FINDING A RECOMMENDED AGENCY
Within our local Brain Support Network, I am often asked how to find a good hospice agency. These are my recommendations for that:
1- check out the Medicare rankings of home health agencies. See our previous blog post about that:
www.brainsupportnetwork.org/sf-bay-area-home-health-agencies-rated-on-medicare-site/
2- attend a local support group meeting and ask what agency others have used.
3- if you are a Brain Support Network group member, check the group membership directory for someone in your local area.
4- ask at your place of worship.
5- if your family member lives at a care facility, ask the management and other residents’ families.
6- if your family is receiving home health services, ask if the home health agency has a hospice counterpart.
7- if your family is receiving home care services through an agency or experienced private individual, ask if the agency or individual has a recommendation.
8- use the Washington Post’s hospice comparison guide. See our previous blog post about that:
www.brainsupportnetwork.org/washington-posts-hospice-guide-and-how-to-evaluate-a-hospice-agency/
9- get the low-down on sites like Yelp or Nextdoor.
INTERVIEWING AGENCIES
Assuming there are a couple of choices available in your area, it’s best if you interview at least two hospice agencies. Here are two posts about questions to ask when selecting a hospice agency:
www.brainsupportnetwork.org/choosing-a-hospice-16-questions-to-ask/
www.brainsupportnetwork.org/questions-to-ask-when-selecting-a-hospice-agency/
IMPORTANT NOTES
* In general, I prefer non-profit hospice agencies.
* Be sure you know that you can change agencies!
Robin