contributed by our member LFL
- Who do you send for the initial home care assessment?
- Is it a skilled nurse?
- Is the initial home care assessment free?
- Do you provide a plan of care?
- What type of services does the agency provide (i.e., companionship, assistance with ADLs, meal prep, transportation to doctor’s appts., grocery shopping, errands)
- What hours can you provide a caregiver? If I need someone during the night, can you provide a qualified caregiver?
- Does the hourly/live-in rate include all costs I am required to pay?
- Is the caregiver the agency employee?
- Does the agency pay the caregiver? Including overtime if scheduled?
- How do you match a caregiver with a person needing assistance?
- How do you ensure your caregivers are trustworthy and my family will be safe?
- How do you screen your caregivers?
- Are your home health care workers required to be certified?
- Do you conduct state/national criminal background checks, driver license and credit checks?
- Are your caregivers bonded, insured and covered by workers comp?
- Does the agency carry automobile liability insurance if a caregiver is allowed to drive my car?
- If a caregiver uses his/her own car how are they required to have automobile insurance and how are they reimbursed for costs? (i.e., gas mileage at $0.xx/mile)
- Do you require your caregivers to undergo an annual physical?
What immunizations do you require your CHHA’s to have (i.e., influenza, hepatitis A&B)? - How long has your average caregiver worked for your company?
- How much experience do your caregivers have?
- How do you determine if a CHHA is trained, qualified and has experience caring for a person with dementia?
- What type of training are your caregivers required to have?
- Does the agency require continuous learning skills training?
- Are your caregivers trained in emergency procedures such as CPR, Heimlich, first aid?
- What happens if the caregiver doesn’t show up for their scheduled shift?
- How/when am I notified if the caregiver can’t show up?
- How quickly does your agency provide a QUALIFIED substitute caregiver if the regular aide doesn’t show up?
- How are the caregivers supervised and how does the agency know they are doing their job and following the care plan?
- How do you keep the family informed about what goes on during the day?
- Am I able to request a change in caregivers if he/she is not compatible with the person requiring care?
- What type of payment methods do you accept? (i.e., check, cash, credit card, assignment from LTC)? And when is payment due?
- Am I required to put down a deposit? If so, how much?
- How frequently will I be billed for services? (weekly, every 2 weeks)
- How does the caregiver report his/her time worked and services performed?
- Will the agency send timesheets directly to the LTC for reimbursement?
- Is there a charge for providing documentation?
- What is the agency’s policy regarding the caregiver’s personal telephone (cell phone) use?
- What is the agency’s policy on the caregiver using the client’s home telephone?
- What is the agency’s policy on caregiver visitors to the client’s home?
- What is the agency’s policy if the client gets injured while under the care of the agency caregiver?
- What is the agency’s policy if a caregiver gets seriously injured while caring for a client?
- What is the agency policy/procedure if a client is being abused by a caregiver?
- What is the agency policy if a client observes/catches a caregiver stealing?
- What is the policy/procedure if a caregiver is observed leaving the client premises during working hours? (Meaning leaving the client unattended and alone if the client requires ft supervision during the caregivers shift).
- What is the agency’s liability if the caregiver causes significant damage to costly items (such as appliances, garage doors, home interiors, etc)?
- What is the agency policy regarding pets in the home?
- What is the agency’s policy on medication management and dispensing medications?