Be Prepared when Considering a Homecare Agency in Dallas, Texas
Top 10 Essential Questions
Asking Questions
There are no dumb questions. Homecare companies seldom work with people that have been through this before and they know you do not fully understand their services. Ask as many questions as you feel you need to understand exactly what it is they we be providing, how, when and for how much.
You may have other questions, but be sure to ask:
1. What is the company's approach to caregiving?
Home Helpers personalized services are given with the same dedicated support often provided by loved ones and family members. At Home Helpers, we believe that the opportunity to provide quality care for individuals in their time of need is a gift. Our founders sought to provide that gift by creating the most professional and trusted personal assistance possible. Home Helpers impacts the quality of our clients' lives by offering a comprehensive set of in-home services custom tailored to the needs of each individual, and delivered by caregivers who are both competent and compassionate. We go beyond the delivery of basic services, striving to deliver a true "experience", caring for each client in a holistic manner by understanding their needs and interests and customizing a plan that is specific and unique to them.
2. Do they check their workers' criminal records and driving records?
Yes. Home Helpers does three criminal background checks and a driving record check to ensure all caregivers meet Home Helpers standards. These are re-done annually.
3. Are they licensed by the Department of Aging and Disability Services? Do they carry liability insurance and bonding?
Yes.
4. Do they pay their workers as employees or contract agents? (A contract agent may be considered your employee. If so, you would be responsible for employment taxes and on the job injuries.)
All Home Helpers caregivers are employees of Home Helpers. We pay employment taxes on our employees' wages and are responsible for handling any unemployment claims and injuries on the job.
5. Are caregivers trained? How?
Home Helpers caregivers receive 100+ hours of training in their first year of employment through the Care Steps™ program. This includes an online 86 hour training program, quarterly in person training provided by Home Helpers staff and outside vendors and partnerships with other organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association. On an ongoing basis, caregivers receive training throughout their employment on topics such as preventing the spread of infectious disease, communicating with those with hearing loss, working with clients with dementia, hospice care, and more.
6. What kinds of duties can they perform?
A Home Helpers caregiver can assist with personal care, light housekeeping, laundry and linen washing, transportation, companionship, meal preparation, medication reminders, and much more. Just ask!
7. What if the worker is sick or quits?
If the worker is sick or cannot come to work for another reason (funeral, etc), we will arrange to have a substitute caregiver fill in until the primary caregiver can return to work. If the worker quits, we will have a substitute caregiver fill in until a permanent replacement can be found and oriented to the individual situation. We ask for your patience in these situations as our caregivers are people who do occasionally get sick, have a death in the family, or need to stop working for some personal reason.
8. How are caregiver arrivals monitored?
Home Helpers uses a system called Telephony to monitor caregiver arrival and departure. When the caregiver arrives, he or she will call a toll free automated number and "clock-in". Our system matches the client's home phone number to our schedule. If a caregiver does not clock-in within 13 minutes of his or her scheduled arrival, the on call supervisor receives an alert and investigates immediately.
9. Are emergency call services available?
Home Helpers can often respond on short notice to assist families in need; however, an on call caregiver may not always be available due to demand or holidays. Home Helpers has a staff person on call 24/7 to answer after-hours calls and address scheduling concerns.
10. Can care be provided 24/7? On a live-in basis? What is the shortest visit?
Home Helpers provides 24/7 care on an hourly or live-in basis. Care can be provided as little as two hours per day, or up to 24/7, and all kinds of schedules in between.
For more information: Call 972-233-6636 or visit http://www.hhdallas.com.
Asking Questions
There are no dumb questions. Homecare companies seldom work with people that have been through this before and they know you do not fully understand their services. Ask as many questions as you feel you need to understand exactly what it is they we be providing, how, when and for how much.
You may have other questions, but be sure to ask:
1. What is the company's approach to caregiving?
Home Helpers personalized services are given with the same dedicated support often provided by loved ones and family members. At Home Helpers, we believe that the opportunity to provide quality care for individuals in their time of need is a gift. Our founders sought to provide that gift by creating the most professional and trusted personal assistance possible. Home Helpers impacts the quality of our clients' lives by offering a comprehensive set of in-home services custom tailored to the needs of each individual, and delivered by caregivers who are both competent and compassionate. We go beyond the delivery of basic services, striving to deliver a true "experience", caring for each client in a holistic manner by understanding their needs and interests and customizing a plan that is specific and unique to them.
2. Do they check their workers' criminal records and driving records?
Yes. Home Helpers does three criminal background checks and a driving record check to ensure all caregivers meet Home Helpers standards. These are re-done annually.
3. Are they licensed by the Department of Aging and Disability Services? Do they carry liability insurance and bonding?
Yes.
4. Do they pay their workers as employees or contract agents? (A contract agent may be considered your employee. If so, you would be responsible for employment taxes and on the job injuries.)
All Home Helpers caregivers are employees of Home Helpers. We pay employment taxes on our employees' wages and are responsible for handling any unemployment claims and injuries on the job.
5. Are caregivers trained? How?
Home Helpers caregivers receive 100+ hours of training in their first year of employment through the Care Steps™ program. This includes an online 86 hour training program, quarterly in person training provided by Home Helpers staff and outside vendors and partnerships with other organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association. On an ongoing basis, caregivers receive training throughout their employment on topics such as preventing the spread of infectious disease, communicating with those with hearing loss, working with clients with dementia, hospice care, and more.
6. What kinds of duties can they perform?
A Home Helpers caregiver can assist with personal care, light housekeeping, laundry and linen washing, transportation, companionship, meal preparation, medication reminders, and much more. Just ask!
7. What if the worker is sick or quits?
If the worker is sick or cannot come to work for another reason (funeral, etc), we will arrange to have a substitute caregiver fill in until the primary caregiver can return to work. If the worker quits, we will have a substitute caregiver fill in until a permanent replacement can be found and oriented to the individual situation. We ask for your patience in these situations as our caregivers are people who do occasionally get sick, have a death in the family, or need to stop working for some personal reason.
8. How are caregiver arrivals monitored?
Home Helpers uses a system called Telephony to monitor caregiver arrival and departure. When the caregiver arrives, he or she will call a toll free automated number and "clock-in". Our system matches the client's home phone number to our schedule. If a caregiver does not clock-in within 13 minutes of his or her scheduled arrival, the on call supervisor receives an alert and investigates immediately.
9. Are emergency call services available?
Home Helpers can often respond on short notice to assist families in need; however, an on call caregiver may not always be available due to demand or holidays. Home Helpers has a staff person on call 24/7 to answer after-hours calls and address scheduling concerns.
10. Can care be provided 24/7? On a live-in basis? What is the shortest visit?
Home Helpers provides 24/7 care on an hourly or live-in basis. Care can be provided as little as two hours per day, or up to 24/7, and all kinds of schedules in between.
For more information: Call 972-233-6636 or visit http://www.hhdallas.com.