I love the introduction to the article “Hiring Someone to Help With Home Care” from the AARP:

Most questions about family caregiving can’t be answered with a simple yes or no. But the question of whether home care agencies are all alike is one of the few that can.

And the answer is a definite no.

The entire article is worth a read if you are new to this discussion.  It helps explain what in-home care Medicare provides, and the limits of that care.  Then it goes on to discuss the different types of agencies that provide family home caregivers and the questions you should be asking before hiring caregivers to take care of your spouse or your parents.  If you are looking for a place to start, this article is probably the place you should go.