What To Consider When Choosing The Right Home Health Provider

Selecting the right Home Health agency is time consuming and confusing if you do not know the right questions to ask. Asking the proper questions will ensure the client has the best choice possible for their changing needs and appropriate care. While researching options there are a variety of aspects to consider when choosing the proper agency.

Certifications

You will always want to make sure each agency is state licensed, insured, and bonded. If they offer special services they will need certifications specifically for those services.

Efficiency

Some home healthcare agencies are more productive than others. Phone each agency and ask for quality measures. If their patient outcomes are not tracked then they will most likely not be for you. Each agency should keep track of patient outcomes to prove their satisfaction of past customers.

References Provided

All home healthcare agencies that have been in business a long time should have a list of previous customers that can speak to you about their experience with the agency. Given the information can help you make a better decision of that particular agency.

Ask for a Referral

The best information lays with the medical professionals, friends, or family members who have dealt with the agency you are considering.

RN Overnight

Always pick an agency that has a full-time registered nurse on staff to provide overnight care for every case. Though your loved one may not expect to need an RN, it is a good asset to keep. The RN ensures minor health care problems do not become more serious in nature.

Employee Screening

Every healthcare agency should have a state police background check, driver’s license, and driving record background check, verification of current state certifications for all in-home care givers, and a complete prior work history of all hired employees. In doing all the checks your loved ones are safe around the hired employees.

Personalized Services

Make sure you are only using the services you need and not a packaged deal. The agency should be willing to put together an individualized home care plan and not a bundle some agencies offer. Your specific needs should be covered in the plan. Ask for a free initial assessment to help make your needs apparent and met.

Communication

The most important thing in the healthcare community is communication between the clients and their families as well as the doctors or other home health care staff. There should be meetings weekly with updates of how the treatment is going and to see if anything needs to be adjusted. Meetings will help keep the clients medical, emotional, and social needs covered.

7 Habits of a Good Caregiver

Finding joy in taking care of others

Good listener

Not taking things personally

Allowing time to care for themself

Will ask for help when needed

Positive and remain focused on the task at hand

Patient and adjust with the client's changing needs, whether emotional or physical

Partnering With Your Care Provider

Keep the lines of communication open

Stop by unannounced

Ask questions

Keep your eyes open

Set clear expectations

Consider listing more than one caregiver

Have a back up plan

Show your appreciation