When a lot of people are searching for a caregiver or home care company, it is the first time and they have no idea how to select a company. They all seem to provide similar services and it’s hard to tell which one will provide the best quality of care for the price. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we encourage you to interview a few agencies (ideally, before the need arises) and select the one that feels most like “home” to you. Below are a list of questions to get you started. Choose the ones you like, delete the ones you don’t, and add your own. This is your home and your care – you deserve only the best!

1. How do you select your caregivers? Do you hire both caregivers and CNAs (Certified Nurses Assistants)? Is there a price difference?
2. Does your company do criminal background checks?
3. Are you licensed through IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health)?
4. What training do your caregivers receive? Is there ongoing training? Can you provide a list of the topics covered?
5. Do caregivers receive training in specialized topics like fall prevention or dementia?
6. How do you decide which caregiver will be placed in my home?
7. What happens if the caregiver isn’t a good match?
8. What kind of insurance does your company carry to protect the client from liability?
9. How does the company track arrival and departure time from the home?
10. What happens if a caregiver doesn’t show up for a shift?
11. Who directs the quality of care provided by your caregivers? How often are supervisory visits done?
12. Is an emergency contact available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week?
13. Can you provide a full list of services?
14. Can your caregivers provide transportation in their car or ours? Is there an additional fee?
15. Is there is an increased cost on the weekends?
16. Do you have a minimum number of hours per shift?
17. Would you begin services immediately? How long is the wait?
18. What is the policy if I wish to discontinue services?
19. What are the live-in rates and what kind of sleeping arrangements do I need to provide for the caregivers?
20. How much do you charge if I need 24 hour care?
21. How often am I billed and what form of payment do you accept?
22. What is your cancellation policy?
23. How do you create and reevaluate a care plan?
24. Are your caregivers required to wear a uniform? What if I prefer them to wear regular attire?