Palm Beach, Florida
(561) 440-2273
(561) 440-2273

- In-Home Senior Care & Assistance -

Common Questions about In Home Care for Seniors

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FAQs About Right at Home

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. We'll be glad to speak with you about your specific family situation.


FAQs About Right at Home

How long have you been in business?

Right at Home was founded in Omaha, Nebraska in 1995.

What kind of home care services do you provide?

Right at Home provides numerous home care services across the country 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.

Where do you provide services?

Our local office provides services in the following areas: Boynton Beach, Greenacres, Lake Worth, Wellington, Juno Beach, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Riviera Beach

Our local Florida office is part of an international network of in-home healthcare. Right at Home has hundreds of locally owned offices all across the United States and throughout the world.

Are your caregivers insured and bonded?

Yes. Every caregiver is a Right at Home employee. 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.

Will I have a choice of who comes to my home?

Yes. We encourage your involvement in the decision-making process. And with our proprietary screening and selection system, you can rest assured that we do our best to take the guesswork out of matching the right caregiver to you and your family. However, you must be satisfied. We always try to accommodate any requests you may have for a change in caregivers (as allowed by law).

Will my family member always receive care from the same caregiver?

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 is vital to a successful 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.

Can Right at Home help with medications?

Some Right at Home locations can administer medications. Check with your local Right at Home office on the services they can provide to your loved one. Regardless of whether a local office can administer medicine, they can always assist in reminding individuals to take their medications. In fact, medication reminders are one of our most requested services. We can also report any side effects and assist with pre-measured medication packages.

Can I change or discontinue the services my loved one receives?

You can change the number 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. Plus, you're never bound to a long-term contract, so you can discontinue your relationship with Right at Home at your discretion.

How can I verify a shift was completed?

Right at Home uses several tools to track our caregivers. First, we use simple timesheets 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 services within the home where care is provided. And we can 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 invoice is sent.

Do I need a physician's authorization for your services?

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're happy to help with the entire "benefits coordination" process. This includes providing any documentation you need for reimbursement by an insurance carrier.

What are the costs of your home care services?

Every family we serve receives a Custom Care Plan specific to their needs and budget. Several factors help determine the exact cost:

  • Number of hours of care per week
  • Level of home care services received (non-medical, disease specific, etc.)
  • Area of the country where services are provided

Our home care services are typically billed on an hourly basis. This makes it easy to make a Custom Care Plan for you. To discuss the exact rates for the services you may need, contact our office. We’ll set up an in-home consultation to begin discussing a Custom Care Plan and the rates for each service on your plan.

We always provide a written rate sheet prior to initiating care services. Rates will never be increased without at least thirty days notice.

Are home care services covered by insurance or Medicare?

Medicare does provide an Eligibility Tool to see if your family qualifies, but they typically don't pay for the type of hourly personal care service that Right at Home provides. Right at Home may be able to provide documentation to third parties such as long-term care insurance companies that could help you obtain the best coverage possible.

Additionally, Right at Home has preferred relationships with many companies who either fully reimburse or partially reimburse for home healthcare. Typical accounts for reimbursement include reverse mortgage, health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts.

We also work with reimbursement programs like the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit, which is a benefit paid in addition to the monthly pension paid to Veterans and surviving spouses who require our services.

Do I pay the caregiver directly?

No. You (or an authorized representative) are only invoiced after the completion of services. Usually, this happens weekly. You never have to pay caregivers directly. And you'll never be asked to pay an additional fee to any employee.

How is the privacy of my personal information maintained?

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

Right at Home care services seems like a good choice. What's the next step?

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.

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You probably have many questions regarding home care services for your elderly loved ones, or ones that have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s. Right At Home wants to help you make the best decision when it comes to your family’s well-being and health, so we answer the most frequently asked questions around the topic.

What do you look for in a senior home care provider?

When choosing a home care provider or home care services, you should look for:

  • Transparency: The address, local phone number, and the owner’s details should be readily available online and/or in their brochure.
  • Long-term and happy employees: The last thing you want is a caregiver who is unhappy in their role.
  • Caregivers with at least 2 years’ experience: a qualified and experienced caregiver has a better understanding of a recipient’s needs and how to best provide it.
  • A registered nurse on staff: a registered nurse should be available to assess health and caregiving needs so that you get the best possible care.

