If you have an older relative who could use health care at home, you need to know your options. Here are questions to ask before hiring home care providers.
Many people are beginning to choose home healthcare for their loved ones as they continue to age. This gives them the ability to comfortably stay within their homes and not make any unnecessary changes later in life.
But, when it comes to hiring home care agencies, there are some questions that you need to ask before you can decide which to choose. Don’t worry about wondering what you need to ask because we’re going to provide you with all of the questions right here in this guide.
We encourage you to continue reading below for all of those questions that you need the answers to before choosing the right home health agency for your loved one.
1. What Insurance Do You Take?
Unfortunately, home healthcare isn’t one of the cheapest options when it comes to taking care of your loved one later on in life. There are some ways to reduce the cost of using an agency, including using your health insurance.
Before signing a contract with a particular agency, you’ll want to ask them what insurance types they accept. If they take your insurance, then the next step will be contacting your insurance company to inquire about the amount of coverage that will be provided.
If you find that the agency doesn’t accept your insurance, but you really like them, inquire about the costs without insurance. Or you could continue your search and find home care services that do accept your insurance.
2. Do You Have Reviews?
When it comes to reviews, one of the only ways you’re going to be able to get a genuine picture of the work provided by the agency you’re about to hire. You’ll be able to read through past clients’ opinions of the agency, and in some cases, they’ll list the things that they did well and things that need improvement.
If an agency doesn’t point you in the direction of their reviews, that could signal an issue that you want to avoid. Most places nowadays feature the review in an area called testimonials for potential clients to check out before their first meeting.
3. What Are Your Privacy Policies?
When it comes to privacy, it must be maintained at all times when working with your loved one. A privacy policy prevents the worker from sharing information about the condition and medical state of the patient with people who are not authorized to receive it.
When filling out paperwork, ensure that the people that are authorized to receive information about the patient are listed in the correct area. If a healthcare worker is found to breach the privacy policy, they can find themselves in grave legal trouble.
After you’ve been told about privacy practices, it’s always a fantastic idea to ask for a copy. This copy can then be shared amongst relatives and friends making them aware of who has access to information and the rules and guidelines of the health agency.
4. What Training Experience Does the Staff Have?
The last thing you’d want to do is bring someone into your home with no idea what they’re doing. Not only is this unethical, but it can also leave your loved one in a dangerous situation.
Before working with an agency, ensure that all staff members have a license and insurance to work. Different places require employees to go through specific training before they can begin working.
For example, certification for RCFE administration in California is required before beginning a position as a home healthcare worker. It’s better to check the credentials of staff before opening your home to them to protect the well-being of your loved one.
1 in 10 older people have experienced a form of elder abuse, and you don’t want to expose your loved one to that because of someone’s inexperience.
5. Are Caregivers Annually Evaluated?
One way to ensure that you don’t get a negligent caregiver is by asking this question. You’ll be able to understand if an agency is continually evaluating the care that’s provided by their staff.
Each agency should provide regular refresher training to staff to remind them of the procedures and practices that must be adhered too. You might also ask what steps they take when a staff member doesn’t adhere to the policies that they are supposed to.
If an agency doesn’t evaluate staff regularly, then there is no guarantee that you’re going to be satisfied with the services that are provided to your loved one. In that case, you’re better off searching for another facility to hire.
6. What Services Are Provided?
Some agencies offer everything from help with feeding and bathing to performing light household duties. And other agencies only specialize in taking care of your loved one.
Before assuming that everything you want to take care of us provided by the agency ask for a detailed list of the services that they offer. You’ll then have the opportunity to review the list of services to determine whether they’ll fit your loved one’s needs.
7. What If My Parent Doesn’t Like the Caregiver?
In most cases, before a caregiver begins working with your parent, they will stop by for a visit. During this visit, you’ll speak with them and find out whether or not it’ll be a good fit.
After the meeting, if you find that the caregiver isn’t going to be a good fit for your parent, all you’ve got to do is contact the agency and ask them to send someone else. The same goes if the caregiver is working with your parent and your parent starts to have an issue with them.
Contact the agency and tell them about the issues you’ve been having and request another caregiver.
Questions to Ask When Hiring Home Care
When it comes to hiring home care for your elderly parent, the questions listed above must be asked to ensure that you’re getting them the best care possible. They’ve taken care of you your entire life, and they expect the same as they age and need more help completing daily tasks.
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