Choosing a Homecare provider

Selecting a home care service for a loved one is a very important task, but one that most people know little about.   Most individuals and families don’t think of the factors involved in shopping for home care until an emergency need has already arisen. There are many things to consider when selecting a provider:

Make sure that your loved ones are ready to accept help:  An open discussion or family meeting is always a good idea.

Budget:  Don’t assume that all home care services are covered under “universal healthcare”.  Be sure to ask about the differences between public-funded care and Private care.

Price vs Value: Price is always a consideration but you need to consider value-added features such as nurse case management, ongoing training and insured and bonded staff.

Nurse case management: Don’t underestimate the importance of having an experienced healthcare professional involved in your loved one’s care.  Healthcare needs can change very quickly, and it will become critical to have the right professionals managing their care needs.

Trained, Certified and bonded staff:  Home healthcare is highly unregulated and families can choose to hire whoever they like to provide care.  Make sure that caregivers are fully certified, police screened and insured before providing care in your home.