We always tell families that choosing a home care is one of the most important decisions they’ll make for their loved one. Our experience in this field has taught us that the right caregiver doesn’t just provide services—they become part of your family circle. When we started our home care agency in Connecticut, MB Home Care, our vision was simple: put the client’s needs at the forefront of everything we do.
What Your Loved One Really Needs
We like to ideally meet with the client and a family member to properly assess and compile a care plan. Before you even start calling agencies, we recommend spending time understanding your loved one’s daily routine and what truly matters to them. This foundation helps you find the right match for their specific situation.
In-home care vs. assisted living
We sometimes point out to the client that it is a lot on their family, usually their adult children, to manage two households, work, etc. and home care would be a big help to them as well.
Home care allows your loved one stay in familiar surroundings with personalized support. This option gives you more flexibility and one-on-one attention.
Assisted living offers community engagement and round-the-clock staffing but requires leaving home. You need to consider both the financial impact and emotional impact when making this decision. For many families, in-home care provides necessary support while preserving home comfort.
Questions that reveal the truth
When you meet with potential agencies, ask the direct questions that matter:
- About caregivers: “What certifications do your caregivers have? How do you conduct background checks?”
- About services: “Can you develop a personalized care plan? Will you consult with our loved one’s doctor?”
- About reliability: “What happens if our regular caregiver is unavailable? How quickly can services begin?”
- About communication: “How do you keep family members informed? What is your process for handling complaints?”
Know What to Look for Behind the Scenes
After you’ve talked with a few agencies, we recommend digging deeper into how they actually operate day-to-day. The agencies that sound good on the phone don’t always deliver when it comes to the details that really matter for your loved one’s care.
Care plan development is where quality shows
We like to ideally meet with the client and a family member to properly assess and compile a care plan. A visit is done prior to services being provided, where a two-page care assessment is completed to ensure the proper services are offered by the proper caregiver.
When you’re interviewing agencies, ask them to walk you through their assessment process. A quality home care provider should be able to tell you exactly:
- What specific services do they provide and how often
- Which caregiver will handle which tasks
- What goals they’re working toward with your loved one
- How they’ll adjust care for your loved one’s preferences
Communication should be straightforward
We believe in keeping families informed without overwhelming them. When a caregiver is working in your loved one’s home, you should know what’s happening without having to chase down information.
Ask agencies how they handle updates, what kind of documentation they provide and how quickly they respond when you have questions. The right provider will have systems in place that work for your schedule and communication preferences.
Meeting with a caregiver can be tricky because you truly don’t know someone until you spend a sufficient amount of time with them, but good agencies will be transparent about their processes and willing to make adjustments when needed.
Making the Partnership Work Long-Term
The relationship with your home care agency doesn’t end once services begin—that’s when the real work starts. Longevity is important to us with our staff, so a client knowing they won’t have someone new in their home every shift means they can build a relationship with their caregiver long term.
How to evaluate care after it starts
You need to establish a regular schedule to check on care quality. Within the first month, we recommend weekly check-ins, then move to monthly evaluations once routines settle. Check on:
- Your loved one’s comfort level – Are they at ease with their caregiver?
- Physical well-being – Are their needs being met properly?
- Caregiver reliability – Do they show up on time and complete all tasks?
- Communication quality – Is information shared the way it should be?
Regular check-ins help correct small problems before they become big ones. Keep notes about what’s working well and what needs attention. This documentation helps when you need to discuss changes with the agency.
Building a long-term relationship with your provider
Trust builds through regular, honest conversations about expectations and results. Find a point person at the agency who knows your loved one’s situation well. This creates consistency even when individual caregivers change.
Don’t hesitate to speak up about concerns, but also express appreciation for good service. Finding high-quality care that truly fits your loved one’s needs takes patience and attention. Call MB Home Care (475) 414-9018 to get more info about choosing a home care provider that will grow with you through every stage.
FAQs
Q1. How do we choose the right home care agency for my loved one?
Start by assessing your loved one’s needs and lifestyle preferences. Research agencies’ credentials, reputation and approach to personalized care. Interview potential providers, asking about caregiver training, services offered and communication processes. Look for agencies that demonstrate an understanding of your specific situation and can adapt their services accordingly.
Q2. What should I look for in a home care provider’s care plan process?
A quality home care provider should develop a detailed, written care plan that outlines specific services, identifies responsible caregivers and includes measurable outcomes. The plan should be based on a comprehensive assessment of your loved one’s medical, emotional and social needs.
Q3. How can I check the quality of the services?
Establish a regular schedule for assessing care quality, starting with weekly check-ins in the first month and transitioning to monthly evaluations. Pay attention to your loved one’s satisfaction level, physical well-being, caregiver reliability and communication quality. Keep notes about what’s working well and areas needing improvement and don’t hesitate to address concerns promptly with the agency.