The questions to ask a home care agency fall into six groups: license, caregivers and supervision, services and care plan, full cost, contract and backup terms, and complaints. Get every answer in writing before signing. For families in Macon-Bibb and across Middle Georgia, the agreement should make clear who comes to the home, what help they provide, what it costs, and what happens when circumstances change.
This page is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice; the Georgia Department of Community Health decides private home care licensing matters, and Medicaid and the VA decide eligibility for their respective benefits. Have a trusted person read the agreement with you. Consult an attorney about legal questions or unclear obligations before signing.
The ten questions to ask on the first call
A short phone screen saves time before any visit. If an agency cannot answer these clearly, the longer sections below show what to press on.
- What is the exact legal name on your Georgia license, and what is the license number?
- Are the caregivers your employees, or independent contractors?
- What background checks and health screening are completed before a caregiver enters a home?
- Who assesses the need, writes the care plan and supervises the caregiver?
- What is the hourly rate, the minimum visit length and every other charge?
- Are overnight, weekend and holiday hours priced differently?
- What happens if the caregiver is sick, late or a poor fit?
- How much notice is needed to change or end services, from either side?
- How are complaints recorded and who answers them?
- Can I take the agreement, rate sheet and care plan home to review before signing?
Check the license and legal name
Georgia requires private home care providers to hold a license or provisional license from the Georgia Department of Community Health, according to its Private Home Care Program rules. The DCH program page cites rule 111-8-65-.05(1): no private home care provider may operate without a license, and it lists seven types of services that are exempt, including services delivered directly by an individual without agents, employees or contractors, and services provided by licensed home health agencies. A business claiming an exemption should explain its basis clearly. DCH lists (404) 657-5700 as the primary contact number for its Private Home Care Program.
- What is the legal name on the license, agreement and bills?
- Does the license cover the services being offered?
- Where can the license status be checked independently?
- If another business arranges the caregiver, which entity is responsible for the care?
The Georgia home care license check guide explains the lookup process. DCH licenses home health agencies and hospices separately from private home care providers. Read the comparison of personal care, home health and hospice to clarify which service matches the need.
DCH's proposed rule revisions were presented for initial adoption in May 2026; adoption is unconfirmed. Verify current requirements with DCH using its private home care rule information.
Ask about staff and supervision
A reassuring conversation is useful, but ask how staffing requirements are documented. DCH's private home care rules address fingerprint records checks for administrators and direct-access employees, tuberculosis screening before employment begins, orientation, training and supervision. Verify current requirements with DCH. The guide to Georgia caregiver checks and training explains what each requirement covers.
- How does the provider confirm required background checks and screening are complete?
- What training prepares this caregiver for the tasks in the agreement?
- Who supervises the caregiver, and how can concerns reach that supervisor?
- How are competence and performance evaluated?
- What happens if a caregiver cannot safely perform an assigned task?
Explain practical needs, such as help with bathing, transfers or dementia-related routines. Ask how the provider matches those needs with staff skills. For memory loss, ask what dementia-specific training the caregiver has and how the agency handles wandering, sundowning or refusal of care; the guide to dementia care at home covers planning and safety. An agreement should identify who handles tasks requiring nursing judgment and how concerns about changing health needs are communicated.
Agency employee or independent caregiver?
Ask whether the caregiver is the agency's employee. When an agency employs the caregiver, it normally handles payroll and replacement staffing. When a household hires an individual directly, the household may take on employer duties such as payroll and taxes, and no agency is available to send a substitute. Ask for the arrangement to be described in writing, and seek legal or tax advice if employer responsibilities would fall on the household.
Make the services and care plan specific
“Help at home” is too broad to describe an agreement. List the actual tasks, the expected visit pattern and any limits. Ask what assistance with meals, toileting, dressing, transportation or household work includes in practice.
Under DCH's private home care rules, a service plan addresses functional limitations, services, frequency and duration, goals and discharge plans, with health-related details where applicable. Verify current requirements with DCH. The guide to Georgia home care plans explains what families should expect.
- Who assesses needs and writes the plan?
- How does the person receiving care take part in decisions?
- How are changes requested, approved and documented?
- What happens when a requested task falls outside the agreement or staff member's role?
- Who receives updates, with the client's permission?
