24 Jun How Can You Select the
Right Home Care Provider?
Finding a home care provider isn’t a decision you should take lightly. Because they help with everything from medication management to meal prep, bathing, and running errands, this person will become an important fixture in your or your loved one’s life. It’s important to take your time and consider these things when hiring the right person for the job.
Consider qualifications and experience
Qualifications and experience are important to consider. For example:
- Is the provider licensed or certified to perform certain kinds of care?
- How many years of experience, or how many people has this person cared for?
- What kinds of care services do they have experience doing?
- Has a criminal background check been done?
- What kind of training have they undergone?
In addition, you will want to consider whether this person is a private aide or if they provide care through an agency, as those who provide care through an agency generally go through a rigorous hiring process.
Contact references
You should always contact references before you hire a care provider. Just because someone is properly licensed, certified, and has years of experience doesn’t necessarily mean they will conduct themselves in a manner you will be comfortable with.
Contact any previous patients, community leaders, and discharge planners and ask them to tell you about the person you’re interviewing. Is this a person they refer people to? Are they still working with this provider? What does a day in the life of being cared for by this person look like? These are all important questions to ask as you can learn more about the person above and beyond what is on their resume.
Listen to your intuition
Other things you may want to consider include financial procedures, documentation of care, and involvement of family members, but at the end of the day, none of that really matters if the person you have hired ultimately isn’t a good fit for you or your loved one.
Listen to your gut. It doesn’t matter if the home care provider you’re interviewing has extensive experience and a stellar list of references. If they make you feel uncomfortable or they just don’t seem to click with your loved one, it’s okay to keep looking.
At Life & Health Care, we strive to match each and every one of our clients with the provider that’s the best fit for their needs and temperament. Learn more about our registered nurses and home care aides by filling out our online form or give us a call at 515-832-4442.