What Information Does a Home Care Agency Need from Me?

When calling home care agencies, they are going to have as many questions for you as you do them.

They need some specific information from you to start the process and as the care plan is developed for you or your loved one. Just like the old mantra of who, what, when, where and why, we are looking for:

Who-who is looking for care?
When-When did you need care?
Where-Where will the care be taking place?
Why-Why is care needed?
What-What needs to be done?
How-How can we help you accomplish your care and safety goals to keep you or your loved one happy and healthy at home?

When going through the process on the phone, the more information we can collect, the smoother the welcoming process is for everyone. Use this checklist to help you have all the information handy to make the call as easy as possible.

What is your loved one’s full legal name? This may sound obvious, but their nickname or shortened name might not come up in a system if we need to process long-term care or get paperwork from the VA
Address of where the services will be rendered
Contact information that includes both home and cell phone numbers for the person making the inquiry and the person who will be receiving the service
Military Service-We will ask if your loved one has served in the military to let you know there are programs out there to help them pay for care. We will also ask if they see a VA doctor and if they served during wartime; these vets are eligible for Community Care program funds and Aid and Attendance benefits, respectively.
Home Information-What kind of home will the care be taking place in? Is it an apartment complex? Single-family home? If it is an active adult community, is there a gate that needs to be alerted? Home information is also necessary to ensure there is a place for a live-in to stay if that care option is being considered. We will also ask about pets and smoking.
Medical History- This is essential for us to understand you or your loved one’s needs and how we will be caring for them. We will need to hear about any recent incidents (falls, accidents, illnesses or surgical procedures) as well as any ongoing conditions.
Mobility Status-Can you or your loved one get around? What are the limitations? Do you need help getting out of bed or off the couch? Can you make it to the bathroom on your own? Is falling an issue?
Equipment in the Home-This includes walkers, wheelchairs, hospital beds, Hoyer lifts, grab bars and the like. Our Director of Nursing will do a home safety overview as part of his assessment and make some recommendations to improve safety and functionality.
Other Services- Does physical therapy, occupational therapy or wound care come to the home to provide care?
Emergency Contact
Medication List