Hiring a Philadelphia Home Care Agency? Red Flags to Avoid

Deciding to hire in home care help for a beloved relative is a big decision to make. In the greater Philadelphia area, there are literally dozens of options for home care, ranging from national franchises to nurse registries. But how do you tell the difference, and how do you decide which options are best for your own family situation? Here are some resources we have compiled that can help you to answer these questions:

Free Ebook – Hiring a Home Care Agency. This ebook answers some of the most common questions families may have when starting down the hiring process. You’ll learn the difference between CNA, HHA, RN, and LPN certifications, the difference between senior care agencies and registries, and much more. Click the image below to download the free ebook.{{cta(‘2f52f924-8d16-47ea-9414-8a32b6e36c45′,’justifycenter’)}}

Comparing the costs of different types of senior care. Did you know that there are many options for senior care, such as adult day care, in home care, nursing homes, independent living, and more? Learn about each of these, and learn how their average costs stack up against one another by reading this blog.

Read our “Dear Nurse” column, in which one of our Registered Nurses answers questions from family members about home care, what to expect, various considerations for senior care and more.

So, now that you have some resources at your disposal to help find a great home care solution in Philadelphia, let’s discuss some red flags to look for that you may encounter in your search.

Does a particular company just ask you basic questions on their website and then schedule whoever is available? Some home care organizations assign caregivers to clients based primarily on availability. While availability definitely needs to be a consideration, this “plug-and-play” approach can result in poor personality, compatibility, or competence matches. We highly recommend using a company that has a thorough client-caregiver matching process so that your beloved relative has the best experience possible and maintains the highest quality of life. Read about the PAN client-caregiver matching process here.

Did you find an agency or a registry for Philadelphia home care? These terms may seem similar, but there are important differences that may impact your family’s decision. A registry is basically a network of independent contractors, which means that legal liability, insurance, and differences in standards may become issues. An agency is an organization that employs its caregivers, which means they are fully licensed, bonded, and insured. Read more about the differences between agencies and registries here.

MOST IMPORTANT: Are you impressed by the contact that you have had when you reach out to a home care organization? Hiring the right person to assist or care for a relative is very important. In many cases, this caregiver will become an important part of your relative’s life, even if they only need help a few hours a week. For instance, your mom or dad may need assistance with highly personal, somewhat intimate functions, like toileting, bathing, or dressing. It is incredibly important to have a good gut feeling about the person who will be coming into a home and making a difference in someone’s life. A home care organization should try very hard to impress you, respond on time to inquiries, be knowledgeable about diagnoses, and more.

Pennsylvania Agency of Nurses strives to provide competent, compassionate care that improves quality of life for our clients and their families. PAN is unique in that we are nurse-owned and nurse-operated, have a very thorough hiring process, and take great pride in crafting custom solutions for our clients based on their needs. We will do our best to impress you with our service, and invite you to read/listen to some of our Client Testimonials here.