Whether you need help recovering from an accident, surgery, or need long term care for a chronic illness or disability, home health care is often a viable option that has been gaining popularity, for a reason. Studies have shown that recovering at home is better for a patient’s physical and mental health. Today’s home health care services can provide everything from help with errands and chores like cooking and cleaning, to skilled medical care from nurses and therapists. But with so many new home health care agencies popping up, how do you know which one to choose?

Luckily, if you follow these basic guidelines, you can be confidant when choosing your home health care provider :

o Check out the agency’s credentials.
Make sure the home health care service you choose is licensed in your state, is certified by Medicare, and is accredited by a governing agency such as The Joint Commission’s Home Care Accreditation Program.

o Check out the caregivers’ credentials.
Besides looking for providers that are friendly and helpful, make sure you inquire about the caregivers’ professional training. Are they bonded and insured? Does the home health care service have a supervisor oversee the quality of the service? Also, ask for references for the caregivers themselves, and find out if the home health care agency screens their employees. Read the rest of this entry »