Best in-home companion care services [Assisting Hands Home Care]

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I know if my loved one needs in-home care?

• If you notice a decline in a loved one’s ability to care for themselves, such as loss of weight, unkempt/contaminated clothing, not bathing or brushing teeth, missing appointments, forgetting to take medications, not eating, the decline in housekeeping, unpaid bills, and unopened mail is piling up.
• Assisted hands home care can help.
• Click for the list of 135 things our care team can help you with!

What kind of services do you provide?

• We provide a full range of both non-medical and professional nursing care services.
• Our most common services include personal care, homemaking, respite, meal preparation, incidental transportation, medication management (nursing), foot care, and dressing changes.
• Visit our home care services page for a full listing of ways to help you or someone you love.
• https://michiganpersonalcare.com/best-rated-home-care/

How quickly can I arrange for service?

• The more notice we have, the better, but we can arrange services within 24 hours.
• The more time we have, the more likely we will match you with a more permanent caregiver who best fits your situation!
• Please visit our contact page to schedule an appointment!

How much does the service cost?

• Rates vary depending on each person’s individual needs and location.
• Don’t hesitate to contact us for a complimentary in-home consultation to obtain pricing for your particular needs.
• We pride ourselves on our high quality our competitive pricing and stand by having some of the highest ratings in the Southeastern Michigan region!

Do you require a minimum of hours and days a week to provide care?

• To provide the best level of care assistance, we require a 4-hour minimum for each shift.
• The frequency of visits is flexible according to each client’s or family’s request.
• Generally, we do accommodate special situations, but this would have to be discussed during the initial evaluation to find what works best for you.

What are my payment sources for home care services?

We work with the following payment sources:

• Private pay.
• MI Choice Waiver Program.
• VA benefits.
• Most private insurance plans.
• Select long-term care insurance plans.
• Multiple auto insurances (catastrophic claims).
• Workman’s compensation.

Are your home care services covered through Medicare, Medicaid, or Blue Cross Blue Shield?

• Our services are not covered by Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield, or other private health care entities.

How else can I pay for home care services:

• Most clients do pay for private home care services through private pay costs. 
• Other common ways to pay are Medicaid, Veterans Affairs Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance, and other subsidy programs.
• Please visit our Free E-book on the services available in Michigan.

Is your home care agency licensed?

• Michigan does not issue a license for private duty home care agencies.
• However, we adhere to the most stringent standards for hiring and training our care team, and ours is a physician-led company.
• We stand by our caregiver’s qualities. Our team is managed by a Ph.D. psychologist who matches caregivers and clients and a physician to overview the care provided.

Are your caregivers insured and bonded?

• Yes, for the safety and peace of mind of those we serve, each care staff member is fully bonded and insured.
• We train and provide extensive background checks for all of our caregivers.

Why would I hire an Assisting Hands Home Care 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 things you must consider when hiring privately.

• Once you hire a caregiver privately, you are responsible for all state and federal payroll taxes.
• How will you pay for any claims of disability if they are filed against you? You must obtain Worker’s 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.
• 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 them?
• These are only some of the challenges of hiring privately. With Assisting Hands Home Care, you do not worry about these issues.

How are your caregivers screened?

We begin with an initial phone interview and an in-person interview and training.

Those who pass these initial screenings are required to provide at least two professional/personal references, as well as go through the following background screenings:

• Criminal history.
• Motor Vehicle Record.
• SSN Address Trace.
• Professional License Check.
• Drug screenings are mandatory.
• What kind of training do your caregivers receive?

Upon hire, all care staff participates in a mandatory three-hour orientation. Ongoing training includes:

• Monthly in-services. Monthly in-services cover topics such as diagnosis-specific training, confidentiality, and more.
• Quarterly in-services. Quarterly in-services are centered on providing disease-specific training and information.
• Mandatory annual in-services. Annual in-services provide in-depth information on blood-borne pathogens, HIPAA, and other industry and care-specific subjects selected based on feedback from clients, caregivers, and payer sources.

What makes Assisted Hands Michigan different from other in-home care companies?

• We carefully and thoughtfully match caregivers with our clients.
• If a client ever feels that a particular caregiver is not a good match, we listen and work to make a better-suited match based on the client’s feedback.
• When appropriate, we strive to keep the same caregivers in the home to ensure continuity of care and client comfort.
• We’ve also developed several diagnosis-specific programs to help reduce hospitalizations and readmissions.

What are the advantages of home care?

• Home care allows individuals to remain in the comfort of the place they call home.
• Home care also assures families, case managers, and physicians that older adults are safe and receiving the necessary care to remain independent and helps reduce hospitalizations and readmissions.

Who can receive in-home care?

• In-home care is available to any individual who needs care. We provide services to children as well as adults.
• Our clients include seniors who need a little extra assistance in their homes and individuals recovering from car accidents or those who were injured in workplace accidents.

Will I reach someone at your agency after hours, and how should I do it?

• An on-call supervisor is available in case of emergencies after hours, on weekends, and holidays.
• Call your office’s main number, and a menu of options will be provided.
• Select the option that will allow you to speak to a supervisor immediately.
• Please visit our contact page to reach us, and we will get back to you as fast as possible!

Are your services available in nursing homes or assisted living facilities?

• Yes, depending on the payer source. The MI Choice Waiver Program (Medicaid) and VA will not provide services in the client’s home.
• However, private pay clients can receive services wherever they reside – home, nursing home, hospital, or assisted living.

What if my caregiver is sick and cannot make it to my house?

• Like all of us, caregivers experience illness and emergencies and take time off for vacations.
• If your assigned caregiver is unavailable, we will find a replacement caregiver to cover the shift or contact you to discuss alternative options.
• Please visit our contact page to reach us, and we will get back to you as fast as possible!

How do I know I am picking the best option?

• We always recommend a no-obligation consultation to visit your loved one and present possible care options. 
• We stand by the quality of our care and have some of the BEST reviews in the southeast Michigan area!

How much does home care cost per hour?

• Home care at Assisting Hands Michigan ranges from $28 to $38 per hour. 
• While this does provide a cost, it can be very inexpensive when compared to the cost of a skilled living facility or skilled nursing home.
• We do have a minimum of 4-hour shifts at any one time.
• For more options on paying, please see our free e-book on paying for home care.

How much does 24/7 in-home care cost per month?

• Setting up care for us weekly can cost in the $400 range for respite care per week. 
• To have a full-time 24/7 in-home caregiver can cost significantly more per month.
• This can cost the $10,000 to $12,000 range per month of full-time care. This would require a live-in caregiver team. 
• This usually means a rotating schedule of 2 or more consistent caregivers to be available.
• The price can be on the lower end of the caregiver would be expected to sleep at least 8 hours per day in the house with the care recipient.

What are the In-home dementia care hosts?

• Depending on the caregiving needs, prices can range in the $29 to $38 range.
• We provide a no-obligation assessment at home to see the required care needs.

Can I help choose the caregiver and meet them in advance?

• Yes.
• If requested, Assisting Hands Home Care will arrange a meeting with a caregiver of your choosing.
• If at any time or for any reason you want to change caregivers, we will do so until you are completely satisfied.

Do I have to sign a contract locking me into services?

• No.
• Assisting Hands Home Care is here to meet your needs, and as your needs change, so will the services you receive.
• Our service agreement reflects this and adapts to meet changing needs.