Choosing a Home Health Agency or Hospice

Whether one requires routine housekeeping chores such as laundry, shoppoing and bathing, or skilled nursing care such as wound care, diabetic monitoring or medication monitoring on a visiting or live in basis; Home Health Agencies provide a wide range of services in the individual's home environment. Hospices provide pain management, grief counseling and volunteer support. Following is a list of questions that will help you to select an agency that meets your needs.

Questions to ask:

Agency A

Agency B

Number of years in business?

Medicare and Medicaid Certification?

Qualifications of Staff?

Patient eligibility in writing?

Services provided:

•Hospice	•Skilled Nursing
•Home Health Care	•Light Housekeeping
•Therapy	•Live in (24 hour care)
•Durable Medical Equipment	•Respite

Clearly written schedule of fees?
Minimum charges

•Daily

•Monthly

•Weekly

Free initial patient assessment, at home and without further obligation?

Patient care plan written in understandable terms?

Required notice to client for schedule changes?

References from agency's clients?

Amount of notice before services begin?