FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FROM OUR CLIENTS
How much do your services cost?
There are a few different basic care rates, depending on the type and duration of the shift. We offer flat-rate pricing, split shifts (morning and evening), hourly pricing, a 12hr. overnight shift, and a 24hr live-in shift. We also offer Care Management services that cover a wide range of special family needs. Please call the office to discuss your needs and we will estimate fees for you over the phone. It is best to meet with your Care Coordinator face to face to further define your needs (there is no charge for such a meeting.) This will help provide a framework for Amdal In Home Care services, and possibly suggest solutions you have not thought of yet. Most families are not sure of how much care is necessary when they first call us, and our approach helps them work through their options.
What if I need to reach you after business hours?
Each Amdal In Home Care office maintains an on-call employee (NOT an answering service) after-hours and weekends. While we encourage our client's and families to handle routine matters with us during normal business hours, we are available to handle last-minute situations 24/7.
What is the difference between an in home care agency and a home health agency?
An in home care agency, such as Amdal In Home Care, is usually hired and paid for by the family, and it is the family or client that determines the need. The services we render are NON-medical personal care services. The amount of time we spend with a client and the specific care services we perform are also determined by the family.A home health agency is a MEDICAL care provider that sends Registered or Licensed Vocational Nurses and/or Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists to a home-bound patient for continued care. This service MUST be ordered by a doctor. Usually, the doctor's orders come upon a patient's discharge from a hospital or skilled nursing facility, though not always. Home Health is provided for a set period of time to address a medical need, and it is usually covered by insurance. A Home Health visit may be an hour or two, long enough to provide the medical care ordered, and these visits may occur only once or twice a week. These services provide only treatment, and NOT personal/custodial care. Amdal In Home Care often works in conjunction with Home Health Agencies; the Agency provides home-based medical care, and we provide the personal care. We interface with the Home Health Agency to make sure our plans of care include any non-medical aspects we can provide, such as assisting the client with recommended exercises, medication reminders, etc.
What if I don’t like the caregiver you send me?
Not everyone makes a personality match. If you are not happy with a caregiver, we will work with you to find out why and, as appropriate, replace the caregiver with one who is a better fit in your home environment. However, we will want to understand the reasons so that we can do a better job matching caregivers.
Can I have the same caregiver each time?
Every effort is made to match a client's needs with a caregiver's skills. When a client commits to a regular schedule, which greatly increases the likelihood that the same caregiver(s) will come to the home each time. One advantage of utilizing an agency like Amdal In Home Care is our ability to staff an appropriate caregiver even when your "regular" caregiver needs a day off. We practice caregiver introductions whenever we provide a new caregiver to a client, to establish a comfort level between the client and the caregiver. If you require a different caregiver, we will work with you to understand your requirements and to provide an appropriate caregiver that meets your care needs.
Do you provide transportation services?
Yes. This is a very common service we provide, usually to shopping venues or medical appointments. We can transport a client in a caregiver's vehicle or the caregiver, with your written permission, can drive your vehicle. This service needs to be requested in-advance, as there is paperwork involved, and not all caregivers can perform this service. If transportation occurs in the caregivers car there is a charge per mile for that service. There is no additional charge when it occurs in the client's vehicle. If you are interested in solely transportation, you may consider our sister company Amdal Transport Services.
Does insurance cover your services?
Some insurances do cover Amdal In Home Care services. Amdal In Home Care will be happy to work with your insurance to determine for you whether or not "custodial" care is covered. Long-term care insurance policies are the most typical that will cover what we provide, though there are also insurance and supplemental policies that sometimes do. Each policy has specific criteria that must be met, such as deductibles, elimination periods, medical evaluation for need, etc. Amdal In Home Care electronic systems allow our billing and record-keeping to be insurance compatible, which not all in-home care agencies are. However, the majority of our clients do not have policies that cover in-home care, and pay privately. If you are covered, we will work with you to ensure that you receive the maximum benefit to which you are entitled.
Are you insured?
Yes, and the issue of insurance is one major reason to use Amdal In Home Care. We carry professional and general liability insurance that covers our business operations, as well as Worker's Compensation insurance that covers our employees in the event of a work-related injury.
Are there a minimum number of shifts or hours I have to commit to?
No. Some families have Amdal In Home Care "on-call" so they can use us as the need arises. The shortest care shift we provide is two hours. Other than that, the family determines how often we provide care, and how long the shifts are. We do find it best to agree on a regular, consistent schedule because it allows the same caregiver(s) to provide services, and provides continuity in the client's life. Amdal In Home Care will help you develop an appropriate schedule, but we are available to care for your loved one any day, and any hours you require.
How do you select your caregivers?
Caregivers are screened in a number of ways -- professional experience providing senior care, clear criminal and DMV backgrounds, demonstrated knowledge in a variety of care skills, ability to pass competency exams related to senior care, satisfactory professional references, ability to read and write English, and an in-depth interview. Once hired, we closely monitor performance in a wide range of areas, such as client satisfaction, dependability, and adherence to Amdal In Home Care professional conduct guidelines. Amdal In Home Care Caregiver's are employees of Amdal In Home Care, and must meet or exceed our standards for conduct.
How are your caregivers screened/trained?
We conduct a thorough vetting of employees before they are hired. This includes meeting all the requirements to be a registered Home Care Aide that has their fingerprint clearance overseen by the Caregiver Background Check Bureau. We also check DMV records and detailed employment reference checks. To be considered, an applicant must have at least one-year of verifiable, professional senior care experience. We also test viable applicants on their knowledge of a wide range of senior care knowledge. We require TB testing and offer the Hepatitis vaccine to all new-hires. New hires are required to complete a series of training classes that cover the most common issues they will encounter, including The Aging Process, Diet, Nutrition and Hydration, Good Hygiene/Bed Baths/Oral Care, Incontinence and Bladder Issues, Alzheimer's and Dementia, Dealing with Challenging Behaviors, End-of-Life Issues, Fluids and Hydration, Skin Care, Relaxation Techniques. Lastly, when a Caregiver is assigned to a specific client, the Care Coordinator will review with him or her the client's plan of care, and will then be introduced in the home to the client by the Care Coordinator.
How fast can you get started?
We are geared to open and staff clients quickly. Normally we require that a service agreement be signed, which allows us to write a care plan and select appropriate caregivers. This whole process can occur in one day. Typically, from the time a family calls us to the time we start care is two-to-three days. On rare occasions, such as a last minute weekend hospital discharge, we can collect a credit card payment over the phone and get a caregiver out to assist you, then back-fill the service agreement and plan of care the next business day. This is not a preferred way of starting services, but we will do what it takes when there is an urgent client need.