Harmonious Homecare
By Patricia-Lee Baskin Scholpp, Caring Solutions
Published in Longmeadow Neighbors | March 2026
I hope all of you found my article in the November issue informative and eye opening. Now that we are talking about homecare, here’s some guidelines and questions you should be considering before choosing an agency.
Prepare yourself. Do the research before you or your family member needs care.
Ask questions such as:
How long have they been in business? Not how long the franchise has been in existence, but who is at the helm? How long have they been there?
What training do the caregivers have? Are they trained in transfers, bathing, wheelchair assistance, walker assistance, choking, CPR, first aid, stroke, or dementia? Or are they only trained in home-making services?
What is the timeline for starting care? Does someone come for an assessment and is there a fee for this? Who does the assessment?
Do you have to commit to a certain amount of time and/or hours? Does the hourly rate depend on the length of the shifts you choose?
How often are you billed? Do they require a deposit?
Is there a price differential for overnights? Weekends? Holidays? What about for different caregiver responsibilities?
Does the caregiver keep medical records of the shifts? Are you able to see them?
Are the caregivers employed directly by the agency or are they subcontractors? Are they allowed to work in the United States by our state and federal laws?
Does the agency have on-call services? If so, who manages them? Will they be familiar with the care? Who do you call if there is an emergency in the middle of the night?
Will you be charged for cancelling a shift? If so, what’s the charge? How much notice does the agency require to not be charged for cancelling a shift?
Are there replacements if someone calls out? Will they notify you?
What if you do not like the caregiver?
Can they transport your family members? Do they have insurance for that? Do they check to see if the caregiver has a valid and current license? What about insurance on their vehicle?
Does the agency take Medicare? Veterans’ benefits? Long term care insurance? Do they bill these parties directly or do you need to get reimbursed after submitting payment?
Do the caregivers sleep on overnight shifts?
How do the caregivers get their information on what to do with you or your family members?
Here are some of the acronyms that may be used:
CNA – Certified Nursing Assistant – training required.
MA – Medical Assistant – training required.
PCA – Personal Care Attendant – may or may not have training.
Companion – no training or medical experience.
RA – Resident Assistant – may or may not have training.
HHA – Home Health Aide – training required.
Does the agency run Criminal Background checks (a CORI) through the Commonwealth of MA? What if something is on the CORI? Do they hire people regardless? With felonies? Misdemeanors?
Does the agency have workers’ compensation for their employees? Are you able to see a copy of it? You need to make sure that if someone gets hurt in your home, you are not liable.
Patricia-Lee Baskin Scholpp
SENIOR IN-HOME CARE
Caring Solutions
413-733-5588
caring-solutions.com
info@caring-solutions.com
Does the agency drug screen? How often? If someone tests positive for drug use, what is their protocol?
Are there unannounced home visits during the shifts? If so, how often? By whom?
Is there a contract that defines what the agency can and cannot do?
I know this seems like a lot of questions—but who cares for you or your loved ones is a decision that should not be made lightly. It’s easy to choose the cheapest option or the most available option. And though your finances are a very important factor, you need to make sure you understand what your dollar is affording you.
With all of this said, only you know what is right for you and your family. I hope this information can be used to guide you to decisions that bring peace of mind through the aging process. With the right support, you’ll get through this.
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