Can You Trust Your Home Care Agency

By Matthew Elgren

When your loved one needs medical care and they don't want to go into a long-term care facility, you might want to contact a home care agency. You probably don't want to put them in a long-term care facility either.

These agencies specialize in offering nurses, nursing assistants, physical therapists, and other medical or qualified professionals that can provide the services that are needed. And the best thing is that your loved ones can still remain in their own home.

Sometimes, however, the staff that they provide is not always qualified. Always keep an eye on people that seem too helpful in your home. They might be trying to get away with something. Unfortunately there is a history of people in these positions sneaking away with important, personal possessions. If they seem like they're being overly helpful, it may be because they are trying to get involved with things that are none of their business.

Sometimes people will start out with helpful motives. Perhaps they notice that your loved one received a shut off notice in the mail for the electricity. This might be a sign that they aren't paying their own bills on time. A home health care aid might think it is helpful to pull out their patient's checkbook and start paying bills for your family member, only to see that they have thousands in the bank. This is a tempting thing for a home care agency worker to run across, and someone without good morals might start writing checks out for things that are not really something your loved one should be paying, like checks for cash at the bank.

Home care agency personnel have to hold themselves up above regular morals so they are not accused of anything. Billing from the agency should be gone over with a fine tooth comb to make sure your family member isn't being billed for things they never received.

Further, you have to make sure the staff your agency provides have had background checks done on them so you know your family member is safe. Fraud happens all the time. When you hire a home care agency to provide for the needs for your loved one, it is because you know they need extra help around the home.

Take the time to research your agency thoroughly. Find out about their hiring practices and make sure that they are providing qualified professionals to care for your family member. Keep an eye on them, too, to make sure no fraudulent practices occur.

Home care agency fraud is a real thing and happening much too often. Overall, if you notice anything from your hired staff that is even remotely suspicious, you will be wise to look into it immediately - it may save you a lot of money and time down the road. - 29958

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