Perhaps you have realized that you simply canโt continue to provide adequate care to your loved one. Or maybe your loved one lives far away and your responsibilities at home wonโt allow you to serve as caregiver. In either case, you may need to turn to a professional home care provider. The question is, how do you choose the right person for this important task?
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) has created a valuable checklist with questions you should ask providers and others who may be familiar with the providerโs history. Here are some of the questions NAHC recommends.
- How long has the provider served the community?
- Does the provider have literature explaining its services, eligibility requirements, fees, and funding sources? Does the provider have what is known as a โPatient Bill of Rightsโ outlining the responsibilities and rights of the provider, caregiver and patient?
- How does the provider choose and train its caregivers?
- Are therapists or nurses used to evaluate the patientโs needs? If so, do they consult with the patientโs family members and physicians?
- Does the provider include the patient and members of his or her family in developing a care plan? If changes to the level of care are needed over time, are patients and family members involved in making these decisions?
- Is the patientโs course of treatment documented? Does the patient receive a copy of this documentation, and do the caregivers update it as changes occur? Does the provider take the time necessary to educate family members on the care being provided to the patient?
- Does the provider assign supervisors to oversee the quality of care patients receive in their homes? If so, how often do these supervisors make visits? Who can the patient and his or her family members contact with questions or complaints? How does the provider follow up on and resolve any problems that might arise?
- What are the providerโs billing procedures? Does it furnish written statements explaining all of the charges? Are payment plans available?
- What procedures does the provider follow in case of an emergency? Are the providerโs caregivers available 24 hours a day, seven days a week?
- How does the provider ensure patient confidentiality?
Next time weโll discuss the importance of asking providers for references, and what to ask them.
