Finding the home care provider best suited for your needs may require some research, but it is time well spent. Important factors include the quality of care, availability of needed services, personnel training and expertise, and coverage provided by the payor. If you need skilled care, your physician will determine which types of services you need.  You may then consult with a hospital discharge planner, case manager or social worker to learn about the various home care agencies in your community.  If you are interested in non-medical services, you won’t need an order from a physician and you will need to do some additional research.  In either case, it’s important to know information about the home care company because you are choosing not only a care provider, but are also inviting that provider into your home or the home of your loved one.
Following is a list of questions which address important decisions regarding home care. Use these questions as your guideline for selecting an experienced and trustworthy home health care agency for you or your loved one.

• Can the agency provide me with written information about the services it has available, the cost of its services, its billing procedures and if my services will be covered by my insurance?
• Can the agency provide me with written information about the patient’s and family’s rights and responsibilities
• Is the agency "approved" (or "certified") to provide services to Medicare patients?
• Does the agency perform a customer satisfaction survey? May I see the results of the last survey?
• Is there a written plan of care or service plan for each patient? Does the agency include the patient and family in designing this plan? Is my doctor involved?
• Will the same nurse be sent to my home for each visit?
• Does the home care company schedule care at any time of the day or night that my physician says is necessary?
• What kind of training does the home care company require for its nurses or other employees?
• If I have a question or an emergency on Saturday at 2AM, can I reach your home care?  Will they see me if I heed help?
• What kind of formal hiring process does the agency follow - interviews, testing, background checks, licensure.
• Whom should I call with questions or complaints? When should I expect to here about what they did?
• Will the home care  help find other community services such as Meals on Wheels
• Can the home care company give me references that are familiar with their services