What to Expect from a Licensed Home Care Agency: A Complete Guide

In everyday busy schedules, many families can’t provide proper care and attention to their older members who need personal assistance due to their illness, age or disability. In this situation, most of the family’s first choice is a licensed home care agency that will provide professional, quality, and compassionate support just like their own home to live their fullest. 

Finding a good home care agency is no easy task. You have to consider a lot of things before you hire a home care agency for your loved one. To make this process easier, let’s see what to expect from a licensed home care agency. 

What is a Licensed Home Care Agency? 

A licensed home care agency is a registered care service provider agency that offers a range of services that include: personal care, homemaker services, medical care in need, etc. These services are arranged mainly for the elderly who need personal, supportive, medical or non-medical assistance. Besides, a licensed home care agency is qualified with certain standards following state and federal rules, so you don’t need to compromise on any technical support.  

These licensed home care agencies provide their services with professional and qualified caregivers who can connect with clients who need assistance with their daily activities. 

What Services does a Licensed Home Care Agency Offer?

Licensed home care agencies provide their services in two ways. One is less skilled, like non-medical care, and the other is medical care, which is a more skilled service. Let’s review both services: 

Non-medical Care Service

For non-medical care services, home care agencies provide personal services such as bathing, grooming and hygiene, light housekeeping, feeding assistance, mobility assistance, etc. They also provide homemaking services like companionship and social engagement, safety, and supervision for extremely ill people, like dementia patients.

Medical Health Care Service

Medical health care services provide skilled nursing services provided by registered nurses or licensed practical nurses who perform medication administration (injections, IVs, oral medications), wound care and dressing changes, vital signs and medical conditions monitoring, post-surgical recovery care, etc. Some therapy services, such as physical therapy, speech therapy also provided by licensed therapists.

Benefits of Licensed Home Care Agency

If you are wondering why you should enroll your loved one in a home care agency, you must know the benefits. Here are some of the key benefits you will find from a licensed home care agency- 

Professional Standards 

Agencies that are licensed tend to provide more professional service. They ensure your the safety, hygiene, and care you expect. They are trustworthy with their work as they go under regular inspections and audits. 

Qualified Caregivers

Qualified caregivers like Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses(LPNs), Home Health Aides (HHAs), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), medical social workers, and therapists work for the licensed homecare services. They receive continuous training to ensure up-to-date care practices.  

Supervised, Personalised Care Plans

A licensed home care agency’s care plans are based on your patient’s health conditions, preferences, and circumstances, so your patient gets the top priority. Cares are also adjusted according to the patient's personal needs and priorities.  

Medical and Non-Medical Services

Whether your patient needs a medical service or a non-medical service, you can avail both from a licensed home care agency. They will coordinate service, medications, and physician orders. 

Expectations From A Licensed Home Care Agency

When you are evaluating home care agencies, you should expect certain qualities and services from the organisations. Let’s review what are the key features you should expect from a licensed home care agency: 

Licensing and certifications - To start with, you must check their license and certificates to make sure that they are fully approved by the state and Medicare-certified.  

Staff qualifications - Staff should be qualified nurses, home health aides, certified nursing assistants, medical social workers, or therapists.

Range of services - Go through what range of services they provide like medical or non-medical services, whether they personalise and flexible their care plans to the individuals. 

Transparency in pricing and contracts - A licensed home care agency will always maintain its transparency in pricing and contracts. They might charge you on an hourly or contractual basis, so go through their terms and conditions before enrolling. 

Reputation and reviews - Do a background check if they have good review and reviews before you hire a home care agency. 

Emergency response availability - Some home care agencies respond really fast, even some of them even have 24/7 service. Check your agency if they have emergency response availability if you have a elderly ill patient. 

Conclusion

Choosing the right home care service for your family member or a loved one might be overwhelming, ensuring safety, comfort, and hygiene. But this task can be easy for you if you understand what to expect from a licensed home care agency. Their professionalism and personalized caregiving method can give you the confidence to choose one. A licensed home care agency will provide accountability, professionalism, commitment as well as your peace of mind. Whether your need is short-term or long-term, always enroll in a licensed home care agency for the sake of your loved one.