Quick
Links to Frequently Asked Questions
Why home care?
Why
choose home care services versus leaving home?
How is home care paid for? Why
hire Homewatch CareGivers versus an individual caregiver?
I'm
a health care professional. How can Homewatch CareGivers help me and
my clients? What level
of service do you provide?
How do you train your caregivers?
Where is the nearest Homewatch CareGivers location?
At Homewatch CareGivers, our goal is to provide you with the care you need so you can stay safe and comfortable at home. Our caregivers
respect your privacy and are always triple-screened and carefully selected. With
professional home care services from Homewatch CareGivers, you can maintain your quality of life while your loved ones are free from worry.
Thinking about home care for a loved one?
You're not
alone. The number of Americans struggling with this issue is growing:
-54 million Americans are caregivers to an elderly parent or relative
-64% of family caregivers are employed
-15 million workdays are missed annually because of elder caregiving
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People like the comfort, familiarity
and freedom that staying in their own home affords them. In a 2000
AARP nationwide survey of Americans
aged 75 and older, 95 percent said they "strongly agree" that
they want to stay in their homes.
We understand
the difficulties our senior clients face when help is needed
around the home. It is not always easy to admit that assistance would improve quality of life, for both the client and their loved ones. We help families come to terms with accepting help in the home everyday, and find that with a little guidance, the process is easier than anticipated. The benefits of staying at home - maintaining independence, preserving dignity and protecting privacy - typically outweigh any drawbacks.
Some loved ones might suggest leaving the familiar surroundings
of home for an assisted living facility, a senior apartment or nursing
home. Most seniors want to avoid these options. It's just not the same,
and is often more expensive.
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Part of making the right decision for home care is having all the facts on how
to best pay for the services. Homewatch CareGivers gladly accepts
payment from a variety of sources.
Long term care insurance
Be sure to ask if home care services have a deductible, or if you have a maximum
out-of-pocket expense on your long term care insurance policy. Also be sure to
ask if there is an annual or lifetime limit to the amount that they will pay.
When inquiring as to what home care services will be paid for by long term care
insurance, be sure that you specify the exact nature of the services that you
are requesting.
Homewatch CareGivers can help you to better understand your long term care insurance
policy, or that of a loved one. If you'd like us to research a policy to see
if home care services are included, please don't hesitate to ask. We prefer having
our clients pay us for home care services directly and get reimbursed by the
long term care insurance provider.
Again, Homewatch CareGivers will be happy to assist in any way that we can by
helping to prepare claim forms and/or putting together required care notes, etc.
that may be required by your long term care insurance provider.
Medicaid and Other Payment Options
Many of our Homewatch CareGivers locations accept Medicaid and workers' compensation
insurance. Please check with the Homewatch CareGivers location in your area for
specific information.
If you aren't sure how you can pay for home care, check with the Homewatch CareGivers
location near you for more information. There may be many other payment options
at your disposal that you are not aware of.
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Homewatch CareGivers
|
Individual
caregiver
|
Caregiver
backup for emergencies
|
| Homewatch CareGivers is ready and able
to fill that need. One simple phone call. |
None. Home care backup is extra stress to your family. |
Bonding, insurance, & licensing
|
| All Homewatch CareGivers staff
are bonded and insured, giving you peace of mind. Homewatch CareGivers
verifies, updates, and maintains all necessary licenses and certifications
for all home care staff. |
Usually none. It's your responsibility to investigate any insurance or licensures held by these individuals. |
Quality control & supervision
of home care staff
|
| • All cases are carefully monitored
and supervised by the Homewatch CareGivers Quality Assurance Team.
• Random Quality Assurance visits made regularly.
•
Family members kept informed on a regular basis. |
These individuals are completely independent and supervise
themselves. |
Continuing caregiver
training
|
| Homewatch CareGivers provides caregiver
training by nurses through our proprietary
training program. |
These indivduals may or may not continue to build upon their knowledge and skills. |
Payroll, taxes, and IRS
|
| Homewatch CareGivers is responsible. |
You are responsible for reporting and remitting state, federal, and FICA taxes to the proper tax authorities. |
Criminal background checks
|
| All Homewatch CareGivers staff
are carefully screened at the time of hire with several layers
of background checks. Approximately 70% of applicants do not
meet our high standards. |
It is your responsibity to check the background of the individual. A full background check can cost as much as $50-$100. |
Workers' compensation
and your liability
|
| All Homewatch CareGivers home care staff
are covered by workers' compensation insurance for accidents occurring on the job. |
Private Individuals can sue you if injured
on the job. |
Flexibility of home care
services
|
Your home care service requirements will
rarely stay the same.
• You aren't locked into providing
a certain number of hours or days.
• If the skill level that you require
increases or decreases, we can accommodate.
|
Skills are fixed to the particular individual, and
you pay for what skills they can perform rather than the
skills you need. A change in desired skill level often means a change
in staff. |
Experience
|
| Homewatch CareGivers has been delivering a quality home care experience to satisfied clients worldwide for over 25 years. |
Variable. |
General availability
|
| Homewatch CareGivers can provide
home care services to you and your family, 24 hours/day, 365
days/year. Your caregiver doesn't disappear on
weekends or holidays. |
1 person = limited days & hours. You are responsible
for lining up replacement staff for sudden sickness,
time off, emergencies, and vacations. Employment
transitions mean that you start all over again. |
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For over 25 years, Homewatch CareGivers has been providing
an Advanced Continuum
of Care,
from companionship
through comprehensive personal care, to meet the needs of our clients
and our health care partners. All caregivers are insured and bonded
and have gone through three levels of pre-employment
checks. Let Homewatch CareGivers partner with
you to extend your quality standards and reputation
in the community!
Homewatch CareGivers provides:
• Medication compliance and documentation
• Responsive, consistent and communicative staff
• Timely transport of clients to appointments
• Hospital discharge assistance
• Prenatal/postnatal and urgent child care
• Care for people of all ages
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For more information, contact a location near
you or call us toll free at to
locate a Homewatch CareGivers office in your area.
The fastest growing segment of the population is the 85+ age group. This group's
population with double to 6.7 million in the next 15 years.
In a 2000 AARP nationwide survey of Americans aged 55 and older, 89 percent said
they "strongly agree" that they want to stay in their homes. That percentage
shot to 95 percent for those 75 and older.
75% of assisted living residents could be living at home with a little help.
62% of adult children do not live in the same community as their aging parents.
In 1997, nearly one in four US households was involved in helping care for an
individual 50 years of age or older.
An estimated 12.1 million Americans need assistance from others to carry out
everyday activities.
The trend towards community-based services as opposed to nursing home placement
was formalized with the Olmstead Decision (1999) - a court case in which the
Supreme Court upheld the right of individuals to receive care in the community
as opposed to an institution whenever possible.
Around 4 million Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Approximately
70% of them are cared for at home.
For more information, contact a location
near you
or call us toll free at to
locate a
Homewatch CareGivers office in your area.
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