When you interview in-home care providers, use these questions to guide your discussion.
Tell me about your agency. How long has your agency been in business?
Is the agency licensed by the state?
- Yes
- No
What services is your agency licensed to perform?
Are the caregivers agency employees or are they independent contractors?
- Employees
- Independent contractors
Do you send the same staff member out for every visit or do you assign different staff to a job?
- Same staff
- Different staff
Workman’s compensation covers any injury to the aide that occurs on a person’s property. Is the aide covered by Workman’s compensation?
- Yes
- No
Does the agency have a minimum number of hours or days that service is required?
- Yes
- No
What type of employee screening is done when hiring?
Does the agency supply literature explaining its services, eligibility requirements, fees, and funding sources?
- Yes
- No
How much on the job training is required initially and throughout the year?
Any specialized training in dementia?
- Yes
- No
Is a nurse required to evaluate the patient’s home care needs?
- Yes
- No
Do they provide a written care plan?
- Yes. How often is it updated?
- No
Does the agency assign a supervisor to oversee the quality of care patients are receiving in the home and how often are the patients visited in the home?
- Yes
- No
Who do you call if the aide doesn’t show and what does the agency do about it?
Do you have an after-hours phone number someone can call in emergencies?
- Yes
- No