When you and your family have decided that in home care is the right choice for your loved one, the next big decision is choosing a home care agency. Searching for an in home care agency in San Diego for example can be intimidating because of all the options available in a major city like ours. You want to make a good choice because the stakes are high, but you’re in unfamiliar territory. How do you know what questions to ask, what qualifications are important and which home care agency will be the best fit?
The first step in the process is selecting a handful of candidates to evaluate in your area. Ask the people around you who have experience with San Diego home care: doctors, nurses, social workers, hospital discharge planners, your local Agency on Aging, local senior care experts, your friends and your neighbors. Check reviews on sites like Yelp, Google and the Better Business Bureau for egregious problems. Once you have a short list, follow guidance from experts on what attributes a San Diego home care provider should have, and what questions they should answer positively.
What Questions Should You Ask About a Home Care Agency?
The San Diego Union-Tribune offers this checklist compiled by the San Diego Elder Law Center to help you evaluate the home care agencies you’re considering:
- The agency provides the type of services and caregivers that are needed now and offers other services that might be needed later.
- An initial assessment is performed by a health professional, such as a nurse or social worker, at a time and location convenient to patient and family.
- The agency can help with arrangements for necessary supplies and equipment in the home, home modifications, and other community resources such as Meals on Wheels, transportation and adult day care.
- Families are encouraged to participate with developing the plan of care and needed ongoing changes.
- The written plan of care clearly states services to be provided.
- Verbal and written information about costs for services and billing procedures are provided.
- The caregivers work directly for the agency.
- The agency takes care of proper employment tax withholding and workers’ compensation for caregivers.
- Staff is licensed and bonded, and caregivers are subject to background checks and routine drug testing.
- Families have a say in the caregivers sent to their home, and if they are unsatisfied with caregiver selection they are able to request changes.
- The same caregiver will be returning each time.
- There is a 24-hour on-call system in place for emergencies.
- You have been provided with a copy of the “Patients’ Rights and Responsibilities.”
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) suggests additional questions that can further clarify your search:
- “How long has this provider been serving the community?
- How does this provider select and train its employees?
- Are nurses or therapists required to evaluate the patient’s home care needs? If so, what does this entail? Do they consult the patient’s physicians and family members?
- Does this provider assign supervisors to oversee the quality of care patients are receiving in their homes? If so, how often do these individuals make visits? Who can the patient and his or her family members call with questions or complaints? How does the agency follow up on and resolve problems?
- How does this provider ensure patient confidentiality?”
When a loved one is in need of home care solutions, choosing the right caregiver is one of the most important decisions you will make. Knowing what criteria to use to evaluate your home care agency options will help you make the best choice.