How to find a good home health care agency for my dad?

[Anonymous]

We are looking after my elderly dad, and I'm trying to select the best home health care agency from the list given to us by a case worker. They can't really tell us who they think is good. I guess there is a rule against giving that advice. I have asked around, and done online searches, and it surprises me how little guidance there is. Are they all good? (Doubt that!) We need someone to come in to bathe, to do physical therapy, and a visiting nurse. Have any of you navigated this sort of thing successfully? What agencies are good, and which should we avoid? I am about ready to post on Facebook for recommendations! Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are looking after my elderly dad, and I'm trying to select the best home health care agency from the list given to us by a case worker. They can't really tell us who they think is good. I guess there is a rule against giving that advice. I have asked around, and done online searches, and it surprises me how little guidance there is. Are they all good? (Doubt that!) We need someone to come in to bathe, to do physical therapy, and a visiting nurse. Have any of you navigated this sort of thing successfully? What agencies are good, and which should we avoid? I am about ready to post on Facebook for recommendations! Thanks!!

Facebook is probably a good idea actually, since you are likely to get references from people you trust.

Are you in the DC area OP?

[Anonymous]

Bayada nurses are good

[Anonymous]

My mom has done home health care for about 10 years and world through this agency - https://www.homeinstead.com. It was pretty good. She does private duty on her own now. You may find you want to go private in the long term. You will get better quality of you find a good person. It is more lucrative for them so the best navigate to that.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for these ideas. We are in NoVa. Last night, I checked out the Medicare ratings and a few industry ratings sites. Still seems like a shot in the dark. Will check out Bayada. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

We had some great, affordable care with DaleCare Companion services. They are based in Springfield but we were in McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom has done home health care for about 10 years and world through this agency - https://www.homeinstead.com. It was pretty good. She does private duty on her own now. You may find you want to go private in the long term. You will get better quality of you find a good person. It is more lucrative for them so the best navigate to that.

Agree. We used Home Instead for my mom for a while before she went into assisted living.