Patient FAQs

What is Home Care?

Home care is a broad term that describes a wide variety of health and health-related services provided in the home or community. Home care is available to people of all ages with either acute or chronic conditions, as well as the disabled and terminally ill. The home care staff will work with the patient and their families to teach them about their condition as well as how to care for themselves or the patient, so that the patient can be as independent as possible.

Who Pays for Home Care?

Medicaid is a state managed program that helps pay the cost of health care services for people with low incomes.

Medicare is a health insurance program administered by the Social Security Administration for which people 65 and over are eligible. It has 2 parts: hospital insurance (Part A) and medical insurance (Part B).Most home care services are paid out of Part A.

Private Insurance will usually provide home health coverage. Veteran's benefits may also cover home care services.Check individual polices for specific coverage details.

Self Pay is an option with all home care services.Check with individual home care providers for services offered and rates.

What are the benefits of working with an agency versus hiring privately?

If you hire privately, you become the employer of the caregiver. The following are just a few of the things you must take into consideration when hiring privately.

• Once you hire a caregiver privately, you are responsible for all state and federal payroll taxes.
• You must obtain Workers Compensation Insurance or make sure your private caregiver comes with insurance. If not, you could be responsible for any injuries claimed to have happened while working at your home.

If a caregiver is sick, agencies can supply another caregiver immediately to cover your needs.

How do I choose the right home health care agency?

There are many important factors to consider in choosing the best agency to meet your needs. First you must assess what types of services you will need and find an agency that offers those services. Ask the agencies you are considering about their accreditations, licenses and certifications. You'll also want to evaluate the quality of care, and the skills and training of personnel at the agencies under consideration.

Is there a minimum number of hours for your senior care and home care?

Our minimum number is 4 hours a day, at least 3 days a week