Questions to Ask a Home Care Provider
If you or an elderly person you know has determined there is a need for some form of home care, first determine what kind of care is needed, then thoroughly evaluate the provider before engaging their services.
If the person involved requires medical care (administering medication, therapy, dressing change, etc.), you need skilled nursing care. If the need is for assistance with personal care (feeding, toileting, bathing, etc.), you need a home health aid. If the need is for assistance with daily activities (companionship, cooking, house keeping, errands, and transportation), you need a companion/home helper. Once you have determined the type of service needed, contact a number of agencies that provide the required service and begin your evaluation. Your local senior center is a good source for a list of appropriate agencies to contact.
Once you have identified a few agencies, evaluate their services by asking the following questions:
1. Are caregivers fully screened? How?
2. Have caregivers' references been checked?
3. Are any necessary licenses current?
4. Are criminal background checks performed on the caregivers?
5. Are the caregivers bonded?
6. Will the caregiver assigned to me speak English?
7. What specific services will the caregiver provide?
8. Are caregivers covered by general liability and professional liability insurance?
9. Are the caregivers covered by worker's compensation insurance?
10. Does the agency withhold, file and remit all employee and employer taxes due to federal and state governments?
11. Does the agency pay state and federal unemployment taxes?
12. Are there a minimum number of hours required for each assignment?
13. What are the fees? Any extras?
14. Am I required to sign a contract and commit to a specific period of time?
15. Will I receive a detailed invoice from the agency? When? Or do I pay the caregiver?
16. Do your caregivers receive on-going training? Please describe the training.
17. Does the agency have a quality control program? Please describe it.
18. How are caregivers supervised?
19. Should I expect the same caregiver for each visit?
20. Will someone from the agency office introduce the caregiver at the first visit?
21. Does someone from the agency visit to do a free evaluation of the services needed?
22. Can I change caregivers if I am dissatisfied?
23. Will you contact me in the event the scheduled caregiver calls in sick? Will you provide a replacement?
24. Does the caregiver keep a journal to document daily activities?
25. Is someone available 24 hours a day to answer questions or handle emergencies?
While you are asking these questions and listening to the answers, you will get a feel for the type of organization you are dealing with and will develop a level of comfort with them. This is just as important as the answers you receive. Before you finish your evaluation, you might also want to ask for references. With the answers to your questions, comments from references and your "feel" for the organization, you should be able to select the best agency to meet your needs.
Jack Cross is President of Home Instead Senior Care of Lexington a provider of companionship and home care for the elderly. He can be reached at 781-402-0060.