24 Jun Choosing a Home Health
Provider Checklist
There are a lot of things to consider when searching for a home health care provider. With so many things to think about, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and miss something when you’re interviewing agencies and providers.
Don’t let your search get the best of you! Create a home health checklist to ensure you can check every box before you invite a care provider into your or your loved one’s home.
Create a checklist of your needs
Before you think more specifically about what to look for in an agency or a care provider, you should create a checklist of your needs. It’s essential to consider exactly what you need before searching for an in-home provider to ensure you only seriously consider those who can meet those needs.
Things you may want to add to your checklist include:
- Personal care, like bathing, shaving, or assistance with getting dressed
- Mobility, like help getting exercise and rides to appointments
- Nutrition, like preparing meals and dietary restrictions
- Toileting, like catheter assistance and help in the bathroom
- Companionship, like going for walks or running errands
- Support services, like cleaning, doing laundry, and helping with dishes
- Medical assistance, like medication distribution, physical therapy, and taking vitals
Questions to ask before hiring a home health care provider
Once you have narrowed down what kinds of services you or your loved one requires, it’s time to make a home health checklist for the agency or care provider you want to hire. A few things that should be included on this checklist are:
- How long has the provider been in business or provided care?
- What kind care do they have the most experience with?
- What kind of licensure and certifications do they hold?
- Are aides regularly evaluated?
- Are family members regularly included in care decisions?
- What are the details of care documentation?
- How do payments work, and do they take insurance?
- How are emergencies handled?
Start your research
Once you’re armed with these two lists, you can first make sure the agency you’re interested in is able to provide you with the services you need. Then, you can ensure you choose an in-home care provider who has the right background for your family. Contact Life & Health Care and we would not only be happy to tell you more about our qualifications, we can also help you create a home health checklist that meets your care needs.