Choosing a home care provider for a parent is a big decision, and the quality of agencies varies more than most families expect. The questions below are the ones to ask before you agree to anything. Ask every agency you talk to the same list, write down how they answer, and the right fit usually becomes clear. We have grouped the twenty questions by theme so you can work through them in a logical order, and the last two sections explain how to weigh the answers and how we would answer them ourselves.

BEFORE YOU START

The five things to ask about

Questions About Services and Care Planning

Start by making sure the agency actually provides the kind of help your parent needs, and that they plan it properly before anyone starts. A strong provider assesses your parent in their own home and puts the plan in writing, rather than promising a one-size-fits-all service.

1. What personal care services do you provide, such as bathing, incontinence care, and mobility assistance?
2. Do you provide transportation for appointments, errands, and activities?
3. Can you provide safety technology such as emergency monitoring systems and medication reminders or solutions?
4. Will you complete an in-home assessment and a written care plan before service begins?
5. How many years has your agency been caring for families in the community?

Questions About Caregivers and Matching

Everything about home care comes down to the person who walks through the door, so how an agency hires, screens, trains, and matches its caregivers deserves close attention. Look for people who are employees rather than contractors, who have been thoroughly background-checked, and who are trained for the conditions your parent lives with, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

6. Are your caregivers employees of your company rather than contractors, and are they covered by Workers’ Compensation?
7. Do you run national and local criminal and vulnerable-sector background checks and driving-record checks on every caregiver, and are personal and professional references required?
8. Are caregivers bonded and insured against theft?
9. Are your caregivers certified to provide personal care, and do they receive orientation and ongoing education?

Questions About Scheduling and Backup Coverage

Care only helps if it actually shows up. These questions tell you what happens on the ordinary days and, just as importantly, on the day a caregiver is sick or stuck in a Winnipeg snowstorm.

10. Do you require a minimum number of hours per shift, and if so, what is it?
11. Do you provide backup coverage if a scheduled caregiver cannot make it to work?
12. How do you track when caregivers arrive at and leave the client’s home?
13. How quickly can you start service once we decide to go ahead?

Questions About Communication and Changes in Care

Your parent’s needs will change over time, so you want an agency that stays in touch, checks its own work, and is easy to reach when something comes up.

14. Do you provide 24/7 telephone service so I can reach someone whenever I need to?
15. Is there office staff I can contact for information?
16. Do you have a business office where I can meet you and the office staff?
17. Does your agency make periodic supervisory visits to the client’s home?

Questions About Fees, Policies and Agreements

Finally, get the business side in writing. Clear coverage, transparent pricing, and proper documentation protect both your parent and your family.

18. Does your agency carry liability coverage?
19. Will you provide the care services offered, all rates and fees, and itemized invoices in writing?
20. Can you provide documentation of client rights, your code of ethics, Workers’ Compensation coverage, and PIPEDA (privacy) compliance?

How to Compare the Answers

The best way to compare agencies is to ask each of them the same questions and pay attention to how clearly and confidently they answer. Hesitation or vague replies on safety, insurance, or pricing are worth noting. The guide below shows what a strong answer sounds like, and what should give you pause.

READING THE ANSWERS

What a strong answer sounds like

You do not need a perfect score from every agency, but the answers to the safety, employment, and pricing questions should be immediate and clear. Those are the areas where a confident, well-run provider stands out.

Questions to Ask Comfort Keepers Winnipeg

You can ask us every one of these questions and get a straight answer. Our care is built on Comfort Keepers’ Interactive Caregiving approach, which means a caregiver takes the time to know your parent as a person, their likes, their dislikes, and the stories from their life, and works that into everyday activities, whether that is playing music from their favourite era, reading a well-loved book, or looking through old family photos together. Keeping a parent engaged this way helps them stay calm, confident, and safe. We also provide specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and we can arrange support around the clock when it is needed. To talk through anything on this page, from how we hire and train our caregivers to how we handle scheduling and fees, call (204)-488-4600 or fill out our free home care survey, and we will give you clear answers about how we work.