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Maine Home Care Guideby Silver Linings Agency

Questions to Ask a Home Care Agency

Last updated October 2026

Questions to ask when you call or meet with home care agencies, grouped by topic. Not every question will matter for every family. Writing down each agency’s answers makes them easier to compare.

License and Inspections

  • What is your license number?
  • Is your license full, provisional or conditional?
  • What did the State find at your most recent inspection? Can we see the results?
  • Do you also hold any other licenses, such as a home health agency license?

Services and Availability

  • Which services do you provide? For example: bathing, dressing, meals, housework, errands, medication reminders or companionship.
  • Do you serve our town?
  • Do you have caregivers available now for the days and hours we need?
  • Do you provide care at night, on weekends, overnight or around the clock?
  • How soon could care start?

Caregivers

  • What background checks do you run before a caregiver starts working with clients?
  • What training or certification do your caregivers have?
  • Could a caregiver sent to us still be finishing their training?
  • Are your caregivers employees of the agency or independent contractors?
  • Will the same caregiver come each time?
  • Can we meet a caregiver before care starts, and ask for a different one later?
  • What happens if a caregiver is sick or can’t make a visit?

Care Plan and Supervision

  • Who writes the care plan, and how often is it reviewed?
  • Does a supervisor check on the care, and how often?
  • How will you keep our family informed?
  • Who do we call with a concern, including evenings and weekends?

Cost and Payment

  • What is your hourly rate?
  • Is there a minimum number of hours per visit or per week?
  • Do nights, weekends or holidays cost more?
  • Do you charge a deposit or any fees besides the hourly rate?
  • How often do you bill, and how do we pay?
  • Which payment sources do you accept: private pay, long-term care insurance, MaineCare, state programs or Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits?
  • Will you help with insurance paperwork?

Agreement and Policies

  • Can we see your written service agreement before we sign?
  • How much notice do you need to change the schedule or stop care?
  • Is there a fee if we cancel a visit?
  • Do you carry liability insurance and workers’ compensation?
  • How do you handle complaints? Can we have that process in writing?

References

  • Can you give us references from families you serve now?

Checking the Answers

You can confirm an agency’s license and see its inspection results on the State of Maine’s license lookup. Each agency’s listing in this directory shows the license number to search for. What the license requires, and what training and background checks caregivers must have, is explained in Home Care Licensing and Caregiver Training in Maine. For how home care can be paid for, see Paying for Home Care in Maine.

Next Step

Search for agencies that serve your town and make a short list to call.

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