FAQs

In order to provide Nursing, Home Health Aide, or Personal Care Aide services in both New York and Pennsylvania, an organization must be licensed by their representative State Department of Health. All of our New York State branches are licensed.

A certified agency is entitled to direct reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid. They may offer additional skilled services, such as, Social Work, and Physical, Occupational, of Speech Therapy. Our Erie, Pennsylvania branch is certified.

Hiring someone privately (friend, neighbor or someone recommended) is always an option. You should be concerned about:

Is there a screening process and background check?
What is the individual’s training and experience?
Do they have any backup system when they can’t provide care when needed?
Do they have the qualifications and ability to create a plan of care?
Are they insured?
Who pays their payroll taxes?
Who do you turn to if there is a problem?

These are just a few of the questions you should ask prior to considering this option for care.

Yes, at CareGivers we comply with all HIPAA regulations in order to maintain the utmost privacy for all of our clients. Please contact us for more information and a copy of our privacy policy.

Along with our broad scope of services, we provide our clients with a range of payment options. These include the following:
Private Insurance: Many private insurance carriers offer home health care services as a benefit. CareGivers maintains all the required documentation and will bill directly to the insurance carrier.
Medicare: Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older and certain disabled people under 65. It covers the home health services of nurses, therapists, social workers and home health aides. A physician must provide written orders for care to the providing agency.
Medicaid: Medicaid is the medical assistance program for low-income people of all ages who are unable to pay for care and who meet the eligibility guidelines. It is financed by federal, state, and local funds, and the services covered are set by federal and state law.
Private Pay (Out of Pocket): If no third party pay options are available, the client pays for home health care services directly. We offer a variety of payment plans to meet your needs.

Our rates vary by location and by the type of service or services that your situation requires. Please contact us for further rate information.

No, we pay the employee and then bill you on a weekly basis for all services. To avoid any misunderstandings, no money or gifts should ever be given to the employee without CareGivers knowledge and permission.

Weekly, we prepare an invoice for your convenience that totals the hours spent by the employee providing you and your loved one with our services. These hours are based on a verified time slip provided by the employee.

Yes, we have additional charges for services completed on the six major holidays: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

There is no daily or weekly requirement. Our services are designed to meet your needs, whatever the amount of hours you require.

Services can begin as soon as we are confident your needs can be safely met. This can be as soon as 24 hours or up to a few days, depending on certain criteria, such as location and the amount of hours of service required.

Yes, at CareGivers we know that there is not an off time when it comes to home care. Our services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

At CareGivers, we pride ourselves on having the ability to work with our clients to meet all of their home health care needs. We will work with you to assess your situation and to create a plan that best meets your needs. If those needs change, we will continue to work with you to adjust your home health care plan accordingly. We strive to make this process as easy on you and your loved one as possible.

At CareGivers, we place a special emphasis on providing the peace of mind regarding the care and safety of your loved ones. In order to do so, we use a systematic screening process for all of our employees and conduct a background and criminal check on every staff member. All employees are fully bonded and insured, making them capable of providing the highest quality of care and competence to your loved one.

Yes, in order to determine if home care is right for you, we offer a “career ladder” approach to employment. Individuals often begin as companions or housekeepers for those clients who do not need health related care. Training to become a Personal Care Aide or Home Health Aide can then be considered and provided.

We offer a Department of Health approved training program free of charge. Selected candidates who successfully complete the program will be certified as a Home Health Aide or Personal Care Aide.

At CareGivers, we offer a variety of ways to validate your experience and certification. This can easily transfer to home health care through an individualized approved training program.

Yes, many people work for CareGivers part time or per diem in order to supplement income from their full time jobs. We offer great flexibility when scheduling our employees.

At CareGivers, we offer you the opportunity to work hours that best meet your needs. Our clients have needs of all hours of the day and night, including weekends and holidays. Therefore, we cannot always provide employees with their ideal schedule, but we strive to schedule as fair as possible. In order to work your ideal schedule, you may be asked to work additional hours outside of your preference. We encourage you to discuss any limitations you may have during your interview. We will try out best to accommodate your needs.

At CareGivers, we offer competitive wages, travel pay between cases, and direct deposit. Health Insurance options are available after 30 days along with a 401k plan after one year of employment. Semi-annually, individuals who average 30 hours per week or more are eligible for a vacation bonus of one-half their average hours worked per week. Please visit our Careers page for further information on the benefits of becoming a CareGiver.