By choosing the home care route, you have a decision: caregiver agency or caregiver registry. Since you are selecting an agency, finding the caregiver is handled by the company, which makes it easy for you. The company will insure the caregiver in case of an accident, pay the caregiver, handle taxes and control scheduling. You can rest assured that all of the details are being managed. With an agency, you also have the ability to request different caregivers, if needed, without dismissing them yourself.

Since you won’t be hiring the caregiver, you should inquire about the company’s hiring process:

• What qualifications do applicants need to become a caregiver?
• Are they certified?
• Do they need to pass a background check or drug screening?

The right agency uses strategies to attract the right potential candidates. They also use behavior-based interview scenarios to assess candidates' problem-solving skills and personal motivations. These real life scenarios help gauge a candidate's suitability for the role.

4. Are Your Caregivers Including Family Caregivers Trained for Specific Conditions?

Does your loved one have a chronic or complex medical condition? This training is also beneficial for any family member involved in the caregiving process. When caregivers are trained to address certain medical conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, it increases the quality of care your loved one receives. Experienced caregivers understand proper and legal documentation procedures as part of their training. Proper training enhances job performance and client satisfaction. Training on proper charting of care plans is essential for effective documentation and client safety. Caregiver training may involve online classes with tests or in-person sessions. Of course, you should also inquire about their hiring and screening processes.

5. How Does Your Agency Handle COVID-19?

Agencies should be vigilant about following updates and procedures as the country learns more about the coronavirus. They must have protocols in place for caregivers to ensure that they are wearing personal protective equipment, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces daily and monitoring their own health for symptoms.

Home care providers should also have an emergency preparedness plan in place in case a client or caregiver comes in contact with COVID-19.

6. When Can I Call Your Office If I Have Concerns or Questions?

The correct answer should be 24/7. There should always be a person ready to help you at any time of the day or night. Should you have a medical emergency, always call 911, not the agency.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Home Care Agency

Selecting a home care agency is a crucial decision that impacts your loved one’s quality of life and your family’s peace of mind. Additionally, consider agencies that can connect you with support groups for caregivers. By asking the six key questions outlined above, you can evaluate the agency’s services, caregiver qualifications, personalized care plans, and commitment to safety and support.

Prioritize agencies that offer comprehensive care, transparent communication, and flexibility to meet your unique needs. With the right agency, you’ll gain a trusted partner in providing compassionate, reliable, and affordable home care solutions for your family.

Finding a home care company for your loved one isn’t challenging when you have the right tools. Visit our resources page to learn more about home care.