Homecare FAQs

1.What are the benefits of working with a home care agency?

When a loved one needs care, there’s a sense of urgency for many families. Finding a reliable and trustworthy caregiver to come into your home is not easy, but an agency can take the guesswork out of the process. Assisting Hands Home Care in Glenview hires and screens all of our caregivers. When we find the right caretaker match for a client, it gives all family members peace of mind knowing that they or their loved one is in good hands.  

Additional benefits of working with a home care agency include:

• Concierge service: At Assisting Hands, we screen and vet caregivers for you, working daily to recruit and train the best. Given our experience and background, we’re equipped to find caregivers that fit best with your family’s needs. 
• Backup care: If a caregiver is unable to show up to their scheduled shift, home care agencies will find a replacement so families can rest assured they’ll always have coverage. 
• Specialized care: Home care agencies offer caregivers who are trained to work with patients with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other conditions that require additional skills or limit mobility. 
• Streamlined billing: Home care agencies will handle the payroll, taxes, and employment verification for each caregiver.

Personal injury protection: Our caregivers are insured and bonded, which protects against theft from the patient and any injuries incurred by the caregiver. Agency caregivers are also eligible for worker’s compensation, whereas private caregivers are not, requiring the family to pay for damages in the event of injury.

2. Why is there a difference in price between private caregivers and agencies? 

The added benefits of working with a home care agency are the reason for the price differential. Though the cost of a private caregiver is typically about 20-30% less than working with an agency, families must take on additional work including training, hiring, and handling payroll — and that all comes after the challenging process of finding  a  trustworthy, reliable caregiver. 

All of our caregivers are Assisting Hands employees, meaning they’re prescreened, trained, and on our payroll. The less footwork required, the sooner you’ll find care for your loved one.

3. Do Assisting Hands caregivers receive specialized training? 

Absolutely! Ongoing professional development is part of our commitment to elevating the profession of caregiving. 

Our caregivers are required to go through annual training that covers specialized care for many conditions including strokes, Parkinson’s, and dementia. Caregiving is a holistic profession, and to that end, training sessions also include topics like death and dying. A Certified Dementia Practitioner oversees each training program, offering insight into both the physical and emotional needs of dementia clients. 

All our caregivers are trained to handle numerous daily tasks, including: 

• Manage personal care, bathing and toileting 
• Assist with ambulation and transfers 
• Manage emergencies and provide emergency care 
• Detect and report abuse 
• Identify the signs of a stroke

4. Do you adhere to health guidelines and requirements?

Assisting Hands Home Care is licensed through the Illinois Department of Public Health. This means that you automatically get insurance and protections, including: 

1. Compliance  with IDPH guidelines regarding caregiver training, intake procedures, supervision, and scope of care. 
2. A professional Coordination Team
3. Concierge Services such as backup care, coordination of care plan updates to staff, and streamlined billing and payment options.

5. How do Assisting Hands caretakers help support family caregivers? 

A family caregiver can provide  temporary relief and help their loved ones save  money on the cost of patient care. While giving your time and energy  is noble and provides comfort and familiarity for the care recipient,  there are also disadvantages. 

Family caregivers are prone to stress, and often make personal sacrifices due to the high demands of the job. This can also be detrimental to their mental and physical health. To avoid burnout, it’s okay to ask for help. 

There are many options available. Choosing respite care services, in which a caregiver will share the responsibilities of caring for the loved one, can create a healthy balance and be a good middle ground.

6. What is the difference between home care and home health care?

Home care and home health care have different scopes of service. The primary difference is that home health care includes medical care assistance, while home care involves a number of non-medical services that make care recipients feel more comfortable and safe in their homes. 

The scope of services covered by  home care include:

• Personal care, such as feeding, bathing, incontinence care, and personal hygiene maintenance
• Senior transportation
• Meal preparation
• Light housekeeping
• Transferring for clients who are unsafe to move on their own

The scope of services covered by  home health care include:

• Injections
• Blood testing
• Medication management
• Wound care

When you contact Assisting Hands for your initial assessment, one of our experts can help determine which type of care is the best fit for your loved one.

7. Do you accept long-term care insurance? 

For some of our clients, long-term care insurance is  the best option when paying for home care. If you think long-term care insurance is a possibility, start by reviewing your policy to see if you have a home care benefit.  

Our agency has experience working with the major LTC companies including Genworth, John Hancock, and C.N.A., among others. Our office team submits care notes and invoices weekly, so you can receive timely reimbursement for your services.

Make sure you’re familiar with the policy holder’s coverage limits and the costs your policy covers. Some insurance companies require an elimination period of one to three months after receiving assistance before families are allowed access to funds, so make sure your timing is correct.

8. Do you offer special provisions for Veterans? 

Assisting Hands is proud to be a preferred provider for the VA. Care is an important responsibility, and we take our role as a community provider very seriously. Contact your TK to find out more about your  eligibility.

9. Will I always have the same caregiver? 

Our goal is to provide as much consistency as possible. While we cannot always guarantee that your loved one will have the same caregiver, we can assure you that our team will communicate any changes to your family as soon as possible. You will not have to worry about someone new showing up to your home without being notified first by one of our team members.

10. Can I get a report about what the caregivers are doing? 

Yes! We have an online portal where families can view caregiver notes, invoices, and upcoming caregiver schedules. We value transparency and clarity in all we do. 

11. Can you review your screening, training and protection policy one more time? 

Assisting Hands Home Care is licensed through the Illinois Department of Public Health. The added value of a home care agency include the following:

1. Illinois Department of Public Health Licensing
   1. Complies with IDPH guidelines regarding caregiver training, intake procedures, supervision, scope of care, etc.
2. Caregivers are Legal Employees
   1. At Assisting Hands all caregivers are our employees. We cover appropriate employment taxes & make sure we comply with laws regarding overtime, benefits, etc.
3. Insurance
   1. Assisting Hands is responsible for holding liability and workers’ compensation insurance. Although caregivers work in your home, we are responsible for the work they do.
4. Professional Coordination Team
   1. All of our staff are Certified Dementia Practitioners.
   2. Expertise in hiring and match caregivers with client needs
   3. Monitor caregiver arrival, departure, and care notes
   4. Quarterly visits to assure quality of care
   5. Easy billing and printed invoices to submit for tax purposes
5. Concierge Service
   1. Changes are common in home care. Our care team can adjust to changes seamlessly. Your loved one may require more care after a hospitalization or less care on their road to recovery. Our Assisting Hands team can ensure that the management is off your plate and in our hands.  Think of us as your concierge for home care services.