Selecting a Home Care Agency

Selecting a Home Care provider is where home care assistants can work with your relation in his or her own home (or your home). Once you have established that home care is the appropriate care for your relation, it is important to research the agencies and professionals offering home care services. Listed below are things to consider as you search for the appropriate provider.

What to look for in a home care agency . . .

Is the agency on the local authority’s social service register of approved providers?
What services does the agency offer? Will these services meet your needs?
When are services available (days, evenings, weekends, and holidays)?
Do the costs of the service increase at weekends, holidays, and evenings?
How many carers will be involved in your relatives care?
Will mileage and travel time be charged and if so how much per visit will it be?
Will your relatives care plan be reviewed and evaluated periodically by a supervisor?
What is the protocol for returning your phone calls if you have questions or concerns?
If the person providing the care becomes ill or fails to show up, will another person be sent in their place?
How does the agency communicate with your relatives doctor?

If needed, will the agency assist you in obtaining other services, such as home-delivered meals or homemaker services?

You should learn all you can about the qualifications of the home carers providing the care. Carers should:

Understand the scope of their training and practice
Understand their role in delivering services
Have good credentials, including proper education, training and preparation, and experience
Possess personal traits that would enhance your loved one's ability to function in this type of setting
Understanding the different types of home care professionals available will help you make informed decisions.
A qualified district nurse performs skilled nursing care and coordinates an appropriate plan of care, with direct orders from the patient's GP.
A home care assistant may be used when a person no longer needs skilled nursing care. Carers are limited in the care they may give, but can help your relation with bathing, general hygiene, dressing, eating, monitoring nutrition, preparing meals and using the bathroom.
Other Professionals you may come in to contact with:
A physiotherapist provides therapy to help your relative regain mobility, teaches therapeutic exercises, and/or shows other caregivers how to help your relations properly.
A speech/language therapist provides therapy that helps an individual improve or regain language skills.
An occupational therapist assesses an individual's capabilities and limitations in the home environment and recommends changes or adaptations that promote independent living.
A social worker helps families and individuals work through the emotional difficulties of an illness or disease and helps locate resources and support services.

A dietitian assists and counsels individuals and families by preparing a special or restricted diet.

Above all, ensure that the professionals giving the care are treating your relative with courtesy and respect.

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