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Life Care operates more than 200 skilled nursing homes, assisted living facilities, retirement living communities, home care services, and Alzheimer's centers.

Services - Home Care

How to Choose

When a loved one needs home care services, the following guidelines can ensure you select the most reliable, reputable provider to deliver the care he or she needs.

Determining Needs

  • Be sure you are fully aware of the home care services your loved one requires by consulting his or her physician.
  • Obtain a list of area home care agencies from either a doctor, social worker or case manager. You can also get recommendations from friends, neighbors, and your church or temple.
  • Contact these agencies to determine their service offering and to learn more about their practices.

Ask the right questions

  • Ask how long the provider has been serving the community to determine the reliability and stability of the agency.
  • Find out if the provider furnishes patients with a Patient's Bill of Rights, which outlines the rights and responsibilities of the provider, the patient and the caregivers.
  • Inquire about the agencies hiring practices. Do they perform criminal background checks?
  • Do they carry liability insurance on employees?
  • Ask about staff training. Is the training ongoing? Are staff members required to complete a set amount of in-service training hours each year?
  • Inquire about the patient evaluation process. Is a nurse or therapist required to evaluate the patient's home care needs? What is involved in this evaluation process? Is the patient's physician or family members consulted?
  • Find out how the plan of care is developed. Are the patient and his or her family members involved in the development of the plan of care? Are they involved in making changes to this plan? Is there a separate plan of care for each discipline whether it is nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc.?
  • Ask how the delivery of care is supervised. Who is assigned to oversee the quality of care being delivered? How often are supervisory visits conducted? Who is available to address questions or complaints? Are caregivers available 24 hours a day, seven days a week?
  • Ask if the agency participates in quality assurance programs such as the one organized by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, which evaluates quality of care and operations to determine compliance with national health and safety standards.
  • Ask for a list of references such as doctors, discharge planners, patients and their family members, community leaders, etc.