Questions You Should Ask Any Homecare Agency Before Hiring Them
- Bree Castillo
- Mar 1
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 30
Hiring a homecare agency can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time doing so. How will you know if they’re the right choice for you or your loved one? With so many factors to consider – services offered, caregiver compatibility, costs and more – it’s normal to feel unsure about what to ask.
This list of essential questions is a great starting point when talking to potential agencies. A reputable agency should be able to answer all of these questions with patience and transparency, as well as address any additional concerns you may have.
Take the time to talk to multiple homecare agencies before making your final decision. While this takes extra effort, this process will help you make a truly well-informed decision. Finding the right agency is worth it to ensure the high quality care and peace of mind your family deserves.
Questions About Services
What Services Do You Offer?
Start by learning about the range of services that an agency provides. Some agencies specialize in specific types of medical care, while others offer additional services, such as lifestyle support. Does the agency provide services that are applicable to your needs?
Do You Provide Care For Specific Conditions?
Do you require care for a specific health condition or chronic illness, such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia or diabetes? Find out if the agency can provide a caregiver with relevant experience. Ask if caregivers have received specialized training, and whether they have the necessary knowledge to provide more personalized care.
What Are Your Care Plans Like?
Some clients may require all-day assistance. However, many people only need help with certain tasks, such as taking medications, driving to appointments and receiving support for their aging in place lifestyle.
If you’re primarily looking for task-based help rather than all-day care, ask if the agency offers flexible, as-needed services. You may also consider looking for an on-demand care service if you lead an overall independent life but are looking for occasional flexible help.
Do You Impose Minimum Visit Requirements?
Many traditional home care agencies require a certain minimum visit time per week, or a minimum shift length for caregivers. But many people seeking care only need help with certain tasks that only take an hour or two – not a whole day. Care costs can quickly skyrocket if you’re forced to pay for extra visit time or unnecessary services.
Asking whether an agency imposes minimum visit requirements can help you learn more about their care plans, and whether the care agency’s visit requirements will suit your family’s needs.
How Much Will Care Cost?
Affordability is a major concern for many people looking into at-home caregiving options. With home care costs rising across the country, many families are facing an overwhelming challenge trying to find affordable and reliable care.
Understanding an agency’s service options and cost structure upfront helps prevent any unexpected expenses later and ensures that your family can stick to your budget. Be sure to ask about the agency’s pricing structure, fees for extra services or overtime, cancelation policies and whether they take insurance.
Do You Provide Support For Families?
Caregiving often impacts the entire family. If you’re a full-time caregiver for a family member, respite care can help your own emotional well-being, preventing you from burning out. Ask how an agency’s caregivers communicate the care of their clients to family members, and whether they offer additional caregiving resources.
Questions About Caregivers
What is the Caregiver Screening Process Like?
When inviting a caregiver into your loved one’s home, you want to ensure that they are trustworthy and reliable. Learn whether a homecare agency requires its caregivers to undergo thorough background checks and a selective interview process.
What Training Do Your Caregivers Receive?
Many agencies require caregivers to go through training programs to ensure that they have the skills necessary to provide care to clients. Learning about an agency’s training program can help you learn more about the quality of care an agency will offer.
As well, ask if caregivers receive any ongoing training and support from the agency. Caregiving can be a demanding job, and a good agency should actively work to retain high-quality, dependable and knowledgeable caregivers.
How Do You Match Caregivers to Clients?
Whether you’re supporting your own aging in place lifestyle or seeking dementia care for a parent, finding a compatible caregiver can make a huge difference. Ask how the agency matches and places caregivers in order to provide a positive experience for the client, the caregiver and your whole family.
Are Your Caregivers Licensed, Certified and Insured?
Caregiver qualifications and requirements can vary from agency to agency, so check to see the level of training and certification a potential caregiver will have. It’s also important to know that an agency’s caregivers are insured.
Are Your Caregivers Employees or Independent Contractors?
Employees and independent contractors have different liability and accountability, which can affect the quality and consistency of care your loved one receives. Caregivers employed directly through the agency receive pay, insurance, support and benefits directly through their company. Independent contractors may not have the same level of oversight or agency support.
Questions About The Homecare Agency
What is Your Track Record?
Understanding a potential agency’s history and overall reputation can help you learn more about them. Ask how long they’ve been in business, why the agency was started and whether they have any accreditations.
Can You Provide References?
Any reputable agency should be able to provide you with references or testimonials from current or previous clients. Contacting these references can help give you further insights into how reliable and professional the agency and its caregivers are.
What Makes Your Homecare Agency Unique?
Why should you choose this agency over others? What makes their services unique from other agencies in the area? Asking an agency to tell you in their own words what makes them different can help you make your final decision.
What Makes Tandem Care Different?
Finding the right homecare solution for your family can be challenging. That’s why Tandem Care developed our innovative model, combining affordability and flexibility with compassionate care.
Our comprehensive services allow you to receive the at-home care you need. With a wide range of flexible visit types and no hourly or weekly minimum requirements, our services are designed to meet your needs and routines.
With more people choosing to age in place and retain an independent lifestyle, Tandem Care is redefining what home care can be. If you have any more questions about our services, please reach out to us today. We’ll be happy to help provide any additional information you may need.
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