What you are comparing

You are comparing the matching process, not the sales pitch. The process shows how the first caregiver is chosen, how many people you will see before a start date, and what happens when the first one does not fit. Write your own task list and schedule first, so you can test each provider's answer against it.

Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.

Steps

  1. Ask what details the provider collects from you to build a match, who collects them, and whether they are written down.
  2. Ask how many candidates you will see before a start date, and whether you can turn one down without penalty.
  3. Ask whether you can meet or speak with a candidate before the agreement is signed, and who arranges that call.
  4. Ask what the provider matches on: the tasks on your written list, the hours, language, transportation, pets, and comfort with the parent's home.
  5. Ask what happens if the first match does not work in the first week: how long a replacement takes, whether it costs more, and whether a second match is included.
  6. Ask who keeps the match notes and whether you get a copy.

Write it down

Details collected from you: ______________________

Candidates you see before a start date: ______________________

Replacement window if the first match fails: ______________________

Who keeps the match notes: ______________________

What to listen for

Listen for a named process with steps, a person responsible for the match, and a written replacement term. If the answer is we send whoever is free, ask what happens on the day that person does not fit your household.

Signs to walk away

  • The match details are not written anywhere.
  • You are told you cannot refuse a candidate.
  • The provider wants a signed start before you have met or spoken with the person who will be in the house.

Compare on the same sheet

Put each provider's answers on the same page, in the same order, so the differences are easy to see. The five-step path for hiring is laid out on the Start Here page if you want to check where the match step fits.