| When searching for an elder care service agency to | | | | bonded. Never work with an agency that is not |
| take care of your loved one, there are several | | | | bonded. 5. Is professional liability insurance paid so my |
| questions you should ask to make certain you are | | | | family is protected? At a quality elder agency, the |
| hiring a high quality elder care agency. 1. How does | | | | agency will be licensed and insured to protect you and |
| your agency screen its elder care employees? A | | | | your loved one. 6. Are your care providers licensed |
| quality elder care service agency will carefully screens | | | | with your state's Board of Nursing? At quality |
| all of its employees with in-depth background checks | | | | agencies, all care providers will be state licenses with |
| so that you can be comfortable that your loved ones | | | | the board of nursing and should have a license number |
| are in good hands. Employees should under undergo | | | | that can be verified for authenticity. 7. Can we reach |
| extensive reference checks, social security validation, | | | | your staff 24 hours in a day? At a quality elder care |
| national and local background checks and motor | | | | agency, the office staff will be available 24 hours a |
| vehicle records checks. 2. Are your elder care | | | | day, seven days a week through an emergency |
| providers employees of your company? At quality | | | | telephone line. 8. Does your agency provide |
| elder care agency the answer to this question will be | | | | replacement care if the scheduled care provider |
| yes. With the elder care providers being employees of | | | | cannot make it to work? Quality agencies will send |
| the agency, it is the agency that is responsible for their | | | | replacement without any additional charge for the |
| social security, federal and state taxes, and their | | | | period of time that the scheduled care provider cannot |
| unemployment taxes so your family is not legally | | | | make it to work. 9: Does your company provide a |
| responsible. If the elder care providers are not | | | | written care plan? When dealing with a quality elder |
| employees of the agency, you could be responsible | | | | care agency, the agency should provide a detailed |
| for paying worker compensation if the provider is hurt | | | | written care plan for each client. In creating the care |
| on the job while caring for your loved one. 3: Are your | | | | plan, the agency should consider all levels of care and |
| care providers trained before they are assigned to | | | | types of services that might be needed. You should |
| homes and do they receive ongoing training? The | | | | always ask the above questions when you are |
| answer to this question should be that each care | | | | interviewing elder care service providers to take care |
| provider completes an intensive training program and is | | | | of your loved ones. |
| fully qualified to provide elder care that is professional, | | | | Yewande D. Awoyemi is the administrator for Dubols |
| personal and friendly. 4. Are your care providers | | | | Home Care. Dubols is a medical and non-Medical |
| bonded? The answer to this question should be yes. | | | | staffing agency that provides caregivers for in home |
| You only want to choose elder care agencies that are | | | | elder care services. |