FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
10. What is home health care?
Home health care provides cost-effective services to individuals recovering from illness or surgery, living with chronic conditions and those who can avoid hospital admission and remain living safely at home with medical and personal care assistance.
9. What is hospice care?
Hospice care is a way of caring for terminally ill patients and families facing the last stages of life. This special philosophy of care focuses on patient comfort and symptom management to live their remaining days as fully as possible while surrounded by loved ones.
8. What type of licenses should a home health aide have?
Technically, one can hire an unskilled also known as an unlicensed helper as a ‘companion’ but the State of NJ requires anyone providing physical assistance such as bathing, help with dressing, toileting or ambulation must be a Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). The licenses are earned after a typically 3 month training program administered by accredited schools of academies.
7. Are Health Care Services Agencies licensed?
Yes. They must be licensed by NJ State Office of The Attorney General and are renewed on a yearly basis.
6. Are there any other professional credentials that I should know about?
Yes. The highest level of professional quality assurance and compliance is the Community Accredited Health Program (CHAP). This is a multi-step, highly detailed process that vetts an Agency for the quality of their care, employment practices, clinical compliance and record keeping. It is the most rigorous system of quality assurance in the industry.
5. What is the process to begin working with a home health aide?
It’s very simple. After you have chosen a Home Health Agency they will schedule a full physical assessment of the patient to be done by an RN (Registered Nurse). This process identifies all the services that will be rendered during a typical shift. The RN will also create Plan of Care that is required by any insurance carriers providing coverage for the patient and is the road map the aides follow on a daily basis. The POC is required by most Long Term policies. Then we match up caregiver and client based upon the client's individual needs, the expertise and experience of the aide and the best match of personality and interests.
4. What should I watch for that might indicate that someone needs help at home?
Many people remain very independent as they age, even through injury and illness. But if you think someone could benefit from personal home care or senior care services, here are some things to look for:
- Is the house tidy?
- Is the mail piling up?
- Are there adequate groceries (not just frozen dinners)?
- Have you noticed any weight loss?
- Has personal hygiene declined?
- Does the person seem lonely or withdrawn?
- Are there any concerns with memory?
3. Do you provide caregivers for someone in an Assisted Living Facility?
Yes, we do. We first arrange a meeting with the family to conduct a thorough assessment and develop a plan of care.
2. Does Medicare Pay For In-Home Senior Care Services?
If your doctor has prescribed clinical help that would be administered by a registered nurse, physical therapist or occupational therapist, Medicare will pay. Also, while under the care of an in-home clinician, a personal care attendant can be assigned under Medicare coverage for bathing and certain other types of personal care for a typically minimal number of hours.
Medicare will not pay if you need help with daily activities such as non-prescribed personal care, meal preparation, medication reminders, housekeeping and other typical senior care services. Insurance plans that cover these services are privately purchased long-term care insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance, in some instances.
Many clients previously invested in Long Term Care Insurance, in those cases we will verify your benefits and ensure all necessary documentation is sent to the insurance carrier and submit weekly bills and nursing notes for client reimbursement.
In all other cases, services are paid for privately.
1. Do you conduct background checks on employees?
Yes. Our screening process is extremely rigorous and includes a criminal background check, drug testing, verification of licensure and certification, employment history and references. Additionally, every aide checks in with one of our Registered Nurses on a weekly basis to ensure we are on top of every development in every case.