What to Ask a Home Care Agency

What do I need to know about potential in-home care agencies?

These are some of the frequently asked questions we often receive from our clients.

1. HOW SOON CAN CARING HEARTS PLACE A CAREGIVER?
As soon as you need one. We will assess your personal situation and have a caregiver in place on day one for you. We have a Rapid Care Response system that offers quick service when an unexpected situation presents itself.

2. ARE YOUR CAREGIVERS INSURED?
Not only are Caring Hearts caregiver employees insured, they are also required to complete a thorough background check. We make certain all caregivers are insured and properly screened in order for your loved one to be fully protected.

3. DOES YOUR IN-HOME CARE AGENCY CONDUCT BACKGROUND CHECKS ON YOUR CAREGIVER EMPLOYEES?
All Caring Hearts caregivers are required to complete a thorough background check. We make certain all caregivers are insured and properly screened in order for your loved one to be fully protected.

4. ARE YOUR CAREGIVERS TRAINED TO HANDLE TOUGH CLIENTS? WHAT KIND OF TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION DOES THIS IN-HOME CARE AGENCY PROVIDE TO YOUR CAREGIVERS?
As a premier in-home care agency, we make certain that our caregivers are prepared to handle anything. We adhere to a detailed training curriculum with both mandatory and elective courses. Caring Hearts also offers online courses, webinars, and continued training to all of our caregivers. HH University is a program exclusive to Caring Hearts which offers caregivers a supplemental structured training program where our caregiver can earn certifications of Specialist, Expert and Master: a title that truly differentiates the skill set of the Caring Hearts caregiver.

5. IF THE CAREGIVER DOES NOT WORK OUT, WHAT DO YOU DO TO FIND A REPLACEMENT?
From the beginning, we ensure that we provide the best and most compatible caregiver match for you or your loved one. If for any reason, the caregiver placed is not working out, we will work as quickly as possible to place a new one in the position. This is one of the great benefits of using a home care agency.

6. WHO SHOULD I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT MY CAREGIVER?
You can call your local Caring Hearts office and speak with the Office Manager or Supervisor. Rest assured that we will look into your questions or comments immediately.

7. DO I PAY THE CAREGIVER DIRECTLY, OR DO I TIP THE CAREGIVER?
You do not pay the caregiver directly and our caregivers cannot accept tips. You pay your local office directly. Caring Hearts accepts most methods of payment. The hourly rate for a caregiver differs by location. As each office is independently owned and operated, hourly rates and methods of payment differ by location. Simply contact your local Caring Hearts office to discuss how we can suit your needs!

8. WHAT IF MY CAREGIVER DOES NOT SHOW UP FOR A SCHEDULED SHIFT?
This is a very rare event. But if it does occur, Caring Hearts offers a system that enables the caregiver to “clock in” and “clock out” by calling an automated toll-free number. If a scheduled shift has not been called in, the system alerts the office staff immediately and we send a secondary caregiver. With our telephony system, there are no time sheets or missed shifts.

9. WHO WILL I MEET AT THE INITIAL IN-HOME CONSULTATION?
This varies by location, but in most cases, the owner and/ or a registered nurse or client care manager will visit you in your home to learn more about you.

10. HOW DO YOU FIND AND RECRUIT QUALITY CAREGIVERS?
We have several reputable methods of recruitment for finding and hiring caregivers that include specific websites, target groups, job fairs and focused advertising. Once we recruit potential employees, we will assess their merits through interviews conducted via telephone, in person and sometimes in groups.

11. CAN I TALK TO ANY OF YOUR CURRENT CLIENTS?
Many offices are able to put you in contact with current clients. This is a great way to know that you’ve made a good choice in trusting a home care agency with your loved one.

12. HOW OFTEN IS CARE AVAILABLE?
At Caring Hearts, we will structure a care plan that meets your needs. Whether you need help for just a few hours a week or 24/7, we’re here to make life easier for you and your family. To schedule an in-home care assessment, contact your local office.

13. WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE?
Different in-home care agencies provide different services. Please visit the Services page for a list of Caring Hearts services, and talk to your local office for more details.

14. DO YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT MY FAMILY AND ME?
This might not be a question you ask out loud, but it’s a question most people will have in mind when choosing an in-home care agency. At Caring Hearts, we pride ourselves on our compassionate care philosophy, and we have over 20 years of experience in proving that, yes, we do care about helping you and your family.

15. IS CARING HEARTS A SMOKE-FREE IN-HOME CARE AGENCY?
Each office is independently owned and operated, and many of our Caring Hearts offices are smoke-free. Contact your local office to make sure.

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