Choose the agency that answers plain questions plainly, puts its prices and rules in writing, and lets you meet the caregiver first. Call three, ask each the same list, and trust the one that does not rush you.
The short version
- Ask any agency four things first: who employs the caregiver, what screening happens, what the written rate and minimum visit are, and who answers at 2 a.m.
- Arizona does not approve non-medical home care agencies the way it does skilled care providers, so you have to check the agency yourself.
- Call three agencies and ask each the same questions, then compare the answers side by side.
- Meet the caregiver before the first shift, and ask how the agency swaps a match that does not work.
- Walk away from any agency that dodges questions about pricing, background checks or insurance.
Say your mother lives alone in Scottsdale, and after a fall you need someone there a few hours a day. Or your husband's memory is slipping and you need a break. Either way, you have a week, a phone, and a pile of websites that all sound alike. Seniors Helping Seniors® Scottsdale does not provide home health, skilled nursing, or assisted living. After your mother's fall, ask her health care provider whether she needs skilled care before booking help with meals or bathing.
Talk to someone in Scottsdale
Call Seniors Helping Seniors® Scottsdale on a weekday and a person answers. Describe the week you have had and you will hear what makes sense next, with no obligation.
What should you ask a home care agency before you sign?
Ask these in this order.
1. Is the caregiver your employee? A good agency says yes, and explains who handles payroll and taxes. If the caregiver is a contractor, ask who is responsible if something goes wrong. 2. How do you screen caregivers? Look for a background check on every caregiver. Ask what the check includes, when it was done, and who reviews the results. Ask what happens if a check turns up something old. 3. Are you bonded and insured? Ask for current proof in writing and an explanation of what each policy covers and excludes. 4. What exactly can a caregiver do? Non-medical care covers rides, meals, bathing help, companionship, and reminders. Ask about medicine. Ask the agency to put its limits on medication help in writing, including what the caregiver should do if your dad misses a dose. 5. What does it cost, and is that in writing? Get the hourly rate, the minimum visit length, and any holiday or overnight charges on paper. If an agency will not put a price in writing, stop there. For scale, CareScout's 2025 survey (opens in new tab) puts Arizona's median at $38 an hour for a non-medical caregiver, so expect quotes near that. 6. Who do I call when the caregiver is sick? You want a named person and a backup plan, not a voicemail. 7. What if we do not click? Ask how to request a different caregiver and what happens while a replacement is arranged. 8. Can I end this at any time? Ask about notice and cancellation fees before you sign.
Also ask what the agency has no authority to do. An honest one will say it does not give skilled care at home. Medicare pays for home health services (opens in new tab) only when a doctor or health care provider orders them and a Medicare-certified home health agency delivers them. Non-medical help is a different thing, and the two are often paid for differently.
Arizona draws the same line. The Arizona Department of Health Services (opens in new tab) approves providers such as home health agencies and assisted living, but non-medical home care is not on that list.
What are the red flags in a caregiver interview?
Watch for these:
- The agency will not give a price until someone visits, and then will not write it down.
- Nobody can say who supervises the caregiver.
- You are pushed to sign the same day.
- The caregiver is described as a contractor, with no word on insurance.
- The agency promises it can handle things outside non-medical care, like wound care or giving medicine.
- You never get to meet the caregiver before the first shift.
In the caregiver interview itself, good questions are simple. How would you handle it if my mother refuses a shower? What do you do if she falls? What did you like about your last job? Listen for patience and for honest answers, such as "I would call the office."
Notice whether the caregiver addresses your parent directly and gives them time to answer.
What does a good first visit look like?
Ask whether the agency can visit your parent's home to assess the help needed there.
They should ask about routines, such as when your dad wakes up, what he eats, and what he used to do for work. They should ask about safety: stairs, rugs, the walk from the car, and in Scottsdale, how hot the house gets in July. They should ask what your parent wants, not only what you want.
You should leave with a written care plan draft, the rate and minimum visit in writing, the name of the person who answers the phone, and a clear idea of how the match is made. Nothing should be signed that day unless you choose to.
If your parent is a Veteran, ask about VA home and community based services (opens in new tab), which include homemaker and home health aide care, and about VA Aid and Attendance (opens in new tab), a pension add-on that can help pay for care at home. For help finding caregiver support or respite options, contact the Area Agency on Aging, Region One (opens in new tab). Arizona's Medicaid long-term care program, ALTCS (opens in new tab), has financial and care needs requirements; needing help at home alone does not qualify someone. You can also see All Care Services to match needs to help.
What happens if you call Seniors Helping Seniors® Scottsdale?
Your call at (480) 674-5400 reaches Andy Lask and his staff, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM, with 24/7 coverage for emergencies. Emails get a reply in under 4 hours. We offer non-medical in-home care, and our caregivers are seniors themselves and background-checked. The office is bonded and insured. The free care visit costs nothing and carries no obligation, so you can ask your questions first.
Not sure which kind of help fits?
Every family's week looks different. Tell Seniors Helping Seniors® Scottsdale what yours looks like and you will get a plain answer on what would help in Scottsdale, and what it would cost, before anything is booked.
Before calling, compare the help your parent needs with the services listed on the Scottsdale Senior Home Care page.
Questions families ask about choosing home care
How do I find a reputable home care agency?
Start with three names from your doctor, a friend, or the Area Agency on Aging. Ask each the same questions and compare. Check that each is bonded and insured, and read the written rate before you agree to anything.
Is a home health agency the same as a home care agency?
No. A home health agency gives skilled care at home, ordered by a doctor. A home care agency gives non-medical help like rides, meals, and company. Many families need the second kind.
Does Medicare pay for home care?
Medicare covers skilled home health when a doctor orders it, under rules on its home health page. It does not cover everyday non-medical help.
Can long-term care insurance help?
Many long-term care policies reimburse non-medical home care. Call your insurer and ask what paperwork they need. Before signing, ask whether the agency can supply the paperwork your insurer requires.
