When considering hiring a home health care agency to care for your loved one, oftentimes there are many questions that come to mind. It can be an overwhelming task to gather the right information to make an informed decision on your senior loved one’s care, and sometimes in the moment we may not even know what to ask. We put together several frequently asked questions when it comes to home health care that can act as a guide as you choose the right provider for your loved one.
– What is home health care and what does it include?
Depending on the care provider, home health care can include a number of services, both medical and non-medical. Services can include skilled nursing care, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nutritional guidance, speech therapy and more. Many agencies also provide non-medical services, such as caregiving – bathing, dressing, grocery shopping and spending time with your loved one.
Allegiance Home Health and Rehab offers the full spectrum of medical and non-medical home health care services tailored to your individual needs. Our medical services include skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nutritional counseling and social services provided by licensed clinicians. Our non-medical services include but are not limited to personal care assistance such as bathing and dressing, homemaking such as meal preparation and light housekeeping, companionship such as transportation and supervision provided by certified nursing assistants and certified home health aides. We will always find a way to accommodate your needs or we will connect you with one of our preferred partners for a solution.
– How much does home health care cost?
Medical services provided by home health care agencies are covered by Medicare. Individualized non-medical services are priced separately, and vary based on the agency.
At Allegiance, we are able to accept most long-term care policies and bill them directly. Every insurance policy is different so it’s impossible to determine covered services without looking closely at the terms of your policy. If you’re uncertain about your coverage, we’d be happy to contact the insurance provider and verify the benefits of your coverage.
– Can home health care only be provided in the home?
Most home health care agencies will provide services to seniors living in their own homes and in nursing care facilities.
Allegiance Home Health and Rehab provides care to seniors living in their own homes, in nursing care facilities and in a variety of other housing circumstances including assisted living facilities. Our individualized care extends to housing circumstances as well.
– How am I matched with my caregiver?
Most home health agencies match clients with caregivers who can and will provide the necessary services. Caregivers should be licensed, bonded and insured, as well as fully background-checked and extensively interviewed.
At Allegiance Home Health, our caregivers receive a level 2 background check as required by state law. We go above and beyond state law. Each caregiver completes a written comprehensive assessment of personality, behavior and cognitive aptitudes. We are certified through the Caregiver Quality Assurance Program. All caregivers also go through a 3 tier interview and scrutiny of at least 3 references. Then a drug screening is performed. You can be assured you will have a trusted caregiver. And on the rare occasion that a client is provided with a caregiver who is less than a perfect personality match, we will happily offer a more suitable caregiver. Your comfort and satisfaction are our priorities.
