repisodic Blog

High-quality post-acute care can significantly increase a patient’s rate of recovery. Finding a home health care agency that’s right for you or your loved one can help you avoid unnecessary readmissions to the hospital and decrease overall healthcare costs. Below we have outlined key home health care qualities to evaluate before and after you start your care. Follow this checklist to compare agencies and identify the provider that best fits your needs.

Before you start your care:

• Medicare/Medicaid certification
• Offers the specific health care services I need, like skilled nursing services or physical therapy?
• Meets my special needs, like language or cultural preferences?
• Offers the personal care services I need, like help bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom?
• Offers the support services I need, or can help me arrange for additional services, like a meal delivery service, that I may need?
• Has staff that can provide the type and hours of care my doctor ordered and start when I need them?
• Is recommended by my hospital discharge planner, doctor, or social worker?
• Has staff available at night and on weekends for emergencies?
• Explained what my insurance will cover and what I must pay out-of-pocket?
• Has letters from satisfied patients, family members, and doctors that testify to the home health agency providing good care?

After you start your care:

• The staff is polite and treats me, and my family members, with respect.
• The staff explains my plan of care to me and my family, lets us participate in creating the plan of care, and lets us know ahead of time of any changes.
• The staff members are properly trained and licensed to perform the type of health care I need.
• The agency explains what to do if I have a problem with the staff or the care I am getting.
• The agency responds quickly to my requests.
• The staff checks my physical and emotional status at each visit.
• The staff respond quickly to changes in my health or behavior.
• My home is checked and suggestions are made to meet my special needs and to ensure my safety.
• The staff have told me what to do if I have an emergency.
• My privacy is protected.

Download this information as a PDF: Home Health Care Checklist

repisodic offers comprehensive profiles of every home health care agency in the country to support your search. Learn more here!