Choosing a home care agency for an elderly loved one is a big decision. Families want an agency that provides the best care possible, a skilled and compassionate team that offers services suited to their loved one’s needs.

Families will typically conduct an interview before hiring, but what questions should they ask? This article will provide some key topics, ensuring you choose the best agency in your area.

Table of Contents

Questions to Ask a Home Care Agency

Families should ask homecare agencies the following questions during the interview process.

What Services Do You Offer?

Home care services vary among providers. Most agencies offer basic services, such as light cleaning, food prep, companion care, transportation, and self-care assistance. Others provide home health care, specialized services meant to address chronic conditions like cancer, diabetes, and dementia.

Ensure the provider offers caregiver services suited to your loved one’s needs.

What are Your Caregiver Qualifications?

Your home care aide will work closely with your loved one. It’s essential to ensure they are qualified. Ask the agency about their:

Training
Background checks
Bonding
Insurance
Vaccines

…and any other qualifications that may be important to you and your family.

Costs and Payment

Your loved one’s well-being is priceless, but most people must consider the budget when hiring home care assistance. In addition to the cost itself, you may want to find out:

If the agency accepts insurance, which could potentially lower costs
Whether they work with state programs, which can also reduce costs, many even offer programs allowing family members to get paid for caring for loved ones,
Inquire about payment plans- for example, some agencies may allow payments to be split among relatives and will collect them separately, making it convenient to divide costs.

Emergencies and Protocols

Emergencies can happen in home care, and families should learn how agencies handle sudden events. For example, you may ask:

What happens if my loved one’s caregiver calls in sick?
How do you handle falls and other health emergencies?
What happens if my loved one needs to evacuate due to a natural disaster or another unavoidable condition?

Scheduling

Families should inquire about scheduling to ensure potential agencies meet their needs. For example, most agencies offer:

Full-time care
Part-time care
24/7 care
Respite care

However, learning precisely what each agency offers and ensuring that their caregivers meet your loved one’s care and scheduling needs is worthwhile.

Caring With Integrity is an Agency You Can Trust

Finding the ideal agency for your loved one can take some time. It’s best to start with trusted agencies that the community respects. Caring with Integrity is an optimal choice.

Caring With Integrity offers trained, compassionate caregivers who provide personalized attention. Our team prioritizes safety, independence, and well-being in everything we do. We offer a wide range of services, ensuring you find a solution suited to your loved one’s needs.

FAQs

What are the 3 Cs of caregiving?

The 3 Cs of caregiving are comfort, compassion, and companionship. Families should look for these characteristics when interviewing agencies.

What is the most important skill for a caregiver?

Caregivers should have various soft skills, including:

Effective communication
Empathy
Compassion
Attention to detail
Observational skills
Patience
Understanding
Physical strength
Stamina
Time management
Cultural competency
Respect
Problem-solving
Critical thinking

What should caregivers not do?

Families should ensure caregivers don’t cross the line and engage in certain behaviors. For example, the caregiver should not provide medical care unless they are trained to do so. Additionally, while caregivers may suggest home renovations to make the property more elderly-friendly, they should never offer to perform the upgrades themselves.