What to look for in community services - Independence+ In-Home Care, LLC

What to Look for in Community Services

If your care needs can be met at home or in the community, you still need to do homework before selecting a home care provider. Whether you’re seeking home health, hospice, a private home care provider, or an emergency response system, there are questions that need to be asked before you make your selection.

	Home Health, Private Home Care, Hospice, Companion Services, Respite
	What are the qualifications of the providers of care? Do they meet industry standards?
	Is care delivered at a certain time? Is there certainty that providers will be on-time?
	Does the agency have substitutes who can fill in? Do substitutes have the same credentials as the regular workers?
	Is there supervision of unlicensed personnel?
	Does the agency conduct background checks and drug screens on all employees?
	Is there a way to complain about care without fear of retaliation? If I’m not happy with a worker, can I have a replacement?
	Am I paying by the job or by the unit of time?
	What are costs of the services?
	What are the specific duties that will be performed?
	Does the agency have theft insurance or are employees bonded?
	Is a long-term contract required? If my needs change, can the contract be changed?
	Can the amount of hours be changed if necessary?
	Once I make a request for services, how long will it be before services begin?
	Emergency Response Systems
	Does the agency periodically check to ensure that the lines are working?
	What is the total cost of the services for installation? What is the total cost of services per month?
	Am I buying the unit or “renting it?”
	Suppose my unit breaks, who is responsible for repair?
	How long does it take the operator to answer the phone when I call?
	How far away can I be from the monitoring unit and still make the call?
	What do I do if my electricity goes off?
	Adult Day Health/Care
	What are the qualifications of the providers of care?
	What is the staff-client ratio?
	Describe the activity program.
	Is therapy available, if I need it?
	Is transportation provided?
	What are the operating hours? Do you provide services on weekends?
	Are meals and snacks included in the cost? Who prepares the meals? If relevant, do you provide meals for special diets?
	If applicable: are there provisions to keep wanderers safe?
	If I got sick at day care, what would you do?
	Do you do background checks and drug screens on employees?
	Can you provide nursing care? If relevant, can you give me my medicine, treat my wound, assist me in breathing treatments, etc.?
	If I need personal care, is there a private space?
	What types of personal care can you provide in this program?
	What is the ratio of restrooms to clients?
	If I’m not happy with services, how can I complain?
	Are there any other costs that I need to know about?
	Home Delivered Meals
	For hot meals: Are meals delivered at the same time each day?
	Can I express any preferences when I sign up for meals?
	Are special diets considered in meal preparation?
	Suppose I’m not at home, how do I cancel my meal delivery?
	Can I substitute a frozen meal for a hot meal if I am not at home?
	What other alternatives are there to hot meals?
	What preparation is required of the meals that I will get?
	Do you do background checks and drug screens on the people who deliver the food?
	If I’m not happy with services, how can I complain?

Some home and community service survey results are posted on the internet. You can refer to www.ors.dhr.georgia.gov to find surveys for hospices, home health, and private home care providers. Additional information about surveys of home health agencies can be found on the Medicare website: http://www.medicare.gov.