Frequently asked questions about home care

Home care, also called non medical home care, helps your loved one with everyday activities so they can stay safe and comfortable at home. A trained caregiver or home health aide assists with personal care like bathing, dressing, and toileting, along with daily tasks such as meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, and companionship.

Home health care is skilled medical care provided by a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN). It covers clinical tasks that require a nurse's oversight, such as IV therapy, wound care, and medication administration. Home health care is usually ordered by a doctor for a set period of time, often after a hospital stay.

Many families use both, with home care filling in the daily support between skilled nursing visits.

In urgent situations, we can often start care the same day. For most families, care begins within one to two days. That gives us time to complete your free in home assessment, create a custom care plan for your loved one, and carefully match them with the right caregiver. We move quickly without cutting corners, because your loved one's safety and comfort always come first.

During the free in home assessment, we take the time to get to know your loved one and your family, including their daily routines, preferences, and what matters most to them. We also complete a home safety assessment and share any recommendations to help prevent falls and make the home safer, at no charge. From there, we create a custom care plan and help you decide on the home care options and schedule that best fit your loved one's needs.

We don't have strict minimums, and we'll always work with you to find a schedule that fits your loved one's needs. That said, very short visits can be harder to staff consistently, since most caregivers prefer longer shifts. For families who need just a little support, we may recommend our 24/7 virtual caregiver service, which can be a great fit on its own or alongside in person visits. Either way, we'll help you find the right solution.

Absolutely. Many families start with about five hours a day, a few days a week, and add more care as their loved one's needs change. Our home care plans are flexible, so you can increase hours, add overnight care, or move to 24 hour care whenever the time is right. We'll check in regularly to make sure the schedule is still working for your family.

Our caregivers help with everything your loved one needs to live safely and comfortably at home. This includes personal care such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and help moving around the house safely. They also assist with everyday tasks like meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, grocery shopping, errands, and rides to appointments. Just as important, they provide friendly companionship, conversation, and medication reminders to help your loved one stay on track. Whether you need companion care, personal care, respite care for a family caregiver, or overnight and 24 hour care, we'll build a care plan around your loved one's routine.

Yes. Our caregivers are trained to help with personal care, including bathing, showering, dressing, grooming, and toileting. They always treat your loved one with patience, dignity, and respect, and follow their preferences and routines so they feel comfortable and in control. Personal care is one of the most common reasons families reach out to us, and it can make a big difference in keeping your loved one safe at home.

Yes. Our caregivers can drive your loved one to doctor's appointments, the pharmacy, the grocery store, the salon, church, or a visit with friends. They stay with your loved one the whole time, so they're never left waiting alone or struggling to get in and out of the car. If the caregiver uses their own vehicle, mileage is billed at the standard federal (IRS) mileage rate. Caregivers can also drive your loved one's car, and we simply make sure every vehicle used is properly insured.

Yes, we provide both. Overnight care gives your loved one an awake caregiver through the night to help with bathroom trips, prevent falls, and offer reassurance if they wake up confused or anxious. It also lets the rest of the family finally get a good night's sleep. For loved ones who need support around the clock, our 24 hour care is provided in shifts, so there's always a caregiver who is alert, rested, and ready to help.

Yes, dementia care is one of our specialties. Every caregiver receives Alzheimer's and dementia training when they join us, along with ongoing training throughout the year. They know how to gently guide your loved one through daily routines, ease confusion and anxiety, and keep them safe at home, all with patience and compassion. We also take the time to learn your loved one's history, interests, and favorite things so we can create moments of comfort and connection every day.

Our caregivers can't administer medications, but they can provide medication reminders to help your loved one take the right medicine at the right time. Every situation is different, so our team will talk with you about safe options for managing your loved one's medications and help you find the approach that works best for your family.

Every caregiver goes through a careful hiring process before they ever meet your loved one. We interview each applicant, check their references, complete a background check and health screenings, and verify their eligibility to work. Once hired, every caregiver completes a full orientation, along with ongoing training throughout the year, including Alzheimer's and dementia care. We only send caregivers we would trust with our own families.

We always do our best to keep the same caregiver with your loved one, and we note your preferences so every visit feels familiar and comfortable. Thanks to our low caregiver turnover and excellent training, most of our clients see the same friendly faces week after week. Of course, caregivers need time off and get sick sometimes too. When that happens, we let you know right away and send a wonderful, fully trained replacement who is already familiar with your loved one's care plan. That's the benefit of working with an agency. You're never left without help.

That's never a problem. Sometimes two personalities just don't click, and we completely understand. Simply let us know, and we'll handle it quickly and professionally by matching your loved one with a new caregiver. This is also why we take so much care during the free in home assessment. Getting to know your loved one's personality, interests, and routines helps us make a great caregiver match from the very first visit, and it's something we're really good at.

The cost of in home care depends on several things, including where your loved one lives, how many hours of care they need, how often visits are scheduled, and the type of care required. Because every family's situation is different, the best way to get an accurate price is through our free in home assessment. There's no obligation, and we'll create a care plan that fits your loved one's needs and give you the best possible rate. You'll always have a clear, written estimate before care begins, with no surprises.

Medicare generally does not cover non medical home care. It mainly pays for short term, skilled home health care after a hospital stay or illness. Medicaid may cover some home care services for people who meet certain income and asset requirements, depending on the state. Our agency is private pay, which means we don't accept Medicare or Medicaid. Many families pay for care privately or use long term care insurance, and we're happy to walk you through your options.

Yes, most long term care insurance policies cover in home care. Even better, we handle the paperwork for you. We submit your claims to the insurance company every week, so all you have to do is sit back and wait for your reimbursement. If you're not sure what your policy covers, our team is happy to help you review it and understand your benefits.

No, never. There are no long term contracts and no large deposits. You only pay for the care your loved one receives, and you can change your schedule or cancel at any time. We earn your trust every day through great care, not by locking you into an agreement.

We're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Just call our main office number and ask to speak with someone. A real person from our team will help you right away, whether it's a schedule change, a question, or an unexpected situation. We're always here for you.