Next Steps….

So, you’ve determined you or a loved one needs home care. What’s next?

Selecting an In Home Care Agency

It’s important to do some research when looking for a licensed home care provider. You can go to Google, ask a social worker or care manager, get a provider list from the hospital / rehab, and by asking personal friends and acquaintances who you think may have or have had experience with a provider. You can look at agency websites to see the services they offer and look for reviews. Narrow it down to a few and then start calling around to see who a good fit might be.

If you were calling my agency we would want to know the reason you are looking for care and to get a general idea on what is going on health wise with the care recipient. We would answer any questions and then set up a no charge assessment.

 In Home Assessment

During the assessment, which would take place in the care recipient’s home, we will get as much information as possible about the care recipient and exactly what their care needs are so any Care Pro who provides care will know exactly what the client’s needs are and all tasks that need to be completed during the shift. We will discuss scheduling and whether the schedule is flexible or not. Being flexible in the beginning of service can make scheduling easier and more efficient. If the schedule is not flexible we do our best to get consistency as quickly as possible. We will also discuss together and put in writing a  plan of care. We want to be on the same page with expectations. 

Of course there is some paperwork involved. Our agency has a sales agreement, not a contract per se, that spells out how we do business, what we can and can’t do, service rates, etc. You can cancel a shift or all shifts, with 24 hour notice before the next scheduled shift. While doing your research you should find out from the agency what their cancellation policy is.

 Finding a Good Care Pro Fit

Once the assessment and paperwork are complete we will start looking for a Care Pro who we think will be a good fit with the client and has all the skills needed to keep the client happy and safe.

Here is a quick home care checklist for you to review.