The best healthcare should ensure that patients receive high-quality, personal, and compassionate care provided by trained caregivers. In-home care is able to meet these standards by offering personalized service in the convenience and privacy of a patient’s home. For aging and homebound individuals or special-needs children, in-home care enables them to remain as stress-free, functional, and independent as possible. Studies have shown that in-home health care helps to minimize readmissions to hospitals and that patients recuperating from surgical procedures, illnesses, or injuries, heal more quickly and successfully when allowed to recover at home versus spending recovery time in a medical facility. At home, there is also less risk of a patient developing an infection. However, it’s important to choose only the very best in-home care provider. Here’s what to look for and what questions to ask.
Qualifications
Licensing – Contact your state’s health department and find out if the in-home agency is licensed. (Almost every state requires in-home health care providers to be licensed and reviewed regularly.)
Medicare Certification – Does Medicare certify that the provider meets federal requirements for health and safety? If not, ask why.
Employee Screening – What does the agency do to screen its employees? Ask for references from doctors, hospital discharge personnel, or other professionals.
Quality of In-Home Care
Training – What level of training do the provider’s caregivers have. Does the agency provide continuing education to its employees?
Accreditation – Are the provider’s caregivers licensed, accredited, and insured?
Level of Friendliness – When you contact the agency, do its staff members seem warm and helpful?
Costs
Billing – How does the provider handle billing and expenses? Does it have literature explaining all services and fees?
Insurance Coverage – Will health insurance or Medicare cover agency fees? Find out what level of coverage your health insurance offers, and be sure to find out what Medicare’s requirements are.
Financial Help – If you need financial assistance, does the agency have payment plans?
Understanding Services
In-Home Care Plan – Will the provider give you a detailed, written service plan before care begins? A good care plan should include information about specific care needs, medical equipment that may be necessary, and the rights and responsibilities of the agency. It should also contain input from your doctor, and be kept updated.
Main Caregiver – Will you be asked to name a primary caregiver who is a family member? If so, what’s required of that person?
Service – Will days and times of service be provided? Is in-home care available 24/7, if necessary?
Emergencies – What procedures are in place to deliver services in an emergency situation such as a power failure or natural disaster?
Problems – How will any problems be addressed and resolved? Is there a contact person for requests, questions or complaints?
Best In-Home Care Service in Columbia, South Carolina
Caring Healthcare has been providing the absolute best in-home healthcare in the Columbia, South Carolina area for twenty-three years. Whether you need in-home care for an elderly relative, a special needs child, or a family member with a disability, we will design a personalized plan for you. Talk to us to see how we can help you.
