Tips for Selecting the Right Home Care Provider

Feeling the loss of independence due to aging and deteriorating health can make one feel vulnerable. While most seniors want to age at home, the reality is that nearly half of older adults in the U.S. report needing assistance with some daily living activities to do that. These activities include toileting, bathing, transferring, dressing, grooming/hygiene, cooking, and walking. But where does one turn when they need help at home, and how do they ensure they find attentive, compassionate, high-quality care that helps them maintain their dignity?

Finding a Home Care Fit

Choosing a home care provider comes down to fit and trust. Much as you don’t invite just anyone into your home, you want assurance that the provider you let into your private sanctuary is one you are comfortable with and trust. That’s why experts recommend being vigilant before choosing a provider.

Start With a List

Depending on your location, there may be several home care agencies to choose from. If you are in a smaller community, you may have limited choices. In either case, your due diligence should include these points:

• Start by making a list. Ask family and friends for referrals.
• Ask for references from doctors, discharge planners, or other medical providers.
• Expand or narrow the list by doing Google searches and visiting websites to learn more about each home care agency and its services.
• Read reviews, testimonials, and industry ratings to help assess each agency’s reputation.
• Create a preliminary ranking based on how well each agency matches your needs, and then adjust your ranking accordingly after speaking with each of them.

Providers Who Can Flex Their Services Work Well

Aging is a fluid process, which means things change. A new diagnosis, a complication, an injury, or major surgery may necessitate more intensive in-home care at some point. That’s why, experts say, it’s best to find a provider with a full menu of in-home services that can fulfill any eventuality. Those services should include dementia care, post-surgical care, and transportation. When care needs change and become perhaps more complex, you will want the provider to have the requisite skilled training, experience, resources, and care plan to address those new dynamics. As the need for more care arises, you will want the provider to recognize and respond to the changes with minimal disruption. You will also want the provider to proactively identify what care changes might be needed.

The Next Step: Asking Questions

Once you have a list of possible home care agencies, begin thinking about what questions you want to ask. Here are some you might consider:

• What services do I need now, and what services are offered that I might need down the road?
• How long has the agency been in operation? Request any relative educational or promotional materials for your education.
• What are the protocols for an emergency or illness?
• Will a primary caregiver render most of the care, or will there be multiple caregivers?
• How are caregivers trained, and how is the competency and performance of caregivers measured?
• How is the determination made on whether a caregiver is a good fit for a senior?
• Is a registered nurse (RN) or equivalent case manager available 24/7?

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice recommends that each home care provider answer the following checklist of questions so you can make the most informed choice:

• Does the provider abide by a “Client Bill of Rights,” detailing the rights and responsibilities of providers, clients, and caregivers?
• How does the provider select and train employees? Does it conduct background checks and drug testing? What state certifications and licenses do in-home care workers and supervisors hold? Are they bond-insured?
• If nurses or therapists are required to evaluate the client’s home care needs, what does this entail? Do they consult the client’s physicians and family members? Are the client and their family members included in developing the plan of care? Are they involved in making care plan changes?
• Is the client’s course of treatment documented, detailing the specific tasks to be carried out by each professional caregiver? Do the client and their family have ready access to this plan, and do the caregivers update it as changes occur? Does the provider take time to educate family members on the care being administered to the client?
• Do assigned supervisors oversee the quality of care clients receive at home? How often are these visits? Who can the client and their family members call with questions or complaints? How does the provider follow up on and resolve problems?
• Are caregivers available 24 hours a day, seven days a week?
• How is client confidentiality ensured?
• Does the provider furnish written statements explaining all the costs and payment plan options associated with home care?

In addition to the above checklist of questions, find out the hourly bill rates for various services upfront and compare them to your personal/household budget to determine affordability. Ask how much is charged for daily and overnight visits. Be advised that Medicare does not cover elective home care agency services like personal care or homemaker services. Right at Home offers a FREE Ways To Pay for In-Home Care guide that helps families understand all the options for in-home care and the different funding sources that can help pay for it.

What Happens After You Become a Client?

Reputable home care agencies such as Right at Home follow a transparent process when accepting a new client. Make sure you ask your agency how it ensures that extraordinary care and service are provided after care begins.

At Right at Home, our five-step approach focuses on the client and supporting the family. This process goes like this:

1. First, we’ll ask questions during an in-home consultation and conduct a needs and environmental assessment. We’ll also share information and answer any questions from the client/family to ensure transparency.
2. Based on the assessment, we will tailor a care plan specific to the needs of the client/family. This care plan can be adjusted as needed.
3. Using factors such as personality, interests, and background, Right at Home will match the client with a screened and insured/bonded caregiver. Background and reference checks will also be completed to ensure the caregiver is a perfect match.
4. Our caregivers live our mission of “improving the quality of life for those we serve.” The client’s well-being, social connections, and personal interactions are of paramount importance. Our caregivers provide more than just quality care; they provide extraordinary experiences.
5. Right at Home conducts regular supervisory visits and updates the care plan as needed. Our caregivers report any changes in condition to help prevent small issues from becoming big problems. We also communicate and collaborate with family and health care providers on an ongoing basis.

How Right at Home Can Help

Aging, disability, illness, or injury can make living at home a challenge. Right at Home offers a wide range of in-home care services to help you navigate every step of the aging journey. To find out more about how we can help, use our office locator to contact the office nearest you and ask for a FREE in-home consultation.

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