Choosing a Home Health Agency: The Real Checklist
Medicare ratings, state licensure, caregiver vetting and the questions that surface a good agency from a mediocre one.
10 min read
Choosing a home health agency is one of the highest-stakes care decisions families make, and the differences between agencies are larger than marketing implies.
Start with Medicare's Care Compare ratings if the patient qualifies for Medicare-covered home health. The patient-experience and outcome metrics are imperfect but informative.
Confirm state licensure and Joint Commission or CHAP accreditation. Accreditation isn't a guarantee but raises the floor on quality systems.
Ask about caregiver vetting: background checks, reference verification, ongoing training, and continuity (will the same person come each week or rotate?).
Probe supervision: how often does a nurse visit to update the care plan, and who is reachable after hours when something goes wrong?
Get the care plan in writing, with measurable goals. Vague care plans produce inconsistent care.
The in-home safety checklist and family caregiver support guides round this out.