Today, families need to protect their loved ones by sheltering in place. But for many, staying at home without care is not safe. Adam Blecker, president of Seniors In Place LLC and president of Home Health Services Association of New Jersey, recommends that you follow these six steps to receive the right care.

“Following these steps may save your loved one’s life,” said Blecker.

1) Ask what policies and procedures the agency has put in place during Covid-19. Make sure you are comfortable with the answer. If an agency doesn’t have a policy, look elsewhere. The best providers have responded quickly to this pandemic, rapidly deploying and adjusting policies to address the changing environment and implementing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

2) Ensure that the agency is registered as a “Health Care Service Firm” in New Jersey, which can be verified at njconsumeraffairs.gov/hcservice.

3) The agency should be accredited by one of six accrediting bodies in New Jersey: CAHC, CHAP, ACHC, NIHCA, NAHC, and JCAHO. Ask the provider who they are accredited with and verify they are in good standing.

4) If receiving assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, toileting, transferring, or any other hands-on care, make sure the caregiver is a Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) registered in New Jersey. It is important to note that in New Jersey CHHAs must work for a health-care service firm under the direction of a registered nurse and are not allowed to provide hands-on care independently.

5) Do not use an agency that requires you to pay the caregiver directly.

6) Finally, don’t forget the old adage, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Most reputable agencies are within a few dollars of one another. If you find a provider who is vastly less expensive, proceed with caution.

About Seniors In Place LLC

For two decades, the Seniors In Place family has provided millions of hours of in-home and in-facility care for thousands of New Jersey families. It is accredited with distinction by The Commission on Accreditation for Home Care. Seniors In Place caregivers, who are employees and not independent contractors, are state-certified, insured, recipients of benefits, and are continuously educated and regularly evaluated.

For more home care Covid-19 resources, visit SeniorsInPlace.com. For an urgent need for care, call 973-774-3660.