According to some medical experts, home healthcare is the wave of the future. Not only is it less expensive than full-time facility care, the therapeutic effect of remaining in you home and retaining control over at least some aspects of your life can't be denied.

Home healthcare is something you should spend more time researching than you would just about anything else, since you're letting a stranger inside your house to take care of a loved one. Sadly, most providers are rarely inspected, and many are willing to hire caregivers who aren't qualified.

Start your search for home healthcare by word of mouth, even if you're presented with a provider's list from your insurance company. That's a good start, but what you really need to know is how other people feel about the caregivers you're considering.