Ventura County Senior Living

Patients & Caregivers

When selecting a home care provider, there are some very important questions that you should ask of your prospective services provider:

Security
Your home health care provider choice is critical because you could potentially become an employer, with all of its tax and regulatory responsibilities. By knowing the questions to ask, you can rest secure knowing the providers are the employers, and you can focus on receiving the care.

• Is the Care Provider a:
  • Full Employment Home Care Company,
  • Registry/Broker/Referral Agency,
  • Independent Contractor?
• Home care companies accept responsibility for screening, training, insuring, and supervising their staff. The other employment models do not.
• How long has the home care company been providing private duty home care?
• How does the company screen and select caregivers prior to an assignment? Do they hire independent contractors?
• Are references checked and criminal background and drug screens conducted on all employees?
• Does an company representative, who along with the client and family, develop an individualized plan of care?  How are emergencies handled after normal business hours?
• How often are caregiver services monitored?  Does a company representative make regular visits to the client's home?
• Does the company adhere to state and federal guidelines in their employment practices, such as: withholding appropriate taxes, providing workers' compensation and other benefits?
• Does the company manage all payroll and employee related matters?

Whenever possible, ask to meet with the prospective caregiver(s) before they are assigned to provide care. This will provide a good opportunity to interact with the caregiver prior to an assignment. If you are not satisfied with the caregiver, this is a good time to let the agency know.

Why Private Duty Home Care?
When considering home care you and your loved ones deserve the peace of mind, trust and security that private duty home care uniquely offers.

Trust
Private duty home care is different than ordinary home care. By choosing a home care company you can trust that your provider follows a set standard and a code of ethics.