When an elderly family member requires home care or nursing, many families' first reaction is: "Where can I find help quickly?" However, hiring an on-site private nurse requires caution. Many agencies in the market only provide "manpower matching" and lack clinical supervision or long-term planning. This often leads to inconsistent care quality, unclear handovers, and a lack of support during emergencies.

To choose the most suitable care plan for your family, you do not just need a price list; you need a professional audit checklist. Below are five core questions we recommend you ask any nursing institution to ensure you are buying peace of mind, not just time.

5 Key Questions for Choosing Nursing Services

Question 1: Do you conduct an assessment before creating a care plan?

• - Why ask this: Professional nursing services must first understand the medical history, home environment, and family support to set clear goals.
• - What to clarify: Is there a Registered Nurse (RN) who first understands the condition, home environment, and family support, then sets goals and arranges the manpower and service content?
• Common Agency Scenario: They match manpower first and figure out the rest later; arrangements are usually "by the hour" without a complete care plan or clinical goals.

YDCare: A Nurse Manager follows the case throughout, formulating and adjusting personalized plans based on assessments, with a dedicated person assisting in arrangements. (Learn more about YDCare)

Follow-up question: 

Can you provide a "Care Plan Summary" (including goals, time slots, task lists, and risk highlights) for confirmation?

Question 2: How is nursing staff screened? Are there interviews, clinical assessments, and regular training?

• - Why ask this: Certification is only the entry threshold; proficiency in practical operations (such as turning, feeding, and medication checking) is the real key.
• - What to clarify: Do nursing staff (Specialist Nurses / Registered Nurses / Enrolled Nurses / Health Workers) undergo established interviews and clinical assessments, and is there regular training and management?
• Common Agency Scenario: Simple registration and rapid matching; quality relies on individual experience without necessarily having a unified standard.

YDCare: Emphasizes that staff "must pass interviews and established assessments," provides regular training, and is managed by a senior nursing team. (Learn more about YDCare)

Follow-up question: 

Can you explain what your "clinical assessment" includes (e.g., transfers, fall prevention, skin/pressure sore care, medication verification, feeding safety)?

Question 3: Is there standardized documentation? How do you ensure continuity of care and avoid frequent staff turnover?

• - Why ask this: Frequent changes in caregivers cause anxiety for the elderly, and critical nursing information can easily be lost during handovers.
• - What to clarify: Are there guidelines and standardized nursing procedures? Are there regular follow-up visits? Is there a fixed team to reduce rotation? Are nursing details recorded for traceability?
• Common Agency Scenario: Primarily provides manpower; handovers rely mostly on verbal communication, rotations are frequent, and consistency is hard to maintain.

YDCare: Emphasizes established guidelines and standardized processes, regular follow-ups, and reduced rotation. Records ensure traceability and continuity, with follow-ups on client satisfaction and care quality. (Learn more about YDCare)

Follow-up question: 

If a staff change is necessary, how is the handover conducted (handover form / nursing records / review process)? Can the frequency of changes be controlled?

Question 4: What happens in an emergency? Is there 24-hour professional clinical support? How do you coordinate with doctors?

• - Why ask this: The biggest concern in home care is a sudden situation (such as fever, falls, etc.).
• - What to clarify: Is there 24-hour emergency support? Who answers the call (is it a senior nursing team)? Can you coordinate medical arrangements (such as medical escorts or non-emergency medical transport)?
• Common Agency Scenario: Families must handle emergencies or seek medical attention themselves; the company may not have clinical back-end support for immediate assistance.

YDCare: Explicitly mentions 24-hour emergency nursing teams on standby and 24-hour support, including coordination for medical escorts and transportation. (Learn more about YDCare)

Follow-up question: 

If a fall, fever, breathing difficulty, or change in consciousness occurs, is there a clear reporting threshold and handling process?

Question 5: Is the pricing transparent? Is there insurance coverage and claims support?

• - Why ask this: Clarifying responsibility helps avoid medical disputes or being left without help when accidents occur.

Three things to clarify:

1.     Is the pricing transparent? Is it only hourly, or can it be per nursing item/per visit?

2.     If insurance is involved, is there claims consultation and assistance?

3.     Do the personnel have sufficient coverage (e.g., Professional Indemnity Insurance)?

• Common Agency Scenario: Most "only charge by the hour" and may not provide insurance claims support; the boundaries of protection and responsibility may be unclear.

YDCare: Offers flexible pricing (can be per nursing item), provides insurance claims consultation and assistance, and maintains professional indemnity insurance for nursing staff. (Learn more about YDCare)

Follow-up question: 

Can you provide a quotation clearly listing "included/excluded" items, cancellation/rescheduling policies, and protection arrangements during the service period?

When hiring a private nurse, the most important factor is not "speed," but having an assessment, a plan, standards, follow-up, support, and protection.

By asking these five questions, you can effectively distinguish between "simple manpower matching" and "professional nursing team-led home care," giving you the confidence to choose a safe, stable, and sustainable arrangement for your family.

Want to learn more?

If you want to know which care mode is suitable for your family, what time slots are needed, and what kind of nursing staff is required, we can provide a preliminary assessment and recommendation.

Feel free to contact YDCare via our website or WhatsApp. We will arrange a nurse to understand your situation and provide a suitable service plan and budget proposal.