How to Compare Home Health Care Agencies?

When you are interviewing home health care agencies consider the following 16 questions.

1. Are you licensed for medical care and non-medical (companion) care?
2. Are all employees drug tested, background checked, licensed, bonded and insured?
3. Does your agency make periodic supervisory visits to the clients home to assure quality?
4. Does your agency have method or system of monitoring the quality of their agency?
5. How often does your agency update your plan of care?
6. Does your agency have a guaranteed compatibility system in place to assure client satisfaction?
7. Can I get a caregiver who has worked with a patient of similar condition/illness?
8. Can I interview the employee(s) before I commit to using your agency?
9. Will your agency provide a free no commitment in-home assessment?
10. Does your agency provide 24/7 telephone service? Do they use an answering service or pagers?
11. Does your agency have a registered nurse available 24/7?
12. Does your agency require a minimum length of visit? If so, what is the minimum?
13. Does your agency maintain a business office where I can meet you and the office staff?
14. Can you provide emergency monitoring systems, medication solutions and other safety technology?
15. How quickly can you initiate services?
16. Are you able to provide a timely and comparable caregiver substitutions in the event the scheduled caregiver has an emergency?