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Homecare providers deliver a wide variety of health care and supportive services. These can range from professional nursing and home health aide services to physical, occupational, respiratory, and speech therapies. Providers may be for-profit, non-profit (VNAs), or hospital based. But, in each instance, there are questions you should ask that will protect you or a loved one from less than optimum care.

People often receive home health services following a hospitalization or care in other settings. Physicians, family, and friends often recommend agencies but there are questions that can help you and your family find a reputable and reliable facility.

Here’s a list of detailed and in-depth questions you’ll want to explore:

• How long has the agency served my community?
• Who owns the agency?  How long have they been in business?
• Can the agency provide me with written information about their services, including cost, billing procedures and insurance eligibility requirements?
• Can the agency provide me with written information about the rights and responsibilities of the providers, patients and caregivers?
• Is the agency “approved” or “certified” to provide services to Medicare patients?
• Is the agency inspected by an outside organization? May I see the result of the inspection?
• Does the agency perform a customer satisfaction survey? May I see the results of the last survey?
• Is their a written plan of care for each patient? Does the agency involve the patient and caregivers in designing this plan and educate them about the care provided?
• Will the same caregiver be sent to my home for each visit?
• Does the agency schedule care at any time of the day or night that my physician says is necessary?
• What kind of training does the agency require for caregivers?
• Do the agency’s caregivers work directly for the agency? How are they supervised? Are they given criminal background checks?
• Whom should I call with questions or complaints? How will the agency respond?
• How does the agency respond to emergencies? How long does it take them to respond to calls?
• Will the agency help find other community services, such as Meals on Wheels or homemaker’s services—or assist with finding medical equipment?v
• Can the agency give me references that are familiar with their services?

Well, get the idea? And that’s just the beginning.  The American Association for Homecare can help you navigate the most intricate governmental issues as well as address questions about medication and medical equipment. And much more. Their Web site is a wealth of information and it could protect your life or that of a loved one.

Visit their Web site at: http://www.aahomecare.org/. It could be the start of learning a great deal more about the things that can make your life more enjoyable and vital!