If you are considering hiring an in-home care agency for yourself or for a loved one to remain home, there are things you need to think about and questions you should ask in order to get the highest quality of care available. Of course, you would want to select the most qualified In-Home Care agency that bests meet your requirement at a cost you can very much afford. You have the right to know as much as you can about the agency, services and the caregiver since you are on the process of selecting someone who will come into your loved one's home regularly. Here are some questions you'll want to consider as a guide during your selection process. By doing this, you will be able to easily compare each company based on the same questions you ask to them.

General Questions About the Agency

• What type of agency is your company?
• Does our state oblige your business to be accredited?
• Is the agency presently licensed by the state?
• What options does your agency provide? What services cannot or wont your agency provide?
• Are services available round the clock, seven days a week? Is management available 24/7?
• How long has your agency been providing services?
• Can I talk to references that have used your services recently?
• How do I go about arranging for care to start?
• How soon can you start care?
• Do you have any minimum requirements regarding the length or frequency of care you provide?
• Is your agency, including your caregiver staff, insured?

Questions About Agency Caregivers

• What types of staff can your agency provide?
• How do you screen and select your caregivers?
• Describe your typical caregiver to me? What kind of caregiver can I expect from your agency?
• What training and support will your agency provide to my caregiver?
• Are your caregivers employees of the agency or would I as the client, be the legal employer?
• Are your caregivers bonded (insured against theft or loss to a home) through the agency?
• What is the procedure if my caregiver does not report to work when scheduled?
• Can a different caregiver be requested if I am unhappy with the worker the agency sent?
• How many caregivers do you have on staff available to care for me at any given time?
• Can I interview the caregivers before they work in my home?

Questions About Costs

• What is the cost of services?
• How are your prices determined?
• Do you require a deposit or any type of payment in advance?
• How often does your agency bill me for services?
• Will your agency bill my LTC insurance company directly?

Questions About Quality

• Does the agency have references or satisfaction reports for itself and staff?
• Is the agency reviewed by an outside organization?
• When was the last review and are the results available to clients?
• What kind of system is there for receiving client problems or complaints and resolving them?
• Is there a written plan of care for each client?
• Are clients and family members involved in putting it together or reviewing it?

Questions About the Agency's Management

• Who owns the agency? How long have they owned the agency?
• Who is the manager in charge? What is there experience in the home care field?
• How can I get in touch with the agency and the manager on evenings and weekends?