{"id":8925,"date":"2018-05-31T22:14:53","date_gmt":"2018-06-01T02:14:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/caringhandsunited.com\/info\/?p=8925"},"modified":"2018-06-08T14:45:36","modified_gmt":"2018-06-08T18:45:36","slug":"tips-for-finding-a-home-care-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/caringhandsunited.com\/info\/tips-for-finding-a-home-care-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Finding a Home Care Agency"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8926\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/caringhandsunited.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/choosingprovider.jpg\" width=\"454\" height=\"196\" srcset=\"https:\/\/caringhandsunited.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/choosingprovider.jpg 454w, https:\/\/caringhandsunited.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/choosingprovider-300x129.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 454px) 100vw, 454px\" \/>It is important that you research a company and ask about its reputation. Once the names of several providers have been acquired, it is also important that you learn more about their services. The questions in this article will assist you in finding and choosing the right home care provider. <!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h3>Licensing and Certification<\/h3>\n<div class=\"su-divider-solid\"><\/div>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>Is it listed with the Department of Human Resources (DHR) or the Healthcare Facility Regulation (HFR) in the state?<\/strong><br \/>\nTip: This will show whether or not the agency is licensed and certified.<\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>Does a state or re-certification agency conduct re-certification for this agency periodically?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>How long has the provider been serving the community?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong><\/strong><strong>Is the agency listed with the Better Business Bureau that covers the area?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"su_custom_style_div\" style=\"margin: auto; text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" align=\"middle\" scrolling=\"no\" allowTransparency=\"true\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/goanimate.com\/player\/embed\/06lwdOPaZwck\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h3>Client Intake and Procedural Concerns<\/h3>\n<div class=\"su-divider-solid\"><\/div>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>What are the requirements of the contract I will sign?<\/strong><br \/>\nTip: You should not sign a contract requiring minimum charges or a minimum amount or service. You should only pay for services you receive. If you need to cancel services, you should be able to do so without penalty. If a company is confident of the quality of its services, they will not force you to commit to a certain number of hours ahead of time.<\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>Does the agency conduct initial home assessment visits to evaluate the patient\u2019s needs and prepare an Individualized care plan prior to beginning services?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>Does the Provider include the patient and family members in developing the Plan of Care and making Care Plan changes?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>How does the provider ensure patient confidentiality?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>Has the agency been cited for HIPPA violations?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>Does the agency use scheduling software that is not only HIPPA compliant but also allows for comprehensive continuity of care for its schedulers?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>How would the office staff know when the aide did not show-up for work? Is there a clock-in system in place to notify the office?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>Does the provider assign supervisors to oversee the quality of care patients are receiving in their homes?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\">\u00a0<strong>Is there a toll-free number for patients and family members to call with questions, emergencies, or complaints?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>What happens if I have a problem after business hours?<\/strong><br \/>\nTip: There should be someone on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to calls.<\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>How does the agency resolve conflicts or complaints?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>Is the patient\u2019s course of treatment documented\u2014detailing the specific task to be carried out by each assigned caregiver\u2014and updated as any changes occur? Does the patient and family receive a copy of this plan of care, and do caregivers update it as changes occur?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>Does the provider provide supervisory nurses that take time to educate family members on the care being administered to the patient?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>Is there a nurse available for questions?<\/strong><br \/>\nTip: The on-call staff should be able to access a nurse any time.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h3>Employees and Staffing<\/h3>\n<div class=\"su-divider-solid\"><\/div>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>How does the provider select and train its employees?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>Does the agency protect its workers with written policies, procedures, benefit packages, liability insurance, and malpractice insurance?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>What happens if an accident happens in your home or something is missing? Will your insurance be responsible or would the agency\u2019s insurance cover it?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>Does the agency allow caregivers to drive patients to doctor\u2019s appointments or other errands?<\/strong><br \/>\nTip: Be sure the any agency you select carries Non-Owned Automobile coverage if they will be escorting or running any errands for you or your loved one. Otherwise, YOU could be responsible for the cost.<\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>Are the caregivers employees or independent contractors?<\/strong><br \/>\nTip: This is one of the most important questions the patient or their family should ask. Typically, agencies that label their workers as \u201cindependent contractors\u201d do not deduct taxes from the workers\u2019 checks. However, someone is responsible for income tax and social security withholdings. If the caregivers are contractors to the patient, then the\u00a0<i>patient<\/i>\u00a0is responsible to the IRS. Also, if an accident occurs in the patient\u2019s home, the patient would be held responsible if the caregiver is considered an \u201cindependent contractor. It is important to note that homeowner\u2019s insurance does not extend to employees. Simply put\u2014do not use an agency that uses contractors for employees.<\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>Does the agency carry workers\u2019 compensation insurance for employees?<\/strong><br \/>\nTip: Contract employees (non W2) are generally not covered by Workers\u2019 Compensation Insurance. Just because a company says they have coverage does not make it so. If you have any doubt, ask for a copy of the declaration page of the coverage. Legitimate companies will have no problem with this. Private caregivers NEVER have coverage. If they are injured at your home, you will be responsible and your homeowners\u2019 insurance will not cover it.<\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>Does the agency do criminal background checks?<\/strong><br \/>\nTip If someone is in your home, especially with an elderly person, you should be sure of his or her background. Also, internet (on-line) checks are not reliable. Anyone working in your home should have a letter on file from a local law enforcement agency that has checked the FBI database.<\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-bottom: 20px;\"><strong>What happens if my caregiver is sick or cannot work?<\/strong><br \/>\nTip: One of the benefits of using some agencies is that a qualified replacement certified nurses\u2019 aide will be available to fill in if your regular caregiver is ill or needs a day off. Be sure to confirm that the agency has adequate staff on hand to meet your needs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It is important that you research a company and ask about its reputation. Once the names of several providers have been acquired, it is also important that you learn more about their services. The questions in this article will assist you in finding and choosing the right home care provider.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8926,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37,58],"tags":[56,55],"class_list":["post-8925","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-featured","tag-advice","tag-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/caringhandsunited.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8925","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/caringhandsunited.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/caringhandsunited.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caringhandsunited.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caringhandsunited.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8925"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/caringhandsunited.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8925\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9255,"href":"https:\/\/caringhandsunited.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8925\/revisions\/9255"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caringhandsunited.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8926"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/caringhandsunited.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8925"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caringhandsunited.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8925"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caringhandsunited.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8925"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}