Tips on Selecting Home Care

Health Care Alternatives - Home Health Care

Private Hires or Agency Staff - Should I hire privately or use agency personnel?

Selecting a home care provider can be difficult and confusing. There are pros and cons to either choice. Private hires are screened and hired by you; therefore you have total control over who you choose to have as a caregiver. Private hires are usually less costly in comparison to agency personnel. However, you may have legal responsibilities regarding taxes and social security associated with "household employees." You should also know the extent and limitations of your homeowner's/renter's policy protecting you against property damage, theft and injury. Private hires also lack supervision and accountability.

Agency personnel, on the other hand, are usually carefully screened and monitored. Agencies with high standards usually drug screen, do criminal background checks, and require abstract reviews in their employment process. Agency personnel are supervised and monitored with skills competency checks done annually. Agencies are also bonded and insured. Most agencies with high customer service values will usually allow you to interview or trial staff to ensure personality and skill compatibility. Agency personnel are often more costly due to the administrative costs associated with recruiting, hiring, screening, monitoring, and training of agency personnel, but at least someone is held accountable!

Selecting Home Care

The following is recommended to help you evaluate home care agencies. You should be able to ask questions to determine whether an organization meets these important standards. You should consider interviewing at least three agencies.

Standards to measure home care organizations:

Delivery of Care should be client-focused.

Patient Rights are explained and observed at all times.

Confidentiality is assured and maintained at all times.

Professional assessment begins with the agency's first encounter with the patient/family and is ongoing.

Services are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. A Registered Nurse is available at all times. Staff is supervised regularly.

Planning for care includes the patient, family, physician and home care team.

Community resources are accessed appropriately.

Infection control processes are in place and monitored.

Patient and staff safety systems are in place and monitored.

Discharge planning involves the patient/family and includes instruction for self care or alternate care arrangements.

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