Home Care Companions and Personal Care

What to look for when selecting an ethical Home Care Companions and Personal Care Company:

  1. The Company displays or shows you a copy of their Agency for Health Care Administration License or Registration

  2. Look for a Company whose caregivers are bonded and insured and shows you a copy of their Certificate of Insurance.

  3. Makes certain all caregivers are screened, criminal background checks are completed and that references have been verified before a caregiver enters your home.

  4. Look for a company whose companions have also been screened for sensitivity and are of a compassionate nature.

  5. An ethical home care companion company will not charge set-up, evaluation, initiation or exit fees.

  6. Look for a company that has a proven track record. Research how long the company, and not just the contact person, has been in business in their current form by contacting the State Division of Corporations.

  7. To the extent HIPAA privacy laws allow, make sure you ask for, receive and contact the company's references. These references may also include family members of clients.

  8. Understands what type of home care you are in need of. A good company will ask you about your needs before trying to sell you anything. Do you need medical or non-medical care? Is this type of care covered by insurance or is it private pay? If a company cannot assist you in your needs ask them to recommend a company to you.

  9. Look for a company that stays in frequent contact with the client and client's family to assure you're satisfied and expectations are being met.

  10. A good ethical company will have an "out" clause in the contract if you are not satisfied with the service.

Questions to ask when selecting a company in this industry:

  1. Does the client choose the caregiver or is the caregiver assigned by the agency?

  2. How do they match the caregiver(s) to a client? Is compatibility between the client and caregiver(s) guaranteed?

  3. Will I receive a different caregiver each day or can I expect consistency of care?

  4. Do I get to choose when the caregiver comes to my house to start their shift or does the agency determine that?

  5. Do they try to find a replacement if the scheduled caregiver is unable to make it to your home?

  6. How quickly will a new or replacement caregiver be assigned?

  7. Are caregivers available 24 hours per day, or is care limited to specific hours? Do they provide hourly service schedules as well as 24 hour live in services?

  8. Can you contact a company representative any time a caregiver is scheduled to be in your home?

How often do your care managers visit the home to evaluate services?

Find out what services the caregivers provide. Do they do light housekeeping? Grocery shopping and errands? Prepare meals? Laundry? Medications reminders? Advise family of Health Changes? Ask the company if they provide any other type of services? 

    

After interviewing and running an extensive background check the National Association Against Consumer Fraud has awarded the following business a listing in The Business A-List:

Home Instead Senior Care

1017 East South Street
Orlando, FL 32801

Phone (407) 445-8885

www.homeinstead.com

Choosing a home care company for yourself or a loved one usually occurs when services are needed within a day or two. There is usually very little time for self- education and research. This is one of those tines when hiring and working with a large franchise organization is your most safe decision. We are a worldwide franchise organization that takes pride in providing high quality customer service. We have franchise standards regulated by our corporate headquarters. A few of our franchise standards include the following:

  1. The use of particular background check companies (not all companies have up to date information in their data base)

  2. 100% spotless backgrounds on our caregivers

  3. A very thorough and specific 3 step orientation/training program

  4. Our caregivers must be our employees. This means our caregivers are licensed, bonded and insured. Many companies only license bond and insure their office staff, because their caregivers are contracted individuals. Companies that contract caregivers are better know as registries.

When you speak to, and meet us, we will educate you about our industry, about our services and about our office. Our services are based on trust, so it is very important for you, your family and loved one to meet us in person and feel comfortable with Home Instead Senior Care.

 

 
 

Home | Our Mission | Our StoryDisclaimer

© Copyright 2007-2008. National Association Against Consumer Fraud