(Please print this page for your personal safe keeping)

Is the agency licensed? Yes___ No___

Check with your Area Agency On Aging

Does Medicare certify the agency? Yes___ No___

This means the agency has met the minimum health and safety requirements that the Federal Government has established. If they are not certified, Medicare will not reimburse for the services.

Is the agency accredited? Yes___ No___

Does the agency have a contract with your insurance company/HMO? Yes___ No___

Does the agency bill Medicare or your insurance provider or is the family responsible? Yes___ No___

Will the agency provide you with a written description of the services and charges? How much will be paid by Medicare, private insurance etc. so you will know what you are responsible for? Yes___ No___

How does the agency screen their staff?

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What type of training, supervision and monitoring does the agency provide to it’s staff?

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Does the agency develop a plan of care with the types of services, the frequency and the length of time the patient will need? Yes___ No___

How often is it reviewed? ________________________________________

Who does the review? _________________________________________

Will a nurse, therapist, or social worker provide the initial assessment? Yes___ No___

Is there an additional charge for this? Yes___ No___

Does the agency provide the aid and your family with training on high-tech equipment in the home? Yes___ No___

Is there a 24-hour emergency contact for your questions, problems, emergencies or complaints? Yes___ No___

Does the agency assure you that their staff is available at your requested times? Yes___ No___

How do they they assure you? __________________________________________

How does the agency insure you about the consistency of their care providers?

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Is there a charge for canceling a scheduled appointment or shift? Yes___ No___

Is there a cancellation period when you will not be charged? Yes___ No___

If yes, please indicate: ________________________________________________

© Copyright 2000 by Gail R. Mitchell

Author

  • Ms. Mitchell began her full-time caregiving experience in the early eighties when her husband was diagnosed with cancer. Later on she became the primary caregiver for her father, along with her mother who had become critically ill from burnout prior to her dad’s passing. In recent years, she cared for several friends with AIDS while continuing to care for her mother and actively providing support, information, referrals and resources for caregivers.

    Gail's leadership on the Internet and her success with Empowering Caregivers led her to found National Organization For Empowering Caregivers (NOFEC) INC in 2001.

    Prior to founding NOFEC, she created the iVillageHealth Chat: Empowering Caregivers, which she hosted for over 5 years. Within a month of hosting she created Empowering Caregivers: www.care-givers.com in 1999 as a resource for caregivers around the globe. Over three million visitors have frequented the website.

    She has presented at national and international care-related conferences and programs and has been a keynote speaker for many programs as well.

    Ms Mitchell has assisted thousands of caregivers online and offline in ways to empower themselves in their roles in caring for loved ones.

    For a list of clients and/or her resume, please contact info@care-givers.com

    Gail's articles have been published in many venues nationally and in Canada. Presently, she is a member of American Society on Aging and National Quality Caregivers Coalition.

    Gail has discovered that there is life after caregiving: She has become a successful ceramic artist and installation artist. She created Crystal Illumination Art to bring the transformative quality of illumination, light and color to the human experience and celebrate its ability to inspire, heal and nourish our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being.

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By Gail Mitchell