Family guide

How to Choose a Home Health Agency in North Texas

Choosing a home health agency usually happens under time pressure — a hospital discharge, a new diagnosis, a parent who can no longer manage alone. This checklist helps Dallas–Fort Worth families compare agencies quickly and confidently.

Start with the Texas license

Every legitimate home health agency in Texas holds a Home and Community Support Services Agency (HCSSA) license from Texas Health and Human Services. Ask for the number and verify it. AbleCare Home Health is licensed under HHA #024426. A license means the agency is surveyed, its administrators meet state requirements, and there is a formal complaint process if something goes wrong.

The questions that matter

• Confirm the agency holds a Texas Home and Community Support Services Agency (HCSSA) license — ask for the license number and verify it with Texas Health and Human Services.
• Ask whether nurses and caregivers are employees or contractors, and whether they are background-checked, bonded, and insured.
• Ask how fast care can start — a good agency can assess within 24–48 hours of a hospital discharge.
• Ask who supervises the care plan. Skilled nursing should be overseen by a registered nurse.
• Get costs in writing before care begins, including hourly rates, minimum visit lengths, and what insurance will cover.
• Ask how the agency handles a caregiver who is sick or unavailable — there should always be a backup plan.

Red flags to walk away from

• No Texas license number, or reluctance to share it
• Vague pricing or pressure to sign before a home assessment
• No registered nurse involved in the care plan for skilled services
• No clear process for complaints, schedule changes, or caregiver replacement

Compare more than price

Hourly rates across DFW are often within a few dollars of each other. What differs is responsiveness: how fast the agency answers, how quickly a nurse can assess, and whether the same caregiver shows up consistently. Ask each agency for a written care plan and a named coordinator — the agencies that hesitate are telling you something.

Get a free assessment

The fastest way to compare is a no-cost in-home assessment. AbleCare serves families across North Texas — call (817) 482-3900 or send the form below and a coordinator will call you back, usually within one business hour.