Free guide
20 questions to ask any home care provider
Hiring home care means letting a company into your parent’s home and health. Most sound identical on the phone — warm, caring, flexible. These twenty questions cut through the brochure. Ask them of every provider you talk to, including us.
Clinical oversight
- Who designs the care plan, and what licence do they hold?
The answer should be a nurse with a name, not “our care team”. - Who supervises care after it starts, and how often?
A plan nobody revisits is a schedule, not care. - What happens when something changes (a fall, new symptoms, confusion)?
Listen for a concrete escalation path, not reassurance. - Can I see a sample care plan before signing anything?
If the plan is a mystery until you’ve paid, that tells you something. Ours is public.
The caregivers
- Will we see the same caregivers consistently, and what’s your policy when one leaves?
Caregiver churn is the #1 complaint in home care. Make them state a policy. - How are caregivers screened? Police check, references, credentials — verified how?
Every provider says “vetted”. Ask what that means, specifically. - Are your caregivers covered by your insurance and WCB — and who carries the risk if something happens in our home?
Employee or contractor, what matters is that the provider carries the coverage and the accountability — never your family. - Can we meet the caregiver before care begins?
A good provider treats the match as part of the service.
Communication with family
- How do we find out what happened at each visit?
Visit notes should reach the family, not live in a binder you never see. - Who do we call at 8pm on a Saturday — and who answers?
The after-hours answer reveals the real operation. - How will you tell us when care should change, including when we need less?
A provider willing to recommend fewer hours is one you can trust with more. - How do you coordinate with Assisted Living Alberta home care, physicians, and pharmacies?
Care that ignores the clinical team around it is scheduling, not nursing-led care.
Money and contracts
- What does an invoice look like, and does every line match the care plan?
Vague invoices hide vague care. - Are you a registered CDHCI provider who bills Alberta Blue Cross directly?
If you qualify for funding, this single answer can change everything. How CDHCI works. - What are the visit minimums, travel charges, and cancellation terms?
Ask before signing. Surprises here poison the relationship. - Is there a long-term contract or can we adjust and stop as needs change?
Care needs change. Contracts should expect that.
Accountability
- Are you licensed, insured, and bonded (and can you show it)?
“Yes” should come with paper, not just confidence. - What happens if a visit is missed?
The plan for failure matters more than the promise of perfection. - What happens when a family raises a concern — and can you share an example of something you improved because of one?
Any provider can say they welcome feedback. A good one can point to a real change that came from it. - Why did your last client leave?
An honest answer to this one is worth the whole conversation.
Our standing invitation: ask us all twenty. That’s what the free visit is for — and if another provider answers them better, you should hire them.
Care that comes home
Not sure where to start?
Book The Alberta Maple Care Assessment — a free, no-obligation nurse visit. We’ll listen, understand your needs, and help you explore the right options.
Not ready to book? Start with a no-pressure conversation instead.