5 Recommendations When Researching Home Care Agencies in Marin County CA
We are fortunate to live in a time where home care is feasible for our loved ones as they age. Once restricted to nursing homes, care at home was 
often viewed as a last-ditch effort when family members could no longer tackle the needs of their loved ones on their own. Home care makes taking care of our loved ones hassle-free and enjoyable. The advantage of professional, skilled nursing assistants who visit seniors in their, or their family’s, home, provides that the very best care is given in cases where health or physical issues limit one’s capacity to to care for themselves.
Home care agencies have appeared all over the country. The process of hiring an agency leads off with proper research and taking the time to check out each agency in order to assess their level of good quality, and their nursing staff’s experience, in relation to each family’s individual needs. It’s important that each family take the time to make sure the home care agency they employ are up to date in licensing requirements, and that their nursing staff are totally free of criminal backgrounds. This is certainly true if elder care will be provided when family members are not around to manage when skilled nursing staff comes to visit. A high sense of trust needs to be identified between both parties in order to ensure a long-term, favorable, relationship.
The following 5 tips are offered to those who are initiating their research into home care agencies for their aging family members.
1. Referral Sources
Ask friends, family and co-workers for recommendations to local companies they are familiar with. Inquire about their personal experiences, good and bad. Contact the elder’s long term care insurance company and ask for testimonials (if in-home care is covered by their plan.) You can even contact your family health care professional and ask for local references. Your last choice is to try the web, but if you choose this route, make sure to spend extra time looking at each company more thoroughly, as you won’t have particular experience to judge these companies by.
2. Background Checks
Once you’ve sorted out a short list of companies you wish to explore further, make sure to ask what types of selection processes they put their nursing staff through prior to hiring them. Criminal background checks, credit checks, and checking own references should be common in all companies.
3. Staff Skills & Experience
Question as to what the minimum qualifications each company demands when hiring their care providers. Do they only hire college educated nurses? Are their care providers certified nursing assistants? Or, do they simply require that their staff have a background in helping care for the elderly? The more complex their requirements, the better care will likely be offered.
4. Company Reputation
Check online through Angie’s List, Google or other rating agencies to analyze each company’s general rating. Are there any standout issues? You can also try a common search online by typing in the company’s name and the word “complaint” into any search engine to look at what comes up from the general public’s perception.
5. Licensing
Be certain any company you deal with has the proper city, county and state licensing latest and in good standing. Eliminate the worry of hiring any company that is not reputable in practice.
Finally, don’t be shy about asking many specific questions. All well-established companies pride themselves in customer satisfaction and should be happy to openly, and willingly, offer up any and all information to prospective clients. Due diligence on your part will ensure a long-term, positive experience for yourself and your family members.
If you are researching home care agencies in Marin County CA, contact ComForcare Senior Services. We are dedicated to providing quality and affordable elder care to your family. Call 888-243-6201 for more information.
