10 Questions to Ask Before Letting Anyone Care for Your Parent at Home

Inviting someone into your parent's home is an act of trust. Whether you're evaluating a caregiver agency, a home health provider, or a preventive care service like Salus, the same ten questions separate professionals from problems. Ask them all — good providers welcome every one.

The ten questions

1. Who exactly will be in the home, and what are their credentials? Get names, licenses, and certifications — not "our trained staff." Verify Florida licenses free at flhealthsource.gov for clinical providers.
2. Are you licensed and insured? Ask for proof of liability insurance and any required state licensure or registration. "Yes" should come with paper.
3. What background screening do your people go through? Florida requires Level 2 (fingerprint) screening for many care roles. Ask what standard they use.
4. What can you clinically assess — and what can't you? An honest provider draws this line sharply. A companion caregiver noticing "Mom seems off" and a paramedic assessing vitals and neuro status are different capabilities. Know which you're buying.
5. What happens if you find something concerning? The answer should name specifics: who gets called, what gets documented, when the physician is looped in.
6. How will you communicate with our family? Updates after every visit? A summary you can actually read? For long-distance families this is half the value.
7. What does a visit actually include? Get the checklist. Vague answers ("we check on them") predict vague service.
8. What are your rates, and what triggers extra charges? Transparent providers quote clearly. Ask about cancellation policies and minimums.
9. Can you give references from current client families? Then actually call them, and ask: "What do you wish you'd known before starting?"
10. What DON'T you do? The most revealing question on the list. Trustworthy providers name their limits without hesitating — because overpromising in home care is how people get hurt.

How Salus answers

We'll go first: Salus visits are performed by licensed Firefighter/Paramedics; we're licensed and insured; we assess health, medications, fall risk, and home/fire safety, and communicate findings to your family after every visit. And what we don't do: we're not an ambulance service, home health agency, or primary care provider — we're the preventive layer that works alongside them. Full details on our services page, or ask us these ten questions yourself — we'd genuinely enjoy it.

This article is general education, not medical advice. Always consult your loved one's physician about their specific health situation. In an emergency, call 911.