Choosing a Non-Medical Homecare Company…
Important Questions to Ask
1. How long has your organization been providing homecare services locally?
2. Is your organization national (international)?
3. Does the office you are talking with receive standards, support, education, training and more from a corporate office or main office?
4. Does the company bond/insure their caregivers to protect clients and their families from liability? If yes, please ask for documentation of bonding/insurance coverage.
5. Are those providing the care actual employees of your company? Do they receive a W-2 from you?
6. Does the company cover workers’ compensation for those providing care? Again, ask for verification of this coverage.
7. How do you select and screen your caregiver/employees?
8. Do you do criminal background checks? If so, what level? Local, state, out of state, national?
9. What training/experience does the office staff have? Are they well-versed in senior relationed issues and concerns? Do they have an RN, LPN or Certified Dementia Practitioner on staff?
10. What training do the caregivers receive? Is the training on-going? How often are the training sessions given? Do you have a list of the topics covered for last year’s training sessions?
11. Has the agency/company been recognized by any third party organizations for their caregiver training program(s)?
12. Are drug tests professionally administered to those providing care and processed by authorized laboratories? If yes, get as much detail about this program as you can.
13. How does the company track their employee’s arrival and departure from a client’s home?
14. Do the caregivers maintain a log of their activities while providing care? If so, is this information available to family members?
15. Who directs the quality of care provided by your caregivers?
16. How is follow-up care handled to ensure proper care is being provided?
17. Are back up caregivers provided by your agency if the primary caregiver is unavailable?
18. Are care plans developed for each individual client? How are care plans communicated and administered? Can I see a sample of your plan?
19. Who can I call within your agency if I have questions regarding the care provided?
20. What process do you use to match your caregivers with our needs and wishes?
21. Is a live phone contact available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
22. Is the office you are working with a member of National Private Duty Association (NPDA)?
23. Is the office you are working with a member in good standing of the Better Business Bureau?
24. Can you provide a list of client references?
25. How do you bill? What are your payment options?
