HOME CARE - FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What should I be looking for in a non-medical home care agency?

The best in-home care agencies respond immediately to your home care needs.

·         They should have someone available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 365 days a year.

·         They should guarantee that services will always be provided.

·         Their employees should be bonded against theft.

·         The attendants should be company employees, not contract employees. They should screen their employees and have national criminal background checks run on each of them.

·         No one should ever show up at your home without an introduction and agency identification.

·         They should provide periodic visits to your home in order to check on their employee and to make sure that you are happy with the services you’re receiving.

Why would I hire an AMHC caregiver versus a private caregiver for my family?

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. How will you pay for any claims of disability if they are filed against you?

·         What happens if the private person doesn’t show up for work? Are you prepared to stay home and take care of your loved one? If the care is for you, are you prepared to be left alone without care if the caregiver does not show up?

·         Are you capable of running a comprehensive, national criminal background check?

·         Is the private caregiver bonded against theft?

·         Who will supervise him/her?

These are only some of the challenges to hiring privately. With AMHC, you do not have to worry about any of these issues.

What type of licensures and certifications do you have?

Ann Mason Home Care – AMHC is State Licensed, Insured, and Bonded.  We are Licensed by the State of Virginia Department of Health Home Care Organization, Certified by DMAS to provide services to Medicaid recipients. 

AMHC services seem like a good choice. What's the next step?

Give us a call. We'll arrange a time to visit you, your family and/or any authorized representative to fully discuss your particular home care situation and how AMHC might help.

Together, we'll go over the care your family needs and the care we provide. We'll answer all of your questions regarding in-home care services and costs. Then, we'll begin putting together your Custom Care Plan and matching your loved one with the right caregiver. Usually, care can begin within a matter of a few days.

Is there a charge for an initial consultation?

Our initial consultation is offered free of charge.  We encourage family members or representatives to attend this meeting as well.

Do I need a physician's authorization for your services?

No. You don't need pre-authorization, pre-qualification, certification or even a prescription for AMHC's services. You choose the services you want, when to start those services and how often those services are used.

How is the privacy of my personal information maintained?

We adhere to all applicable federal and state guidelines related to privacy of personal and healthcare information. This starts once we have a formal services agreement, before a caregiver even comes to your family member's home. The written service agreement stipulates the exact restrictions on the use of your information, which clarifies that even unauthorized individuals will not be given access to information without a client's – or legally authorized representative's – formal consent.

Your information is never sold to a third party under any circumstances. In fact, only the office personnel and caregivers who are directly involved in your services will have access to information related to the care of your loved one.

How does the provider select and train its employees?

AMHC staff is bonded and insured. Employees' are Certified PCA’s, screened through background checks. In addition, they receive mandatory company-provided training.

Are your caregivers insured and bonded?

Yes. Every caregiver is an AMHC employee. To help ensure the safety and well being of our clients, we perform a criminal history background clearance and then cover each caregiver with general liability and workers' compensation insurance.

How do you select my caregiver?

All of our caregivers have successfully passed a thorough reference and criminal background check and are bonded and insured. We match your specific needs and requests to the skills and background of each caregiver to find the ideal companion.

Do I pay the caregiver directly?

No. You (or an authorized representative) are only invoiced after the completion of services. Usually, this happens weekly. You never have to pay caregivers directly. And you'll never be asked to pay an additional fee to any employee.

What types of payments do you accept for services?

Paypal, Credit Card, Debit Card (No Personal Checks Accepted)

Is there supervision of the caregivers by administrative staff?

Yes, all of our staff is supervised by an administrative team and RN.  We also provide on-going testing and training for all of our caregivers.

Is the patient's course of treatment documented, detailing specific tasks to be accomplished by each professional caregiver?

Yes, a patient's course of treatment and progress is documented during the initial assessment and a copy will remain in the home for the caregiver as a working document to follow.

Will the patient and his or her family receive a copy of this plan, and is the plan updated as changes occur?

Yes. A copy of the patient's plan of care, along with a list of patient's rights and responsibilities, and an emergency plan is left in the patient's home.

How often are patient care needs reassessed?

A patient can be reassessed every 30, 60 or 90 days according to their level of care.   

What happens if a caregiver is unable to show up for a scheduled shift?

If your family’s caregiver is unavailable for any reason, another caregiver will be made available to you.

What if I need to speak to someone in the office after business hours?

AMHC's office staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 365 days a year. When the office is closed, there is an on-call person available to help you.

Does the agency have information explaining its services, fees, and eligibility requirements?

AMHC has several brochures describing its programs and services. Call 757-918-8972.

 

" If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded."

~ Maya Angelou ~


Call Today For a Consultation 757-918-8972