When looking for an in-home care agency, referrals from someone you trust is golden. Good, reputable agencies will have a favorable reputation in the community so ask a trusted health care provider, family member or friend to see who they know.
Once you have the names of several providers, you will want to learn more about them. Use this checklist below as a guide when meeting with providers. It will give you good insight and help you make the right choice of which provider is best for you and your loved one.
1. What services do you provide?
___ transportation ___housekeeping ___ laundry ___ bathing ___medication reminders
___incontinence care ___ errands ___help with bill paying ___ mail sorting
___meal preparation ___ help with other services (pet care, supervising other service providers, etc)
Most in-home care agencies should be able to provide all of these services, and more. They should also develop a personal care plan for your specific needs. Most agencies will provide up to 24 hour care (but most will have a minimum number of hours per visit). Some agencies will even do “pop-in” visits just to check in on your loved one.
2. Who will come to my home? Will you send the same person each time?
___ same caregiver ___ different caregiver ___ 2 or 3 of the same caregivers
determined by: ___ availability ___location ___needs
It’s important to find out if the agency will try to send the same caregiver(s) each time or if they staff based on who is available. Most reputable agencies try to have consistency, so they will work with you to develop a set schedule. Their goal should be to personally match based on your needs and caregiver strengths. Good agencies will also try to match based on abilities, personalities, hobbies, etc. And you always have the option of meeting them prior to placement in the home!
3. What happens if we are not happy with the caregiver you send?
___ Will talk to them ___ Will remove them from service
If at any time you are not satisfied, FOR ANY REASON, the agency should immediately remove that caregiver from service and send someone else.