This guide is for the family member who is about to sign a home care agreement, quote, or warranty page and wants to know which people on the other side are bound by it. Every packet has a signature block, the small box near the end that names the people who agreed. Read it before the first visit, because it answers the question that comes up later: who was supposed to answer for this?

Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.

Pull the whole packet first

Gather every page the agency handed you, including any terms page that arrived separately from the quote. A signature block on one page does not cover a terms page on another. Write the page count on the cover sheet so you can tell at a glance whether anything is missing.

Match the agency name to the file

From the file: the agency name in the signature block should match the name on the federal lookup you ran for that agency. If the two names differ by a word, an abbreviation, or an added company type, ask the agency which entity is the signing party and write its answer down. The five-lookup guide on this site shows where each name appears in public files.

Read the agency signer's title

Editorial: the printed name and title under the agency line show what that person can commit to. An intake coordinator, a scheduler, and an owner or administrator usually have different reach. Ask the agency, in writing if you can, which title approves changes to visit hours, the assigned aide, the written plan, and the handling of a missed visit. If the signer cannot answer those questions, ask who can.

Identify who signs for the person receiving care

Editorial: the client line should be filled by the person receiving care when that person can sign. When that person cannot sign, the block should name the family member who is signing and state the role that person holds. Ask the agency which proof of authority it accepts, and keep a copy of anything you show. For questions about what a document requires, take them to a professional you already work with, such as an attorney, and do not rely on the agency's answer alone.

Compare the block with the body of the paper

Editorial: a signature block that names one party, while the body of the terms assigns duties to a different entity, is a mismatch. Mark each place where a duty appears, such as scheduling, staffing, changes, incident reports, and records. Beside each one, write the name of the party the page says must carry it out. Any duty with no named party becomes a question for the agency before anything is signed.

Keep the complete signed packet

Editorial: each signed page should carry the signatures the packet asks for, and each party should leave with a complete copy. Keep the whole packet together and write down who holds the only original. A name on a box is not a check. Confirm each name against the file before you trust the box.

Questions to ask before you sign

  • Which entity is the signing party, and does its name match the public federal file?
  • What title does the agency signer hold, and which changes can that title approve alone?
  • Who signs for the person receiving care, and what proof of authority does the agency accept?
  • Which named party carries out each duty listed in the body of the terms?
  • Who receives a complete signed copy, and who is told in writing if the signer leaves the agency?

For a broader view of which public record to check for the kind of care you are buying, see home health versus non-medical home care: which record to check.