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Frequently Asked Questions

Making a decision about caregiving for a loved one is never easy. To be comfortable with your options, you need answers. We hope the following information is a good start. If your questions aren’t completely answered, call us today at (319) 826-6608. We'd be glad to speak with you about your specific family situation.

Right at Home was founded in 1995.

Many people wonder if we have had difficulty finding staff and we usually have plenty of applicants, but the challenge is finding those individuals with the right personality and drive to work in the home health industry. Applicants are initially screened over the phone and their application/resume is reviewed. If someone “passes” this level of questioning, then they are invited to an in-person interview. These typically take up to an hour as we get to know the applicant as a person as well as their experiences, relevant education, and skill set.

We developed our core values as a company and try to measure applicants against these standards. If we are still interested in the applicant post-interview, we run federal and state background checks, verify any credentials, and follow-up on references as needed, then offer them a position. We have a robust training program and really meet the new caregiver where they are at in terms of experience. A hands-on skills assessment is performed in our training room during orientation and additional training is provided to fill in any gaps in the applicant’s skill set as well as the completion of several online training modules. Finally, our care coordinator accompanies the new caregiver to their first shift(s). Caregivers are monitored through unannounced supervisory visits in the field and gathering client feedback regarding their experiences with caregivers. We take choosing members of care staff very seriously and have really worked hard to create a successful hiring process.

Right at Home Cedar Rapids provides numerous home care services to families just like yours. A full list of services can be found on our services page. To see how we might be able to help your family specifically, take our Care Assessment. To see how we help families just like yours, read our Care Profiles or read our in-home care customer testimonials.

Right at Home Cedar Rapids provides in-home care services in the following areas:

Alburnett Linn, Amana, Atkins, Cedar Rapids, Center Point, Central City, Ely, Fairfax, Hiawatha, Lisbon, Marion, Martelle, Mount Vernon, Newhall, Norway, Palo, Robins, Shellsburg, Solon, Springville, Swisher, Toddville, Urbana, Walford, Watkins.

Yes. Every caregiver is employed by the local Right at Home office. 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.

Yes. We do our best to take the guesswork out of matching the right caregiver with you and your family by using our proprietary screening and selection system. We encourage your involvement in the decision-making process. Your satisfaction is important so we try to accommodate requests for a change in caregivers, as allowed by law.

Our goal is to establish a long-term caregiving relationship with your loved one. Should your family want to request another caregiver for any reason, we'll search for a match until your family is happy. We understand that a strong rapport and trust with a caregiver are vital to a successful in-home care experience.

If your loved one receives care for many hours in a day or at different times of the day throughout the week, it may be necessary to schedule more than one caregiver in a given week. If your family requires multiple caregivers, our goal is the same: We want you to be satisfied and happy. We'll do what it takes to make sure we achieve that goal.

Right at Home Cedar Rapids would like to discuss your medication concerns. Give us a call at (319) 826-6608.

You can change the frequency or type of service we provide your loved one whenever it's necessary. We understand the care situation can quickly change, so we're as flexible as possible with your loved one's care.

Right at Home uses several tools to track the care our caregivers provide. First, we use simple time sheets filled out by each caregiver. Then, we use a combination of internet-based solutions to verify time and attendance. This allows you to have a written record of care services provided in the home. We can also provide written verification at any time.

Also, our itemized invoices are always sent after services are complete. This lets you ask any questions about time or date of care, and it allows us to make any schedule adjustments before your next invoice is sent.

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

If you request assistance with billing a private insurance policy (such as long-term care insurance) for our services, we would be happy to help with the entire "benefits coordination" process. This includes providing any documentation you may need for reimbursement by an insurance carrier.

The cost of in-home care depends on the number of care hours and frequency of visits, as well as the types of services needed. This information is gathered during the in-home care assessment and used to create a custom care plan that is focused on your unique needs.

