Some Home-Care Agencies Better at Lying Than Background-Checking?

When you hire an aide from a home-care agency, you might assume the person has gone through a federal background check. But a recent study shows that’s often not the case, reports HealthDay News.

For the study, researchers posed as people looking for aides. They questioned 180 home-care agencies and found that background checks, training and even honesty seemed to be lacking.

Slightly more than half — 56 percent — of the agencies said they performed federal background checks and about one-third tested workers for drugs. Training ranged from nothing to seven days; in some cases, there was no supervision by the agency. …

Some agencies appeared to lie about their screening system. One agency said it relied on an assessment called the “National Scantron Test for Inappropriate Behaviors,” while another mentioned “Assessment of Certification of Christian Morality.” Those don’t seem to exist, the researchers said.

The article points out that home-care agencies aren’t regulated like nursing homes and that you need to do your due diligence when searching for one. It lists questions the researchers recommend asking.

You can read reviews of home-care agencies in your area here.

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Leigh Ann Otte is a freelance writer who specializes in health and aging issues. She covers finding and paying for senior care for OurParents. If you have any questions about this post or need help finding senior-care options for a loved one, call 1-866-483-4896 to speak with a care advisor in your area.