If, following your assessment by a Case Manager, you qualify for subsidized home support, you will likely receive service from the home support agency that is designated for your neighbourhood/community.
Something to bear in mind regarding home care is that it probably will not be the same community health worker who comes each time to provide care. It may be helpful for families to know this in advance, particularly if the home care assistance involves intimate personal care, such as bathing. If this is a matter of concern, it may be something to discuss with the Case Manager.
Home support hours are authorized within the context of an ongoing care plan. This plan is based on individual needs and therefore the number of hours approved may go up or down as the needs change. If you have questions or concerns about the number of hours of home care for which you or your family member has been deemed eligible, you may wish to contact the Client Relations Office of your regional health authority or community care access centre.
As noted above, it is the Case Manager (rather than the care receiver/ family) who arranges for the home support service approved through the program. If additional home support and/or other home-based care services are wanted, these arrangements need to be made by the care receiver or family.
When arranging for home support privately.
Private home support agencies offer a wide range of services, including case coordination by a registered nurse, personal care by licensed practical nurses or home support workers, assistance with housekeeping and laundry, meal preparation, handyman services, shopping services, companion services, transportation services, and respite services. Not all agencies necessarily provide this full array of services, so it is important to discuss what the agency offers when you make enquiries. There are several reason you may want to consider hiring private help:
- You do not qualify for home care services and willing to pay for extra help
- You want to increase the level of help you receive
- You have insurance to cover services
- You need short term support through a crisis
It is recommended that you check for references and legal liabilities of home care agencies; the VON does not make endorsements of any agencies.
In arranging privately for home care, it may be helpful to ask particular questions of the agencies you are considering. (The following section has been adapted from How to Care http://www.howtocare.com/home_care4.htm). Some important questions include:
- What services does the agency provide?
- How long has the agency been in business?
- Is the agency insured or bonded? Are the workers bonded?
- Does the agency supply references for itself and its employees?
- What type of training is required of employees?
- Will the same person come to the home each time?
- Will a supervisor oversee the quality of care that is being received?
- Does the agency perform an in-home assessment and create a care plan based on this assessment?
- Will the caregiver or care receiver get a copy of the care plan?
- What are the agency's operating hours?
- How flexible is the agency (with regard to its hours)?
- What are the fees? Is there a sliding scale? Are there payment plan options?
- What are the financial procedures for billing, fee payment, and/or insurance coverage?
- How does the agency deal with emergencies, holidays, and sick days?
- Who does the individual or caregiver contact, if dissatisfied with the service?
An alternative to arranging home support service with an agency is to hire an individual to provide home support services. If you are considering this option, some questions you may want to ask of the applicant include:
- Why are you interested in providing home care?
- What are some of your past experiences with home care?
- What training do you have in home care?
- Are you currently providing care for others?
- Why did you leave your last position?
- How much time can you commit to this position?
- Are there any duties that you are unwilling or unable to do?
- What will you do if there is an emergency?
- Have you handled an emergency situation before? What happened?
- How would you deal with someone who may resist your care?
- What will you do if you are sick and cannot come in?
- Are you bonded and can you provide a police check?
- Do you have references? Check them carefully.
In making a decision regarding either the home support agency or the individual, questions that you and the care receiver may ask yourselves include:
- Are you and the care receiver comfortable with the agency/individual?
- Does the applicant have the skills the position requires?
- Do you trust the applicant, especially in emergency situations?
- Are the personalities of the applicant and the care receiver well-matched?
Adapted from: Family Caregivers' Network Society, Resource Guide for Family Caregivers, 2006.