When it’s time to get some professional home care assistance, finding the right provider can feel like looking for a needle in the proverbial haystack. Making a better-informed decision takes planning and preparation as you research and explore the many home care companies out there. As a potential client or vested family member, using the following caregiver hiring tips will help ensure that all your objectives get met.    

Ask for Referrals

Sometimes, knowing where to find home care providers is half the battle. Ask your friends, coworkers, neighbors, and relatives for referrals if you’ve never hired an agency before. If you are an informal caregiver who lives far away from your aging loved one, a quick Google search can pull up the names of home care companies in their community.

Read Client Testimonials

In addition to recommendations from trusted sources, you’ll also need to research what others say about each agency. Online reviews from clients and their families also reveal much about an agency’s reputation, along with testimonials from current and former employees.

Reputable home care companies also conduct drug tests and extensive background checks on their employees, including criminal and driving records. While you’re at it, check to see if the agency meets all your state’s certification requirements.

Research Their Services

Initially, your loved one may only need a little help performing activities of daily living (ADLs), like light housekeeping, meals, or bathing. But if they were recently diagnosed with a serious illness or dementia, it may take specialized care to maintain their independent lifestyle and quality of life.

Look for a provider that offers a full menu of in-home services, including dementia care, post-surgical care, transportation, and other options. It’s also prudent to find out if the company provides ongoing staff training and if their caregivers are certified per state requirements.

Determine How Much It Costs

Contrary to what you might think, Medicare does not cover elective home care services like personal care, private duty care, or homemaker services. While your choice of an in-home care provider should not exclusively hinge on price, it will inevitably play a role. First, determine how much your loved one can afford based on their monthly budget.

In most cases, the cost of care relies on the number of hours the caregiver spends with their client, along with the type of services they provide. Before making your final decision, research each company’s hourly rates, along with how much they charge for daily and overnight visits.

Schedule Screening Interviews

Once you’ve narrowed down your provider search to two or three options, you’ll need to progress to the interview phase. Schedule a screening interview for your loved one with each potential caregiver to ensure that their personality and work ethic align with yours.

During the interview, don’t hesitate to ask the supervisor for references from former or current clients, along with proof of insurance and other certifications. This is also the ideal time to discuss your loved one’s care plan and how the agency would meet those ever-changing needs.

Other questions you should ask each provider include:

  • What’s your backup plan in the event of an emergency or illness?
  • Will the primary caregiver be providing most of the care?
  • How do you measure the competency and performance of your caregivers?
  • How do you determine if a caregiver is a good fit for a client?
  • Do you perform periodic drug tests on your employees?
  • Is a registered nurse (RN) or equivalent case manager available 24/7?

Personalized In-Home Care for Seniors in Southwest Florida

Finding the right home care provider can be time-consuming and nerve-wracking. Put your mind at ease by contacting the caring professionals from Home Instead® Senior Care. Conveniently available in Naples, Fort Myers, and Charlotte County, FL, our senior care services help to enhance the aging experience by providing practical support at home delivered with a human touch.

Our reliable in-home solutions help aging adults stay engaged in everyday life with tailor-made support to stay safe and well at home. At Home Instead, it is always our mission to provide a care plan personalized to your family’s needs – bringing you all comfort, companionship, and peace of mind. To learn more or schedule a time to talk with one of our home care specialists, please visit us at www.homeinsteadcapecoral.com.