Need Home Care Help? Here’s 12 Must Ask Questions
You Know You Need Home Care Help. Now What?
If you are looking to hire an agency to help care for your aging parents, a child with physical or mental challenges, or a mom on bed rest, you’re probably wondering, “Where do I start? How do I know what questions to ask?” It can be a very emotional and overwhelming time for you. We get that. We understand what you need. We’ve designed this checklist of questions to help you navigate these waters—to help you find the best care possible for you and those you love.
12 Must Ask Questions:
- Do you complete background checks that include driving histories? What time period and geographical area do they cover? Do you continue periodic background checks throughout employment? How often?
- Do you randomly drug-test employees? How often are they tested? What tests do you use?
- Do you verify references, licensing, and Tuberculosis testing?
- How do you supervise your employees? (how often do you make unannounced supervisory visits with each caregiver?)
- How do you track and bill caregiver hours? (Do employees self-report their time or is time managed by technology such as GPS or telephony? Do you bill for blocks of time or actual time worked?)
- What type of training do you provide for your employees, and how often? Do you ensure their licensing remains valid?
- What insurance does your agency carry? (Expect home care agencies to carry worker’s compensation, liability insurance, and bonding or third-party theft insurance)
- What is your cancellation policy if we should need to cancel a shift?
Do you require a contract or a commitment for a minimum number of hours per week/month?
- Can you provide transportation?
- Who do I contact if I have an issue? How do you provide coverage for issues that arise outside of regular office hours?
- What is the process to update my care plan if my care needs change?
- Will the same caregiver assist me on a regular basis? What do I do if I want to change the caregiver who assists me? What do you do if a caregiver is out sick?
If you need home care help in the Raleigh/Durham area, call us. Ask us these questions and any others you might have. The safety and satisfaction of you and your loved one is our highest concern, and we would be honored to be of service to you.
Give us a call today:
919.629.2044
Extension of You Home Care
help@theextensionofyou.com