Compare explanations with written terms
| Question | Why it matters | What a clear answer looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Which services are included? | Broad descriptions can hide gaps. | A task list linked to the service plan, with limits explained. |
| What is the total billing arrangement? | The hourly rate may omit other charges. | Written rates, minimums, fees and payment terms. |
| Who handles a missed visit? | The family needs a workable backup arrangement. | A named responsible role and a replacement procedure. |
| How can services end? | Unclear terms can create unexpected costs. | Notice requirements, final charges and refund terms. |
Get the full cost in writing
Ask for charges that reflect the proposed care arrangement. Published survey figures provide context, but they do not establish a provider's price. The Middle Georgia home care cost guide explains that distinction.
- What is the hourly rate, and what is the minimum visit length?
- Are overnight, weekend or holiday rates different?
- Is a deposit required, and when is it refundable?
- What are the cancellation and missed-visit charges?
- How long does the quoted rate last, and how are increases communicated?
- How often are bills issued, and how are disputed charges handled?
- Are transportation, supplies or other expenses billed separately?
- What services or costs are excluded?
Ask who remains responsible for payment if an expected benefit or insurance payment does not arrive. Do not treat a provider's statement as an eligibility decision. Verify Medicaid coverage with Georgia Medicaid and VA benefits with the VA. For background on payers, see what Medicare does and does not pay for in home care. If the plan is to use Medicaid waiver services, the guide to Georgia CCSP and SOURCE waivers explains how the programs work, and the guide to VA Aid and Attendance covers veterans' benefits. With a long-term care policy, ask the agency what documentation the insurer will need; the long-term care insurance guide explains the basics.
Read the contract terms and backup arrangements
Ask who employs the caregiver and who handles payroll, supervision and replacement staffing. If the arrangement places employer responsibilities on the household, get a clear explanation and seek legal advice about those obligations.
- How much notice must either party give to terminate services?
- Can the provider stop services immediately, and under what circumstances?
- What happens if the caregiver is sick, late or unavailable?
- How are replacement caregivers introduced and informed about the plan?
- What does the agreement say about liability, insurance and responsibility for damage?
- Does it contain arbitration requirements or limits on resolving disputes?
Keep the signed agreement, rate sheet and service plan together. Ask for verbal promises to be included in the written agreement.
Know how to complain and recognize warning signs
DCH's private home care rules provide for written notice of client rights, including participation in planning, accepting or refusing services, knowing charges and confidentiality. They also require complaints to be accepted without retaliation. Verify current protections with DCH, whose Private Home Care Program page includes complaint information. The Georgia Division of Aging Services website lists a toll-free number, (866) 552-4464.
Ask how complaints are recorded, who responds and how unresolved concerns reach the licensing authority. Pause over these warning signs:
- Pressure to sign the same day.
- No written agreement.
- Cash-only payment demands.
- No license number or verifiable licensing information.
- Promises of Medicaid or VA approval.
- Fees presented as necessary to “qualify” for benefits.
Sources for this page were last checked in November 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What questions should I ask when hiring a home care agency?
Start with the license and its legal name, then ask about caregiver screening, supervision, the written care plan, every charge, backup staffing, notice to end services and how complaints are handled. Ask for each answer in writing.
Does Georgia require a home care agency to be licensed?
Generally yes. DCH's Private Home Care Program page states that no private home care provider may operate without a license, and it lists seven exempt service types, such as services delivered directly by an individual without employees or contractors. Ask any agency claiming an exemption to explain it.
Should a trusted person read the agreement?
Yes. A trusted person can help compare the written terms with the services discussed and identify questions that remain unanswered.
Does a license guarantee the caregiver is a good match?
A license does not establish whether a particular caregiver fits someone's needs. Ask about relevant skills, supervision and replacement arrangements.
Can a home care provider guarantee benefit approval?
No provider can make the official eligibility decision. Georgia Medicaid and the VA decide eligibility for their respective programs.
Is it all right to take the agreement home before signing?
Yes. A provider should let a family review the agreement, rate sheet and care plan without hurry. Same-day pressure to sign is a warning sign, so use the time to compare terms with other providers.
What if the agreement contains unclear legal language?
Ask for an explanation in plain language. Consult an attorney before signing if obligations, liability or dispute terms remain unclear.