Home Care FAQ

Does your agency provide transportation?

Yes! Assisting Hands® caregivers provide transportation for our clients to doctor appointments, social and religious events, errands, and other events. If the caregiver utilizes their vehicle there will be mileage included in your statement, which goes 100% to the caregiver. Please check our in-home care services for details.

My mom is healthy, but I worry about her alone at home all day. Do you offer companionship services for people like her?

Most definitely! At Assisting Hands® we take pride in making a great match between our clients and the caregivers assigned to them. We’ll visit your loved one to learn more about them and make sure the caregiver assigned to them is a perfect match, based not only on their needs, but also their personality to tailor our companion care services to meet your individual needs.

Can I cancel my service at any time?

Unexpected events happen to everyone and we always aim to accommodate our clients. You may either cancel a shift or services all together with a 24-hour notice.

Can I change my service or schedule?

Of course! Needs change and we accommodate your various needs if they comply with the daily and weekly minimum number of hours. Major changes may require a reevaluation of the service plan.

What are the payments options you accept?

There are different options to pay, either out of pocket or through Long Term Care (“LTC”) insurance. As courtesy to our clients we fax all the documents to the LTC provider and accept payment directly from the insurer. If you are paying out of pocket, you may choose to receive your invoice via email or regular mail and choose your payment option either via check, a debit to your checking account or with a credit card. Many clients choose to finance their care through reverse mortgages, and we can refer honest and reliable providers in our community.

How long does it take you to place caregiver?

We have a deep bench of wonderful caregivers who are committed to working with Assisting Hands®. We can usually place a case within 4 hours. However, we usually ask for two to three days, or more, so that we may ensure a caregiver who is the perfect match.

Who should I contact with questions about my caregiver?

Just call the Assisting Hands® office at (561) 781-5885! We are here for you! You will find that we provide boutique-quality services. We will answer calls promptly and if no one is available, we will call you back within moments.

Do I pay the caregiver directly, or do I tip the caregiver?

No, we will send you an invoice on a weekly basis (via mail or email, your choice) and you can pay via check, credit card or a debit to your account (your choice). Although we do not promote that you tip the caregiver, it is your choice if you want to give a token for a special occasion or the holidays. We only ask that you please let us know.

What if my caregiver does not show up for a scheduled shift?

At Assisting Hands® we carefully choose, train, and develop a relationship with our caregivers so that they don’t “not show up” for the scheduled shift. If a caregiver cannot go to a shift, they will call us ahead of time, and we will let you know which caregiver will cover that shift. Because emergencies can always happen, if the caregiver does not show up, our Telephony system, where caregivers “clock in” and “clock out” will let us know that a caregiver has not arrived. Upon that unlikely event, we will call you and send a replacement caregiver ASAP. In any event, we always welcome your calls to the office.

Who will I meet at the initial in-home consultation?

At Assisting Hands® our clients are of utmost importance, that is why, in most cases, Marina Ramirez, the owner of Assisting Hands® in Palm Beach will go meet new clients to explain our organization and learn more about you.

What are the qualifications of the people who train your caregivers?

All Assisting Hands® caregivers have gone to school for their license/certificate. In addition, all our caregivers participate in our in-house training led by our Nurse. Moreover, throughout the year, they complete additional training by local specialists and online training.

How are your caregivers supervised?

Our caregivers use “Telephony”, to call in their arrival and departure from a visit. Telephony, the latest technology, notifies our management staff within ten minutes of the caregiver’s scheduled start time if they have not clocked in. Most times, caregivers have already started work, but have forgot to clock in. Most importantly, we are in constant communication with our caregivers to follow up with clients’ status. In addition, our nurse visits all clients at various times during the year, usually every two to three months.

Will I always have the same caregiver?

Yes! We always aim for consistency of care; this works best for both the clients and the caregivers. It also allows our office staff seamless communication and care. Those clients who need more than 40 hours per week will have more than one caregiver, each with a set schedule. If, for some reason, the scheduled caregiver is not available for a visit, we ALWAYS call ahead of time to let you know. With Assisting Hands®, you will NEVER open the door and unexpectedly find an unfamiliar face!

What if my caregiver is not a good fit for me?

Your well-being is our #1 Priority. If you are not totally at ease with your caregiver, we will work hard to find one who is the perfect match for you.

Who answers the phone after hours if we have an emergency?

Whenever you call our office, you will always speak to an office staff member of Assisting Hands®. We are “on call” for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Is the Agency licensed?

Yes!! Assisting Hands® is licensed by AHCA, the Agency for Health Care Administration in the State of Florida. In addition, we are fully bonded and insured. PLUS, all our caregivers are employees of Assisting Hands®, whereby we are responsible for taxes, insurance, training and, most important, supervision.

Are the caregivers insured, bonded, licensed and background-checked?

Yes, all Assisting Hands® caregivers are fully bonded and insured. They have all gone to school to be a caregiver and have the appropriate license and/or certificate. In addition, we check the background of all caregivers and call references.

What are the Home Care benefits for Veterans?

Many veterans are eligible to receive additional benefits to pay for home care, called “Aid and Attendance”. Please call our office for more information.

What are the common conditions in older adults who receive home care?

Most of our clients have a chronic condition, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, or diabetes, or Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s Disease, or Multiple Sclerosis, or a combination of the above. These, or others, can make living at home difficult and/or unsafe.

Our caregivers are trained to keep you safe from falls, help you maintain your independence, and help you with light housekeeping, cooking, bathing, and laundry as well as companionship, bathing, preparing meals, and providing transportation among many other things. (See the Full List of Our Services)

My parents need some home modifications to make their home safe. Can you help advise us on installing grab bars or a ramp?

Of course! At Assisting Hands®, we keep a list of local referral companies that can provide these services and are honest and trustworthy.

What if my mother or father is stubborn and doesn’t want a caregiver?

Many seniors feel uneasy about having someone in their homes, others feel it is the first step in a “slippery slope” towards losing their independence or feel that they are losing control over their lives. One way to get them to accept a caregiver is to tell them that they are doing this for your (spouse, adult child) peace of mind and MAKE THEM PART of the decision process. Make sure to let them know that they control the time for the caregiver visits (do you want to start at 7 or 8am?), and they can choose their caregiver. In the vast majority of cases, after a short adjustment period, the caregiver will become a part of the household and clients cannot imagine life without them!

My brothers and sisters live all over the country. How can we all stay informed about your home care services?

At Assisting Hands®, we love working in conjunction with family members to make sure that our clients are happy, healthy and at home! We all become part of a Team to take care of your loved one. We welcome family member calls and input.

My parents are from a different generation, one where they were very distrusting of strangers in the home. Is this uncommon? How can I convince them that your home care workers are trustworthy?

This is not an uncommon belief among seniors, in addition to a generational belief, it also has to do with losing confidence as we age. All our caregivers have gone through extensive background checks. All Assisting Hands® caregivers are our employees; as such, we are accountable for their work in your home. We carefully interview, select and train our caregivers so that they are able to fit into a client’s home. In most cases we find that in a short time, most caregivers become an indispensable part of the household!