Frequently Asked Questions

The home care agencies with whom we partner pay us a fee to be connected to care seekers who are researching in-home care services. The service is free to those care seekers researching in-home care options.

Home care agencies are typically required to carry business liability insurance and workers compensation coverage. The requirements can vary state by state, but care seekers are well within their rights to ask for evidence of a home care agency's insurance coverage.

The caregivers and staff employed by a home care agency are normally W-2 employees of that agency. A small number of home care providers arrange for the family to directly employ the caregivers, but this is the exception rather that the rule. The agencies who partner with Best Home Care Agencies all employ their caregivers directly as W-2 employees.

Licensing is another requirement that varies state by state, but the majority of states do require licensing, usually under the supervision of the State Health Department. Licensing requirements provide for standard business practices for home care agencies, including hiring standards, staffing levels, clinical oversight of care plans, etc. Bi-annual, unannounced on-site inspections are typical in states that require licensing. Important to note, however, is that those states which do not require licensing have many well-run home care agencies that operate ethically and provide excellent in-home care services.

A home care agency's intake staff can help you evaluate whether your care needs would be better met with in-home care vs. an assisted living facility. The core services offered by home care agencies can normally replicate those offered by an assisted living facility, such as assistance with activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting, ambulating, and eating. Often the choice comes down to the cost differential and a preference of remaining at home vs. moving to an assisted living facility.

Home health companies (or skilled home health companies) offer services in the home under a doctor's prescription. These services are normally episodic in nature (i.e., hourly visits several times a week) and would include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and wound care. Home care (or in-home personal care) typically involves a caregiver working in the home for extended periods of time (4 to 8 hours a day for example) and providing assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting, ambulation, and eating.

The question of whether a loved one needs memory care usually starts with the family physician or a neurologist and his or her evaluation of the patient's cognitive condition.

Most home care agencies employ caregivers who are trained in the basics of memory care. As with most companies, the skill sets of their employees (i.e., their caregivers) can vary based on individual experience. Home care agencies work hard to match their clients' care needs with caregivers who have the proper skill sets and training necessary to care for their clients.

Beyond providing assistance with activities of daily living, caregivers employed by top home care agencies can perform many other services. Those usually include meal prep and cooking, laundry and light housekeeping, errands and transportation, help with medications, assistance with pet care, and companionship.

During the Covid pandemic, most home care agencies developed special protocols to care for Covid-positive clients. These protocols vary but typically include additional PPE requirements for their caregivers such as gowns and face shields to be worn when entering the home and working in close proximity with their clients. Vaccinated caregivers would also be staffed on these cases, and agencies often charge (and pay) a premium hourly rate to care for Covid-positive clients.

Vaccination levels among caregivers in the home care industry vary widely depending on the geographic area of the country where the agency is located. However, the majority of caregivers working in the home care industry have usually received at least the initial Covid vaccine shots, and often subsequent booster shots. Most individuals receiving in-home care wish to have a vaccinated caregiver, and should ask the agency about their policy on staffing cases with vaccinated caregivers.

Surgical masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer are normally provided by home care agencies to their caregivers when they are working with their clients. Additional PPE may be required depending on the client's health condition. Home care agencies also provide regular safety training to their caregivers such as proper transfer techniques to prevent lower back injuries.

Caregiver performance is monitored by home care agencies in several ways. Normally, agencies will perform a supervisory visit to the home every 90 days to meet with the client and assess the caregiver’s performance and whether the current plan of care is working or if changes need be made. The caregivers' time and attendance are also monitored daily to ensure caregivers arrive on time for their shift, perform their assigned tasks for the day, and clock out on time. Home care agencies use scheduling software programs that allow caregivers to clock in and out and log their tasks via a mobile app on their cell phone. Timely client feedback when there are problems is also important and agency staff members (usually a scheduler or staffing manager) are available to talk with about any issues that arise.