How to Choose a Home Health Care Agency
Recognizing that you or your loved ones needs help to continue to live at home is the first step to finding trusted care. There are many companies that offer to match families with caregivers, but it may be quite daunting to choose the right one for your situation.
Begin with identifying the type of care needed. Is the patient unable to manage their daily routine and hygiene? Non-medical home care may be provided to help with day-to-day chores, such as meal preparation, laundry, bathing, dressing, toileting and medication reminders. Non medical caregivers can provide a range of services, from light housekeeping to non-clinical custodial care, while providing needed social interaction with a patient.
If more skilled medical assistance is needed, such as wound care, administration of medications such as IVs, monitoring of vital signs, physical, speech or occupational therapy, then you'll want to find an agency that can provide professionals with the proper credentials and training.
Sometimes, services needed overlap, so choose an agency that can provide a variety of services. Discuss these needs in detail with at least three different companies to identify the best fit for your family. Among the questions you should ask are:
How much does the service cost and will insurance or medicare cover the care? Are there a minimum of hours required to hire the caregiver? Initial estimates for care may vary based on a more in-depth review of your needs, so don't dismiss a company if they cannot provide an exact cost before learning more about your needs. Instead, ask for a range of hourly costs.
Is the company licensed, bonded and insured? State laws vary, but generally home care companies should be licensed and bonded for your protection. Some companies, like Elite Home Health Care, also bond their employees. All companies should also have proper insurance coverage.
How are caregivers trained? Are medical personnel properly licensed? Does the company have standard procedures and practices in place? Education and credential requirements, background checks and drug screenings are standard practices home care companies use in the process of hiring professional caregivers. In addition to training, there are many certifications and accreditations that companies can voluntarily obtain, so ask about these too.
How is the patient's care planned and monitored? Are family members involved in developing the plan, and is treatment documented? Family members should be able to participate in the plan in order gauge the patient's ongoing progress. Supervisory roles should also be considered when interviewing the company, to ensure proper procedures are followed, especially in the case of emergencies.
Finally, the company's reputation and tenure in the community is important, so you may find valuable information and reviews by doing some research online.
For a list of more detailed information you should consider when choosing a home health care agency, click here.
