Free Guide · Blueprint Home Care

Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Agency

Bring this to every conversation. A good agency will answer all of it without hesitation.

Licensing & Insurance

Are you registered as a Health Care Service Firm (HCSF) with the state of New Jersey?
Do you carry general liability and professional liability insurance, and a surety bond?
Are your caregivers employees, or independent contractors?

Caregiver Screening & Training

What background checks do you run before hiring a caregiver?
Are your caregivers CHHA-certified, and how is that verified?
How do you train caregivers for memory care or post-hospital recovery specifically?

Matching & Backup Coverage

How do you match a caregiver to our family, and can we meet them first?
What happens if our regular caregiver is sick or unavailable?

Care Plan & Communication

Is there a written care plan, and who reviews and updates it?
How will we know how the day went?
Who is our point of contact if something comes up?

Cost & Contract

What is the hourly rate, and is there a minimum number of hours per visit?
Are there additional fees for holidays, overnight, or last-minute requests?
What is the cancellation policy, and is there a contract we're locked into?

Red Flags

Cash-only payment, no state registration, no background checks, high-pressure sign-today tactics, no written care plan, or pricing that changes after the first call. Any one of these is worth a second look; more than one is worth walking away.

Want a second opinion, or just want to talk it through?

We're glad to help you think it through, even if the answer ends up being a resource other than us.

Blueprint Home Care · Registered NJ Health Care Service Firm HP0441400