It's hard enough to make the decision about the care of an aging relative. But it becomes especially challenging when you don't know where to begin. It's important to know what to look for and questions to ask an in-home care agency to find the right one.
There are many reputable home care agencies. But their range of services is not the same. Finding the right in-home care agency requires thorough research. More than the type of services they provide, you also need to assess their reliability and trustworthiness.
The right home health aide will be like a friend or companion to your aging loved one. You can rest easy that your loved one is in good hands.
What Type of Services Does an In-Home Care Agency Offer?
Reputable health aide agencies offer a wide range of services. Some offer non-medical care like in-home senior care while others offer medical care and long-term care.
But some agencies offer all three types of services.
So what's the difference between these services?
In-Home Senior Care: Homemaker companions provide assistance for your loved one. They will help with house duties and meal preparation. Additionally, they will ensure the safety of your loved one while at home or when going to other places.
Home Health Aide: They provide physical assistance with daily activities like bathing, toileting, eating, dressing, and exercising. Look for a home health aide who has met the state certification training requirements to perform these duties.
Skilled Nursing Care: This is the only in-home care service type that requires an order from a physician. Any service performed will follow the prescribed protocol and be conducted by an RN or LPN.
An in-home care agency with skilled nursing care is perfect for:
Aging seniors with health issues or those who need specialized medical care
Those who require post-hospital rehabilitation at home.
People who are recovering from an injury or medical condition
Long Term Care: This includes a broad range of medical and non-medical services. The goal is to help patients maintain quality of life and achieve a level of independence.
Understanding the different services offered by health aide agencies is the first step.
So what's next?
Getting Started: Finding the Right In-Home Care Agency
Know What Services You Need
First, have a good idea of what you need.
For instance, if you're looking for companionship and assistance for your aging relative, consider these questions:
Do they need help with daily activities?
Do they need assistance with taking their medications?
Can they still take care of themselves but simply needs help with house duties?
If you're unsure, don’t let this slow you down, any reputable home health agency will perform a complimentary in-home care assessment by a registered nurse. Doing so will help you decide what's best for your loved one.
Check Staff Credentials and Conduct Background Checks
You will be entrusting your loved one in their hands. So it's important to be extra careful.
Find out whether the agency performs a background check on their in-home caregivers and registered nurses. Make sure that the agency has proper screening procedures.
Most importantly, the in-home care agency must meet training and certification requirements. Some of the basic certifications you should look for include CPR and First Aid.
Will The Caregivers Be Supervised?
One of the most common concerns is the lack of supervision. So ask how the agency supervises their caregivers.
Many seeking care aren’t aware that many agencies will send caregivers that are independent contractors or from a staffing agency. By law they can’t have the same level of supervision over a contractor compared to a W-2 employee. So ask about this.
Will their supervisors drop in for visits? Will they have home care software that will help manage home care plans?
Top Questions to Ask an In-Home Care Agency
Services
Is the agency accredited by the state? Ask to see their current licenses and registration.
Are the employees licensed and insured?
Does a supervisor drop in for a visit?
Will a Registered Nurse perform the assessment before the start of the service?
Are the services available 24 hours, 7 days a week?
When will services begin?
How long should you wait before services begin?
What should you do if the caregiver or home health aide doesn't show up?
Ask for references. Or ask if you can talk to their previous or current clients.
Staff
Does the in-home care agency screen or conduct background checks on all staff?
Who will supervise the caregiver, home health aide, or Registered Nurse?
Are they a W-2 employee or an independent contractor?
Will the same staff member attend to your loved one? Or will they have a scheduled rotation?
Are personnel files updated regularly?
Who will pay for the staff's insurance?
If you're unhappy with a staff's performance, can you request a change in staff?
Can you meet with the caregiver, home health aide, or Registered Nurse before services start?
Are their staff trained in handling tough patients? How do they handle them?
Will the staff regularly update your family? Will they communicate with you and by what means?
Cost
How much will the services cost?
Will there be additional costs for holidays and other times?
What is the billing procedure? And how often will they bill for services?
Do you need to pay the caregiver, home health aide, or Registered Nurse directly?
Should you tip the staff?
Lastly, ask if you can review the contract before making the final decision. Make sure that you understand all the clauses. Ask questions if there are parts you don't understand. Or if a clause contradicts any information that's been discussed.
These are just some of the basic questions you can ask your agency.
If you're looking for a reputable in-home care agency, Unified Pledge Home Health provides a FREE consultation. You can ask all your questions. Get the information you need to determine the best services for your loved one.
Hiring professionals from Unified Pledge comes with the following advantages:
Level II FBI background checks of all staff
Driving history checks
Companions, health aides, LPNs are our direct employees and not independent contractors
Constant communication to patients, family, and care team
Registered Nurse supervision is ongoing with every care plan
Contact us today for a FREE consultation by a Supervisory Nurse at 561-910-8770.