Finding a good home health-care aide is both challenging and essential. "You want someone who is organized, gentle, who has a sense of importance and demeanor, as well as a sympathetic attitude," says Mary St. Pierre, vice president of regulatory affairs for the National Association of Home Care & Hospice. But you also need someone who has a clean background check and solid references. Searching for questions to ask your prospective home health-care provider? Look no further:
Is the agency licensed and accredited? Your home health-care aide should be part of an agency licensed by the state, says St. Pierre. Do not hire a caregiver through a nonlicensed agency. Contact your state department of health for a list of agencies they have licensed. Look for accreditation from organizations like Joint Commission, an independent nonprofit that accredits and certifies nearly 15,000 health-care organizations and programs in the United States.