At which point can a person no longer stay in home care?

Although it is a hard decision, you need to evaluate your living situation at home and identify signs that you need professional help outside of home. Most important indicators are: You don’t have enough time to give them the attention they need. You can no longer keep them reasonably safe, clean, fed and medicated, especially if they cannot be left alone for any length of time.

How and when to move someone with dementia to a nursing home?

It might be time for you to consider a nursing home care or other care services for your loved one when vital things like safety/security, health (both physical and mental) and level of care needs are being compromised or delayed by other responsibilities or caregiver burnout.

If you’ve talked to your loved one and have decided to move them to a nursing home or assisted living facility you should check 3 important points to make sure the place you’re choosing is the right for you: It provides a friendly and healthy environment, has a professional senior care program and other services, and a prepared and committed elderly care staff. When moving, remember it should be a gentle, gradual and planned transition.

Alzheimer’s

How do I choose the best care for an elderly person with Alzheimer's?

When it comes to Alzheimer's and dementia care in your home, as with many senior home care scenarios, you should go through some few steps to make sure they will provide good quality support to the family.

  • Assess the care required at home.
  • Follow your doctor’s recommendations.
  • Look for institutions or professional caregivers that best suit your expectations.
  • Appoint an interview with them and make sure you express all your worries and needs.
  • Talk to your loved one and help him/her adapt to the idea of this new type of care.

What are the signs that indicate your elder family member needs Alzheimer's care services?

If your elderly family member shows these symptoms, it might mean that they need senior home care, move into a senior living residence, or other care services that can accommodate their living needs.

  • Memory loss that disrupts daily life
  • Challenges in planning or solving problems
  • Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
  • Confusion with time or place
  • Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
  • New problems with words in speaking or writing
  • Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
  • Decreased or poor judgment
  • Withdrawal from work or social activities
  • Changes in mood and personality

Dementia

What is the best way to care for someone with dementia at home?

Patience and learning how to communicate effectively can help make your home senior caregiving experience at home less stressful. It'll also improve your ability to handle any problematic behavior you may encounter when giving senior home care of any kind.

What are the pros and cons of sending my mom who has early signs of dementia to a nursing home?

Many family members feel guilty about placing a parent in care but unless you can offer 24/7 care yourself, or hire professional caregivers, it will be the best choice for him/her. Here are some pros and cons:

PROS:

  • Professional nurses and doctors around.
  • Being part of a community of people with the same condition.

CONS:

  • It can be expensive.
  • Fear of abuse/neglect
  • It can lead to isolation and depression.
  • You don’t get to be around and check on him/her everyday.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of caring for an Alzheimer's patient at home as opposed to in a nursing home?

Advantages of Alzheimer’s care services:

  • Cost is much less.
  • 24 hour care/supervision.
  • Familiar environment.
  • Disadvantages of Alzheimer’s care services:
  • Caregiver burnout.
  • Depending on family and friends for occasional help.

Parkinson’s

What is the duty of a caregiver to a patient with Parkinson's disease?

For taking care of an elderly patient with Parkinson disease a caregiver has to know about the disease. This helps in understanding the symptoms and how to help the patient in managing them.

What is the best exercise for a Parkinson's patient?

Every Parkinson’s patient is different so the best exercise for them will be the one that adapts to their needs, abilities and preference. Here are some of the best exercises for elderly Parkinson’s patients, remember to always check with your doctor or caregiver before engaging in any physical activity.

  • Walking
  • Dancing
  • Yoga classes
  • Tai Chi classes
  • Stepping over obstacles
  • Marching to music with big arm swings
  • Sports (Table Tennis, Badminton, golf, tennis, volleyball)
  • Aerobic/Jazz classes
  • Walking on a treadmill with different speeds and inclines
  • Swimming with different strokes

Can someone with Parkinson's live alone?

Although it can be difficult, it is possible for someone, including seniors, with Parkinson’s to live alone. It depends on many factors such as: the level of independence of the patient, the stage of their condition and if they have another chronic condition, disability or cognitive disorder. Lastly, their preferred care method is also very important to take into account. It also takes some changes in your routine and modifications at home, and with a little help from family and friends everything is possible.

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