How Do You Evaluate Home Health Care Agencies?
Date Updated: December 16, 2024
Written by:
Leigh Morgan has more than 15 years of experience writing about senior care. She’s the author of “Financial Safety for Seniors: 77 Tips for Preventing Elder Financial Abuse” and has written hundreds of articles about Medicare, Medicaid, assisted living communities, nursing homes and memory care. Morgan developed an interest in senior care while recruiting home health nurses, certified nursing assistants and patient care technicians for a large health care system.
Reviewed by:
Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a health care professional, researcher, and an experienced medical writer (2000+ articles published online and several medical ebooks). She received her MD degree from “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine, Romania, and her HD diploma from OCHM – Toronto, Canada.
You evaluate home health care agencies by checking their licensing records, reading online reviews and contacting each agency to ask questions about its services. Evaluating home health agencies makes it easier to find high-quality care at a price you can afford.
What Type of Care Do Home Health Care Agencies Provide?
Home health care agencies help seniors manage chronic conditions and recover from acute illnesses and injuries. Nurses, speech therapists and other licensed professionals assess each patient thoroughly and use the information they gather to develop customized care plans. Available services include wound care and nutrition and intravenous therapies. Home health professionals also administer injections and monitor vital signs.
For seniors with chronic health conditions, home health care makes it easier to manage symptoms and relieve discomfort. Home health care also helps seniors retain their independence. Instead of moving to a nursing home or an assisted living community, seniors who receive home health services can remain in their homes.
How to Evaluate a Home Health Care Agency
To maximize the benefits of receiving home health care:
- Evaluate several agencies before choosing one.
- Check each agency's licensing status and inspection reports. The agency you choose should have an active license with no restrictions.
- Read online reviews to determine if each agency has a positive reputation in your community.
- Look for concerning patterns, such as multiple reviewers mentioning missed appointments or late arrivals.
Finally, contact each home health care agency on your list to ask questions about available services and costs. Remember to inquire about accepted methods of payment and staff screening procedures. Reputable home care and home health agencies conduct background checks and take other steps to protect their clients. Use an interview checklist to guide each conversation.