Sunday 27 April 2014

Questions to Ask Before Deciding on Home Health Care Agency

You have made the decision to hire some home caregivers. You are looking into different agencies to find some help to allow your loved one to live at home. You might be confused on all of your different options. However, there are some questions that you need ask the  home health care agency to make sure that you or your loved one gets the best care possible.

1. Are you licensed by your state? Not all states require  home health care agencies to be licensed so if they are licensed, they just might be a stronger agency.

2. Are you Medicare certified? If they are certified, they have to follow certain regulations so you know that you are getting a good agency.

3. What kind of checks do you do on your employees? Do they need to have background checks? What are their requirements? You want to know what kind of people will be working with you or your loved one.

4. Are we able to meet the caregivers and choose who we want as caregivers? Some home health care agencies will allow you to pick the people who come into your home, allowing you to find people that you are comfortable with.

5. What kind of training do your caregivers receive? Do they have regular training after they are hired? You want to make sure that the people who care for you or your loved one is thoroughly trained. You also want them to continuously learn so that they maintain their level of care.

6. How often do your caregivers leave this job? You want to know if the caregivers are happy with their job. You do not want a high turnover rate.

7. How are your caregivers supervised? You want to make sure that the caregivers are regulated so that they continue to do a good job.

8. What do you do with vacations, holidays, and sick days?  You need to know the backup plan for the agency.

9. Can I check references? It is always nice to talk to people who have gone through the process. Be sure to ask their honest opinion.

It is always helpful to have a list of questions to ask before you meet with a home health care agency. Be sure to ask them about their licensing. It is always important to find out some information about their employees, both about the hiring process and their training. Be sure to check for references also so that you know you get the best possible care for you or your loved one.  Contact Garden State Elder Care for assistance with you or your loved one.

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