It pays to be ultra-cautious before you bring any stranger into your senior's home. Using an elder care agency may make you feel somewhat more secure, but there are still several questions you should ask before you hire a senior home care agency. If the answers you receive make you uncomfortable in any way, then trust your instincts and interview another agency.
1. How Long Has The Agency Been In Business? Running a home care agency is a complicated business. New agencies are less likely to have the necessary know-how or the experienced employees to cover your needs. Look for an agency that has been in business at least three years, and preferably five. This will weed out the new companies that are destined to fail because they don't know what they are doing and don't have the financial resources to do it right.
2. Is the Agency Licensed? Licensed home care agencies will be monitored by the licensing agency and will have to adhere to strict guidelines about who they hire and how they do business.
3. Does the Agency Provide an Annual W2 to Every Employee? Employees of a home care agency will receive a W2 form every year for income tax purposes. If the homecare agency is providing a W2, this verifies that their workers really are employees of the agency. The agency is properly managing tax withholding and mandatory Social Security payments.
4. What Insurance Does The Agency Carry? Some home care agencies carry little (or no) insurance. A good agency will be willing to send you proof that they have Professional and General Liability Insurance, Workers' Compensation Insurance, and Dishonesty Bonding for their employees.
5. How Does The Agency Screen Employees? Thorough background checking is mandatory. Doing a local background check on someone who has recently moved from another state isn't enough. Does the agency routinely do drug screens? How does the agency verify that an employee has the skills she says she has? How many references does the agency check, and how far back do they go?
6. What Is the Employee Replacement Policy? If you are unhappy with a home care agency employee, what is the agency's policy? The agency should guarantee that they will work with you until you have the right person on the job. If an employee doesn't show up for work, does the agency have someone who will immediately come to fill in, day or night?
7. What Are The Agency Fees? What is the hourly rate for the kind of assistance you need? What is the minimum number of hours the agency requires you to use per day or per week? Is there a discount if you use more than a certain number of hours in a week or a month? What is the maximum number of hours an employee can work in one day or in one week? What will cause the fees to go up? How much notice do you have to give if you wish to discontinue services? Will you have to pay a deposit? How much?
8. How Does The Agency Monitor Employees? Does the agency have a system for verifying that workers arrive and leave when they should? Does the agency work together with you to prepare a written care plan? What system does the agency use to communicate with employees about changes in the care plan or other issues? Does a supervisor visit employees on the job? How often?
9. What is the Agency's Process for Starting Services? Will a Manager come to the elder's home to assess personality and needs so the right caregiver can be matched to the job? What if your need is urgent and you need someone there now? How long does it take to get help in an urgent situation? Does the agency need documents from a doctor?
10. Will the Agency Provide References You Can Call? Ask for references from several years ago as well as current clients.
Follow these guidelines and both you and the senior home care agency you hire should be a good match. You'll be assured that your agency is professional in every aspect of their business. You'll both know what to expect from each other, and you'll know how best to communicate with each other.
Caring for a senior means being as prepared ahead of time as you can be. Learn more about how to get the critically important texasagingnetwork.com/caregivers-corner/at-home-planning.htm elder care information you'll need at texasagingnetwork.com texasagingnetwork.com
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