Choosing an in-home care provider
Interview questions for home care agencies and independent caregivers, plus how to set up communication and a written plan.
Bringing care into the home means inviting someone into daily life, so the questions you ask before the first visit matter. Rather than assuming what every agency does, these questions ask who handles screening, supervision, backup and billing, so you can compare answers from agencies and independent caregivers alike.
Two ways to hire
Families usually hire through an agency or directly with an independent caregiver. The difference is not that one is better; it is who takes on each responsibility. Ask the same questions either way, and note which answers are “we handle that” and which are “you would handle that.”
- Screening, references and background checks
- Scheduling, and backup when a caregiver is sick or leaves
- Supervision and quality checks
- Payroll, taxes and insurance
- What happens if the arrangement ends
If you hire directly, some employment, tax and insurance responsibilities may fall to your household. Ask a qualified professional what applies in your situation before you start.
Home care or home health?
The National Institute on Aging separates personal and household assistance at home from clinical services such as nursing or therapy. It suggests checking references and asking questions before you sign anything, and looking into community programs such as transportation and respite care. Make a list of the tasks your family member needs, then ask which of them each provider can actually do, and ask for the answer in writing.
- Which of the tasks on our list can your caregivers do, and which would need a nurse or therapist?
- If both are needed, how do you coordinate with a home health agency or clinician?
Source: Services for Older Adults Living at Home, National Institute on Aging (publisher’s content reviewed October 12, 2023; checked September 7, 2026)
About the agency
- How long have you operated in this area?
- What licenses, registrations or certifications, if any, does your agency hold in this state, and which office oversees you?
- Do you carry liability insurance and bonding? May we see the documentation?
- Do you provide a written care plan and a written service agreement?
- Who supervises caregivers, how often do supervisors visit, and how do we reach them?
- How do you handle complaints or concerns, and how quickly?
About the caregivers
- What does your hiring process include, and what kinds of background checks?
- Are caregivers your employees or independent contractors, and what does that mean for us?
- What training do caregivers receive before their first visit, and what is required each year?
- Do caregivers hold certifications, such as nursing assistant or home health aide, and is that required for our tasks?
- How do you match a caregiver to a client, and what happens if the match is not working?
- Who comes if our regular caregiver is sick or on leave, and how much notice will we get?
About the services
- Which services do you provide, and which do you not?
- Can you adjust hours and tasks as needs change?
- Do you have experience with our situation, such as dementia, limited mobility or recovery after surgery?
- Is there a minimum number of hours per visit or per week?
- How are medication reminders handled, and what is a caregiver not permitted to do with medications?
About costs and billing
- What is the hourly rate, and are there different rates for nights, weekends or holidays?
- How are visits billed, and how often?
- Who confirms whether long-term care insurance or a benefit program will pay, and what paperwork do you provide?
- What notice is required to change or end services?
Our cost questions guide covers rate sheets, changes and coverage in more detail.
Reasons to pause
Take extra time if a provider:
- Will not provide references
- Has no written service agreement or care plan
- Cannot show documentation of insurance or bonding
- Pressures you to sign immediately
- Will not meet in person or by video before care starts
- Is unclear about who supervises caregivers or who covers absences
Getting the match right
Once you choose a provider, the individual caregiver matters just as much. Pay attention to:
- Personality: will they get along with your family member?
- Communication: can they explain clearly what they did during a visit?
- Experience: have they worked with similar needs?
- Reliability: are they consistently on time?
- Boundaries: do they keep the relationship professional?
It is reasonable to ask for a different caregiver if the first match is not working. Ask up front how that request is handled.
Put the plan in writing
Ask for a written plan that covers:
- Specific tasks and how often they happen
- Daily routine and personal preferences
- How medication reminders are handled, and their limits
- Emergency contacts and what to do in an emergency
- How, and how often, the family will hear from the caregiver and the agency
- Goals for care, and the date the plan will next be reviewed
Staying involved
- Visit at different times of day.
- Ask your family member how it is going, and listen to the answer.
- Read caregiver notes and time logs.
- Check in with the supervisor on a schedule you agreed on.
- Raise concerns early, while they are small.
Getting started
- Write down the tasks your family member needs help with and when.
- Decide roughly how many hours a week would help.
- Shortlist two or three providers.
- Interview each with the questions above and take notes.
- Check references.
- Agree on a trial period and a date to review how it is going.
Sources
These pages informed the sections that cite them; the questions and checklists are our own. Links were checked on .
- Services for Older Adults Living at Home, National Institute on Aging.Publisher’s content reviewed October 12, 2023. Checked September 7, 2026.