When finding a home healthcare agency to manage the caregiving responsibilities for your differently-abled or senior loved one, it’s crucial to do your research. You may be asking yourself what questions to ask a home healthcare agency. While there’s a lot to consider when choosing a home care service, honesty and open communication are two of the most essential qualities to look for.
Picking the best home healthcare provider can seem like an overwhelming task, and it’s easy to see why: with over 10 million Americans receiving some type of in-home care, there are many possibilities out there.
There are many things to think about when choosing a home healthcare agency, but asking your candidates these questions can help narrow down your options. Let’s take a closer look at some questions to ask a home healthcare agency.
1. What Services Do You Offer at Your Agency?
It’s important to remember that not every service provider is equal. While the answer to this question will mostly rely on the specifics of your loved one’s situation, it’s still important to be familiar with the agency’s typical scope of work. Give the agency a chance to explain in detail what its caregivers do since they may be capable of providing assistance in areas where you hadn’t thought to look. Some agencies only offer a handful of services, while others provide a full package, such as:
- Medication management
- Meal preparation
- Housekeeping
- Personal grooming
- Bathing and dressing
- Transfers
Additionally, some agencies offer round-the-clock home care for those with chronic conditions, individualized rehabilitation programs, and palliative care.
2. Do Your Caregivers Have Specialized Training?
Does your loved one suffer from an ongoing or complicated health issue? You can rest assured that your loved one will receive the best care possible when their caregivers have received specialized training in handling conditions like Alzheimer’s.
3. Do You Have a Bond and Insurance Policy for Your Caregivers?
An agency providing in-home care for your loved one should only send bonded and insured professionals to ensure their safety.
- Professional liability insurance: This policy is in place to safeguard the caregivers and the agency in the event of an error by an employee or a failure by the agency to deliver the agreed-upon services. Their legal costs, as well as any compensation for damages granted by a court or jury, are covered by this insurance policy.
- Caregiver bonding insurance. Having a financial guarantee to back up the service quality and performance of caregivers is reassuring, especially given the vulnerable nature of in-home care and the potential for theft of personal belongings.4. Will You Assign a Registered Nurse To Visit My Loved One To Create an Individualized Care Plan?
Everyone providing care for your loved one will follow the same guidelines laid out in the care plan. The caregiver, patient, and family members all benefit from a unified understanding of their roles in the care plan and its implementation, which is most effective when carried out in a collaborative effort at the start of home care. It could be as simple as the patient preferring to take their meds between 8 to 10 in the morning. From then, home caregivers implement the care plan under the watchful eye of a registered nurse who verifies compliance and accurate documentation of care by reviewing the plan’s notes.
5. Is There a Logbook the Caregiver Uses To Record the Services They Perform for My Loved One?
Paper charts are the standard method of documentation for in-home care services. Your caregiver should have an up-to-date chart at your house so that you and your loved one can easily see any relevant notes or requests. It’s crucial for everyone involved in caring for your loved one to be aware of any changes to their condition or treatment plan.
6. Is a Registered Nurse Responsible for Overseeing and Assessing the Home Caregivers?
Clinical supervision is essential when providing treatment at home as a quality control measure. This approach verifies that your loved one receives the prescribed care at home. The clinical supervisor is an advanced practice registered nurse who oversees other nurses and coordinates patients’ treatment. Clinical supervisors check patient records for accuracy and function as a second pair of eyes to ensure that everything runs smoothly and there is clear communication.
7. Will the Agency Be Able To Adjust the Care Plan To Accommodate My Loved One’s Specific Needs?
It’s best to choose an agency that can fulfill your loved one’s overall care needs and match them with a caregiver who recognizes their unique requirements because no two families or caregiving situations are the same.
8. Do They Provide Overnight or Round-the-Clock Care to the Patients?
Some agencies don’t provide 24/7 care. Depending on what kind of care you’re looking for for your loved one, it’s essential to go with a home care agency that doesn’t take days off. You want a provider that will be there for you 24/7, 365 days per year, so that you or your loved one don’t go without care and have your needs met.
9. Can I Ask for a Different Caregiver if My Loved One or I Are Unhappy With the Current One?
If you are unhappy with your provider’s assigned caregiver, you may not be able to request a replacement. However, a competent home care provider will allow you to select a different caregiver and implement the switch if you are unsatisfied. However, caregivers are in high demand, and the office staff may need time to find and schedule a replacement if you frequently ask for a new one. When it comes down to it, you get to decide who enters your home.
10. If the Scheduled Caregiver Needs To Cancel, Does the Agency Have a Backup Available To Take Their Place?
There will always be the chance that your loved one’s regular caregiver will be unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances. The best agencies always have someone available to send as a backup.
Wrapping Up
Finding the right home healthcare agency for your loved one involves a lot of research and consideration. With any luck, the answers to these ten questions will help you get started.
Call Honest Home Care in Akron Ohio at 234-350-1740 to learn if we can help you with your home care situation.