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Home Care Companions and Personal Care
What to look for when
selecting an ethical Home Care Companions and Personal Care
Company:
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The
Company displays or shows you a copy of their
Agency for Health Care Administration License or
Registration
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Look
for a Company whose caregivers are bonded and
insured and shows you a copy of their
Certificate of Insurance.
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Makes
certain all caregivers are screened, criminal
background checks are completed and that
references have been verified before a caregiver
enters your home.
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Look
for a company whose companions have also been
screened for sensitivity and are of a
compassionate nature.
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An
ethical home care companion company will not
charge set-up, evaluation, initiation or exit
fees.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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:
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Does
the client choose the caregiver or is the
caregiver assigned by the agency?
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How
do they match the caregiver(s) to a client? Is
compatibility between the client and caregiver(s)
guaranteed?
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Will
I receive a different caregiver each day or can
I expect consistency of care?
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Do I
get to choose when the caregiver comes to my
house to start their shift or does the agency
determine that?
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Do
they try to find a replacement if the scheduled
caregiver is unable to make it to your home?
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How
quickly will a new or replacement caregiver be
assigned?
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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?
-
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?
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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:
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The
use of particular background check companies
(not all companies have up to date information
in their data base)
-
100%
spotless backgrounds on our caregivers
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A
very thorough and specific 3 step
orientation/training program
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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.
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