Our home care services are typically billed on an hourly basis. Right at Home offers a free download of our Ways To Pay for In-Home Senior Care Guide that gives information about the median monthly cost of care in the U.S., as well as programs that can help pay for the service.

To discuss the exact rates for the services you may need, contact our local office.

Medicare Parts A and B do not pay for ongoing assistance with the activities of daily living (called “custodial care” in the exclusions of Medicare plans). Medicare Advantage (also called “Part C”) may cover some services in the home (referred to as “in-home support”). To understand the benefits of Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov.

Long-term care insurance (depending on the policy and the plan of care) may assist in paying for a variety of home-based and facility care services.

Did you know there are several funding options available to help pay for in-home care? Right at Home offers a free download of our Ways To Pay for In-Home Senior Care Guide that gives information on these programs.

You never have to pay caregivers directly. Whether you are in the planning stages or need immediate care, you don’t want to spend your time managing the financial and legal obligations of employing a caregiver. With Right at Home, you don’t have to. Because our caregivers are employed by our independently owned and operated office, you don’t have to worry about federal, state or Social Security taxes. Caregivers are bonded/insured and properly screened, including criminal and background checks. You (or an authorized representative) are only invoiced after the completion of services. Usually, this happens weekly. And, you'll never be asked to pay an additional fee to any employee.

Understanding all of the options for in-home care and how to pay for it can be confusing, especially at a time of stress and concern for a loved one. Right at Home is here to help. We’ve cared for thousands of families just like yours. There are a variety of ways to pay for in-home care. Right at Home offers a free download of our Ways to Pay for In-Home Senior Care Guide that gives information about the programs that can help pay for the service.

The initial assessment is very important because so much information is gathered and exchanged to get a full sense of the personality, medical and social history, and needs of the potential client. We will always conduct these assessments in person and usually in the location where services will be provided. Assessments are usually performed by the owner of the company or a nurse or office person when she is not available. Once the assessment is complete and a schedule of care is determined, this information is shared with the scheduling team to identify the caregiver(s) with the right availability, skill set and compatible personality for the client. If, however, we assign someone who we think may be appropriate but turns out to not be suitable to the client, we take that feedback and assign someone different. That is the beauty of being in your own home, the choice of who comes to take care of you!

Yes, we are a provider contracted with the VA to provide skilled nursing care, homemaker services and the assistance of a home health aide. The VA pays for a certain number of hours of care per week based on the needs of the veteran. The veteran needs to be active in the VA medical system, which requires an annual physical with a VA primary provider and then a request for home care services can be made with Right at Home.

We adhere to all applicable federal and state guidelines related to privacy of personal and health care information. This starts once we have a formal service 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 unauthorized individuals will not be given access to information without a client's or their 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 service will have access to information related to the care of your loved one.

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 Right at Home 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.

A female care worker smiling in the background. In the foreground is an elderly female patient smiling back.
A female care worker smiling in the background. In the foreground is an elderly female patient smiling back.

Read what our clients have to say.

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"They are able to take me to the doctor and help me understand what the doctor is saying. She cleans and helps me organize things."
Dorcas

Read what our clients have to say.

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"My dad has Alzheimers, so he can be difficult to speak with, but the caregivers from Right at Home really want to talk to him engage with him personally. They also hug him when they come in."
Dwaine

Read what our clients have to say.

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"Right at Home has made my life so much easier as far as helping me get around the stairs and in general. They also do some housekeeping for me."
George

Read what our clients have to say.

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"The caregivers were able to make sure that he was showered, they helped him get dressed, and what he needed, they got it for him. They made sure that he was safe."
Jerry

Read what our clients have to say.

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"The caregiver lets us know when things are running low on items and communicates well with us, which we greatly appreciate."
Kely

Read what our clients have to say.

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"Chelsea, my mom's caregiver, takes care of taking her out for toiletries or clothing items. She helps out, doing the things the nursing home can't do."
Shirley

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