A Marketplace Tip from Your BBB Denver/Boulder
The very best thing about home health care is the location--at home, where older adults can receive essential services they need but still maintain their independent residence. Home health care may be appropriate in the short term—for a recovery period following a hospitalization--or may be able to provide a long-term bridge between having to leave one’s home and move to assisted living or a full nursing care facility.
As for choosing a healthcare provider with (or for) an elderly family member, it may be helpful to start with exploring the referral services and specific home health care programs available through local nonprofits in your community. Nonprofits can provide elder care planning services and help families weigh their options as they make decisions. The industry of commercial health care companies has also grown dramatically in recent years.
Cost, quality of care, and safety are probably your three greatest concerns.
Here are some questions to ask when choosing a home health care provider:
- Does the agency provide a detailed written plan of care? Who is in charge of evaluating your patient’s needs, and what are their qualifications?
- Does it offer the services your patient needs, such as skilled nursing care or physical therapy?
- Does the agency offer personal care services such as help with using the bathroom and basic grooming?
- Is the agency available when we need them?
- How long has the agency been serving the community?
- Does the agency have staff available evenings and weekends, if necessary?
- Does the agency conduct background checks on all staff?
- Are employees licensed to do the work required?
- What are the agency’s financial procedures? Will you receive detailed written statements?
- How does the agency handle patient confidentiality? (The agency should be able to give you written information about the patient’s right to privacy.)
- Can the agency provide you with its Patient Bill of Rights?
Ask for a list of patient references and contact each one. Ask about their experience with the agency: What is their relationship to the agency? How familiar are they with it? Would they recommend the agency to a close friend or family member?
Finally, as with so many decisions that confront us in later life, it would be preferable to do your homework about home health care before it is an emergency. When medical issues are dire, wise consumer behavior is usually one of the casualties.
