What to Consider When Choosing a Home Health Agency

Making healthcare decisions for you or your loved one can sometimes feel very daunting. You want to make sure that you get the best care and optimize the outcome potential. You also have to consider insurance and out-of-pocket costs in comparison to what you can afford. You’ll want to make sure that the care you receive is quality care, administered by credentialed people who care. Here, we want to discuss a few things you should keep in mind when seeking care through a home health agency.

If you have made the decision to seek the care of a home health agency, you are already aware that there are many to choose from and all of them offer different services provided by varying professionals. It can be difficult to know which one will provide the best services for your needs. At Angels on Call Homecare, we offer medical and non-medical services to meet all of your needs. Contact us today when you need someone to watch over you.

How much will it cost?

One of the first things you should inquire about is the cost of care. If you have insurance, see if the home health agency you are looking into takes your insurance and if your insurance will cover the costs of the agency you have selected. You will also want to inquire about any out-of-pocket costs you will incur to get an accurate idea of what you’ll need to prepare for. If you plan to pay for it completely out of pocket, find out how much is charged for the service and the time. Ask about minimum requirements which can greatly affect your overall cost. If you are using Medicare, it is important to make sure that the services rendered will be covered as Medicare has very strict regulations about coverage.

Are they licensed and bonded?

Licensing laws differ depending on the state in which you reside, so it is important to seek a home health agency that is legally allowed to render services in your state. Bonding is the insurance provided by the home health agency to cover their employees. Although this isn’t a failsafe, it does show the agency’s commitment to its clients. Angels on Call Homecare is licensed and bonded and comes highly recommended by the New York Department of Health.

Do they offer the services that you need?

You sought home care services because you have specific needs that you cannot provide for yourself. Make sure that you can get all the assistance that set out to receive from the agency you select. If you need basic house cleaning and some transportation assistance, it would be a good idea to anticipate your near future needs to ensure that you can stay with one agency for all of your needs. If you need temporary help with personal hygiene and wound care after a recent surgery, it is a good idea to make sure the agency also offers physical and occupational therapy in addition to skilled nursing evaluations.

Another important factor to consider is any special needs that you may have such as cultural or religious beliefs that affect care. Language barriers, visual or hearing impairments are also things that home care workers should be aware of and you should ensure that the agency can accommodate.

What do other clients have to say about the agency?

Be sure to get actual input from former or current clients by way of reviews and testimonials. Pay more attention to what is said in the comments than the stars or thumbs up that are given. What is important to one person may not be relevant to another. For instance, if someone rates an agency two out of five stars because they could not accept a particular insurance, that does not make the care they deliver any less quality.

Are families and patients involved in the care plan process?

It is important that you find out if the home health agency that you select includes patients and their families in the development of care plans and treatments rather than collaborating with the medical team exclusively. This helps to coordinate care and gives patients and families a better idea of what to anticipate.

Before you commit to hiring a home health agency, it is perfectly acceptable to shop around and ask questions — of the agency, their clients, your insurance company, and your healthcare provider. Make sure that you have selected the right agency before you begin a relationship with them. Remember, that if you are not satisfied with the care or services you receive, you have the right to switch your business to a new agency. If you are looking for a home health agency in New York including Bronx, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Westchester and Ulster counties, contact us at Angels on Call Homecare.