Questions To Ask in Selecting a Home Care or Hospice Provider

The Indiana Association for Home & Hospice Care is the voice of Indiana's home & hospice care providers. Our mission is "to advance the cause of home health, hospice, and personal care services through leadership, advocacy, and education."  

We represent all of home care: traditional home health nursing services, home-based and inpatient hospice care, and "private duty" home care - including non-medical services that allow Hoosiers to remain independent in their own homes. IAHHC members have gone the extra mile to provide the very best home & hospice care services, and collectively spend thousands of hours a year in IAHHC training and education sessions.

Choosing a Home Care or Hospice Provider

When selecting a home care or hospice provider, there are some very important questions that you should ask of your prospective services provider:

• How does the agency screen and select caregivers prior to an assignment?
• Are references checked and criminal background and/or drug screens conducted on caregivers? 
• Is there a health care professional, who along with the client and family develops an individualized plan of care or service plan?
• How are emergencies handled after normal business hours?
• How often are caregiver services monitored?
• Does the home care or hospice provider conduct supervisory visits to the client's home?
• Does the home care or hospice provider adhere to state and federal guidelines in their employment practices, such as: withholding appropriate taxes, providing workers’ compensation and other benefits?
• Does the home care or hospice provider follow defined ethical guidelines? What is their policy to assure the rights of patients? 

·         Whenever possible, ask to meet with the prospective caregiver(s) before they are assigned to provide care.  This will provide a good opportunity to interact with the caregiver prior to an assignment. If you are not satisfied with the caregiver, this is a good time to let the agency know.

If you are seeking home care or hospice services for yourself or your loved one, make sure you are dealing with an IAHHC member!