It seems everyone has a certification but that, by itself,
provides minimal assurance that you are inviting individuals into the Home who
are background checked, qualified, held accountable, and properly
insured. We see too many situations
where certifications are vague in what they certify, provided as a one-time
event (take the test and pay the fee), or offer minimal accountability and no
proactive oversight.
To minimize risks to you and your family; you should also
understand if potential Providers are held accountable to maintain; levels of
qualification, appropriate insurance coverages, and if they are bringing
Employees who are covered under their insurance (liability, workers compensation,
etc.) and background checked into the Home, or, if they are using
sub-contractors (1099) resources.
Many Senior Move Managers or Transitions Specialists claim
they offer services that may include downsizing, sorting and organizing,
packing, resettling, cleanout, online auctions, or estate sales. Technically, they do OFFER these Services,
but they are NOT PROIVIDING these Services.
They ACTUALLY SUB-CONTRACT most, or all, of these Services. Sub-contracting is applicable at times but
it’s important for you to understand the arrangement so that you know if the
estimate you are receiving is for the actual delivery of the service, or if you
will be getting invoices from multiple companies and the estimate only covers
part of the service; e.g. management and/or coordination of service
delivery. Understanding this
arrangement is also important because the claims of certification, insurance,
and background checks can be limited to the company coordinating the delivery
and may not apply to the individuals who are actually in the home interacting
directly with your loved ones or your possessions.
Understanding how Providers are held accountable ongoing is
also critical. Most certifications
provide a code-of-conduct and/or ethics standard however most offer limited
ongoing oversight. Many do have Review
Boards, and while helpful, they are REACTIVE and kick in after a claim of
mis-conduct has been made. Akin to
closing the “Barn-door after the horse has gotten away”. That’s why it’s important to know if ongoing monitoring
is in place to review their processes, qualifications, and insurance
coverages. This industry is loosely
regulated so the burden for self-regulation falls largely onto individual
business and the broader networks that they are connected into.
Checking the reputation for potential Providers is also very
important. Checking reviews online and
asking for Client lists are excellent resources. We also strongly recommend that you check
with other Providers who might also be delivering services. Examples can include the Senior Living
Communities, Realtors, Attorneys, Financial Planners, and Senior Advisors. Asking one of those resources with-whom you
already have a relationship is a great way to gather insights from individuals
who have been dealing with a vast network of providers over a long period of
time.
Lastly, know the types of insurance coverage and where appropriate,
coverage levels. In the event something
does happen like the theft of your items, or the injury of a Provider, you need
to know the Provider has insurance coverage, or, if it will fall back onto you
personally and your Home Owners or Renters Insurance.
At Caring Transitions of First Coast we are both CRTS and
NASMM Certified and we are part of a National Network that consists of over 170
offices. While each office is independently
owned, we are required as part of our Franchise agreement to demonstrate
consistent levels of standards like Client Service Levels, Employee background
checks, ongoing education, and proof of insurance. And, we are subject to periodic checks. This added level of oversight and
accountability helps to protect our Clients and their families.
We hope you find this article helpful. If you are interested in learning more about
our services or if you would like a free in-home consultation, please call (904)
416-0685.