How to Choose a Home Care Agency in Indiana

You are hiring trust, not just hours

A home care agency sends strangers into a private house to help with intimate tasks. Reputation, screening, training, and communication matter as much as the hourly rate. Take notes on every call, and do not feel pressured to sign the same day.

This guide is for families paying privately, using long-term care insurance, or preparing to use Medicaid waiver providers. Always verify that an agency can bill your specific payer before care starts.

Licensing and insurance

Ask what Indiana license or certification the agency holds (for example, personal services agency licensure and/or home health certification) and ask them to explain it in plain English. Request proof of liability insurance. For Medicaid waiver work, ask whether they are certified/enrolled for the exact services on the service plan (attendant care, HCA, respite, etc.).

You can also ask how long they have operated in your county and whether they will provide references from families or discharge planners. We do not list agencies on county pages in v1 of this site; use the match form to request outreach, then complete your own vetting.

Caregiver screening and training checklist

Use these questions on every sales call:

• Do you run criminal background checks? Which registries do you check, and how often are they rechecked?
• Are caregivers employees or independent contractors?
• What training is required before a first shift (ADLs, transfers, dementia, infection control)?
• Can we request a consistent caregiver, and what is your average turnover?
• May we meet the caregiver before the first shift?
• How do you handle TB testing and health screenings required for your license type?

Scheduling, backup, and supervision

The best care plan fails when nobody shows up on Saturday morning. Ask:

• What is your minimum visit length?
• How do you cover call-offs, no-shows, and weather emergencies?
• Is there an on-call number after hours?
• How often does a supervisor check in with the client and family?
• Can you increase or decrease hours with how much notice?
• Do you use an electronic visit verification (EVV) system for clock-in/out?

Care planning and communication

A written plan of care should list tasks, schedule, mobility needs, cognition notes, emergency contacts, and goals. Ask how changes get documented and how you will receive updates—app, text, phone, or paper log.

If dementia, hospice, or complex transfers are involved, ask for caregivers with matching experience. Specialty match matters more than a slightly lower rate.

Money and contracts

Before signing, get:

• A written rate sheet (weekday, weekend, holiday, overtime)
• Billing cycle and accepted payment methods
• Whether they bill long-term care insurance directly
• Cancellation policy and notice requirements
• What happens if Medicaid waiver authorization starts mid-relationship

Red flags

Walk away or dig deeper if an agency:

• Cannot explain their license or refuses to put rates in writing
• Pressures you to pay large amounts of cash up front
• Has no clear backup plan for missed visits
• Discourages you from speaking with a supervisor
• Promises Medicaid approval or “guarantees” a waiver slot (only the state controls that)

After you choose

Start with a short trial schedule when possible. Keep a family notebook of what works. Re-evaluate after two weeks. If you are also working with an AAA or PathWays care coordinator, share the agency name so everyone stays aligned.

Ready to talk to agencies that serve your county? Use the match form on this site. Your information will be shared with home care agencies so they can contact you—only submit if you agree to that outreach.

Special situations worth flagging early

Tell agencies up front if there is dementia with exit-seeking, two-person transfers, bariatric needs, oxygen, behavioral outbursts, or a history of refusing care. Not every office can staff those situations well. It is better to hear “we are not the right fit” than to start and fail in week one.

If the client is on hospice, ask how the home care agency coordinates with the hospice team so roles do not clash. If you are a long-distance daughter or son, ask who will be your day-to-day contact and how often you will get updates without having to chase them.

For Medicaid waiver clients, confirm the agency understands electronic visit verification and prior authorization timing in Indiana. A great private-pay agency that cannot bill your waiver service will create an abrupt interruption when funding changes—plan the handoff early.

Frequently asked questions