Choosing the right home healthcare agency is a major decision.

It is important when selecting an agency that you ask the appropriate questions during your initial meeting. Knowing all the facts about an agency will allow you to select the best agency equipped to handle your needs.

Below is a list of questions that you can take with you during the interview process of home healthcare agencies.

Questions to Ask a Home Healthcare Agency

• How many years has the agency been serving your community?
• Does the agency offer printed material describing its services and costs? (i.e. brochures, flyers)
• Is the agency an approved Medicare provider?
• Is the agency accredited? In other words, has their quality of care been surveyed and approved by an outside accrediting organization (such as CHAP, JCAHO or Medicare)?
• Is the agency licensed by your state (if required)?
• Does the agency provide patients with a "Bill of Rights" that outlines the rights and responsibilities of the agency, patient, and caregiver alike?
• Is there a written plan of care for the patient's treatment that the patient, physician and family participate in developing?
• Is this plan updated over the course of the treatment?
• Does the patient get a copy of the plan?
• Does the agency staff educate the family members on the care being administered to the patient and ways they can assist?
• Is the patient's course of treatment documented, detailing the specific tasks to be carried out by each professional? (i.e. medicines, exercises, daily activities)
• Are supervisors assigned to oversee care to ensure that the patient receive quality treatment?
• Are agency caregivers available seven days a week?
• Does the agency have a nursing supervisor on call and available 24 hours a day?
• Does the agency ensure patient confidentiality? How?
• How are agency employees hired and trained?
• Does the agency require criminal record background checks and communicable disease screens for its employees?
• What is the procedure for resolving issues that may arise between the patient/family and home healthcare staff?
• Who can you call with questions or complaints regarding patient care, caretaker issues or general questions?
• What happens if a staff member fails to make a scheduled visit?
• What should the patient do in this situation?
• Who does the agency call if the agency caretaker cannot come when scheduled? (i.e. patient or family member)
• What is the agency caretaker required to do? (i.e. inform patient, reschedule)
• How does the agency handle billing? (i.e., will I be billed for services?)
• Will the agency provide a list of references?

Questions to ask references for the home healthcare agency and/or caretaker?

• Do you frequently refer patients to this agency?
• If a physician, are your patients satisfied with the services?
• Do you have a contractual arrangement with this agency? If so, are they required to meet special standards of care?
• How long have you been working with this particular agency/caretaker?
• What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of the agency/caretaker that you noticed?

If you purchase home healthcare services from an individual rather than through an agency it is important to screen the individual person(s) providing the scheduled care. Interview the caregiver to be sure he or she is qualified for the job. It is helpful to ask for references, as well as, to have a list of required tasks the caretaker may have to perform with the patient (i.e. getting in and out of a wheelchair, bathing, administering specific types of medicine). This way you know that he or she can in deed perform these tasks.