Finding the best home care agency for your family and loved ones is important. Here is your ultimate guide to finding the best home health agencies.
It’s difficult to watch out parents get old. One day, we become the caregiver. Allowing your ill or aging loved ones to remain in their home also allows them their dignity.
If they want to remain in their own home, but need a bit of help, then you really owe it to them to get it. Hiring a home health agency to come to your home or theirs gives you all peace of mind.
These home health agencies provide assistance with everyday tasks that they may be struggling with now. If you are looking to get your parents or yourself a little help, we’ve put together a few things to look for.
Finding the Best Home Health Agencies
It can be an awkward situation, trying to help a loved one who may not be willing to accept help. It’s almost always better to hire someone than to allow a family member or friend to take on the responsibility.
Make a List of your Needs
It might be a small matter of fading eyesight or the inability to stand for longer periods of time. Ask about the very specific issues you need to be covered. If you foresee the patient getting progressively worse, then that needs to be addressed, as well.
Maybe you need someone to come in and lend a hand with the cooking. Perhaps it’s mostly companionship. You may need someone who is strong enough to lift the person if need be.
Perhaps it’s someone who has a driving license or speaks a specific language. Maybe they need a special interest.
Ask for Recommendations
Ask your family health care provider for their recommendations. Ask your family, your friends for suggestions. Ask around the neighborhood where they live, to see if anyone there is using an agency they like. They will have names of places to use and those you should avoid, as well.
Put together a list of places to want to know more about. Then you can start looking at their websites and seeing what they offer. Once you think they will be worth investigating further, you can start calling them.
Check Their Reputation
You can find a lot of information on the internet for these agencies. If there are negative comments, don’t automatically remove them from your list. People can write bad reviews for many reasons.
Try to find out more about them, despite the negative comments. It may be someone just making trouble or seeking revenge for something completely unrelated.
There are forums for home care agencies where you can ask questions, read replies and find out more information from people who experienced with each agency. This can be very insightful for you.
Insurance and Licences
Always check that all their credentials are in order. Licenses, certificates and insurance numbers must be listed on their website. If you don’t see it right away, you shouldn’t waste your time looking.
The care staff will need to be bonded to come to your home, so make sure you check out all the information, especially the information they are not showing you. Don’t let a fancy website turn your head, as they may be just out for a quick buck.
Ask About Cost
It can be difficult to decide when it comes to price. The cheapest doesn’t mean it’s the worse, and the most expensive might be just that. Expensive. Make decisions based on needs and services, rather than budget, if you can.
Always check with your health insurance provider, as they may cover some or all of the care needed. But don’t jump at their recommendations right away. Their list of agencies might have cut a deal with the insurance company, where they receive bonuses from each new patient that signs on.
You do need to keep your budget in mind, but also keep in mind that these agencies are businesses, and need to make a profit. You’ll need to weigh your needs against services offered and what you actually need.
Compare Several Agencies
Don’t settle for the first place you find, even if they seem to be perfect. You should still interview a few more, as this will help you get a more well-rounded idea of what to expect from others.
There will be several that will suit your needs, so that’s when you can start to ask about other incentives to help you narrow down the choice. For the types of services available, see more here.
It’s always good to ask about other extras and emergency needs, as they may not offer them up.
Always let them know you are considering other agencies, to help sweeten the deal.
Don’t get Dazzled
Don’t allow yourself to be pressured into a last minute deal or something that sounds too good to be true. It will be. While you can appreciate their need to get clients, you want to be sure it’s right for your family.
Avoid getting locked into a contract that ends up costing you a lot of money and even more to get out of it. There can always be hidden costs for services not mentioned or packages that won’t actually suit your needs.
If a contract is involved, it needs to be agreed upon and understood by all parties. You, the caregiver and the one receiving care.
Know What You Want
Be prepared with the right questions and know exactly what to ask. Some agencies will offer other services, so make sure they provide all the services you need. Location, cost, and types of services all need t to be discussed.
Do your homework, don’t shy away from tough questions and don’t feel you need to rush into your decision. Making sure you get the best care possible is what is important.
You want the best for your family or loved ones, so choose wisely among the home health care agencies to pick one that will help you provide that. If you are looking for a few tips for your own well-being, please keep reading here.
