Frequently Asked Questions

Our home help services are tailored to each client’s needs. The cost of in-home care depends on several factors, including the:

• Type of home caregiver services needed
• Number of hours of care per week
• Location where services will be delivered

To get a personalized cost estimate, call the Amedisys caregiver agency near you or (800) 281-0878. We can talk through options that work with your budget.

Personal care is often families’ first choice for senior care. It can be a cost-effective way to age in place and an appealing alternative to nursing home care. Amedisys is committed to keeping your expenses as low as possible. We accept:

• Private pay (out-of-pocket)
• Payment through long-term care insurance, or other insurance for eligible individuals
• Payment through local elder state health systems (such as Aging Services Access Points, or ASAPs)
• Workers’ compensation insurance

Amedisys may be able to provide documentation to support clients with their long-term care insurance claims. Give us a call to learn more. We can also guide you through your payment options, help you find community resources you may be eligible for, and create a cost-effective plan of care that works with your budget.

No. Clients are typically invoiced weekly, after the completion of services. You do not have to pay your homecare professional directly.

It’s important to us that you feel comfortable with your personal care attendant. For this reason, we strongly encourage your involvement in choosing a caregiver.

As part of our initial assessment, we’ll learn about the qualities you’re looking for in a care assistant. This helps us match your loved one with someone who is well-suited to their needs. If your loved one feels the caregiver is a good fit, we’ll begin care. If the personal caregiver doesn’t meet your expectations, we’ll work with you until we find the right match. Your satisfaction is our top priority.

All of our private caregivers are fully insured, in accordance with state law, and fully bonded against theft. In addition, we thoroughly screen and train our home attendants. As one of the leading home care companies in the U.S., we are able to attract highly qualified caregivers and have thorough criteria and checks in place to ensure our caregivers are deserving of your trust. We also have rigorous training programs in place to support ongoing learning and development.

Yes. Our care is overseen by a nursing professional. Nurses conduct assessments and provide oversight, case management and care planning to help ensure your loved one receives high-quality personal care. The care team stays in close communication with the family and healthcare team about the client’s condition and needs.

We also use several tools to hold our caregivers accountable. For example, we verify time and attendance, so you can have a written record of home care visits.

We have back-up coverage in the event your private sitter gets sick or is unavailable. Back-up caregivers will have a similar level of skill and training as your main caregiver. They’ll also be updated on the client’s care plan before visiting your loved one. We are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. With a network of over 2,000 elderly caregivers, our clients don’t have to worry about being left unattended during pre-arranged schedules.

The bond between clients and caregivers is the foundation of a successful home care experience. For this reason, we work diligently to match your loved one with a home care professional who is compatible and sets them at ease.

Depending on the type of care your loved one needs, they can generally expect to see the same personal attendant. If your needs or schedule changes, or your home caretaker is unavailable, we have a large network of elderly helpers who can provide back-up care.

In-home personal care is often the first choice for seniors who prefer to stay in the comfort of home as they grow older. Families often look for private duty care when their loved one is struggling to live safely at home on their own. If your loved one would rather avoid going to a nursing home or other senior care facility as long as possible, private duty home care may be right for you.

Signs your loved one may need personal home care include:

• Falling frequently or having a fear of falling
• Not bathing or changing clothes regularly
• Missing doctor’s appointments
• Skipping meals or eating mostly unhealthy foods
• Leaving the stove on
• Wandering from home
• Wanting to stay home and out of a nursing home or other facility
• Needing more care than insurance covers
• Needing services that may not be covered by insurance, such as companionship or help with household chores
• Requiring live-in or round-the-clock care to be able to stay safe at home

We often work with seniors who don’t feel they need help. By quickly building rapport and demonstrating our usefulness, our caregivers are able to establish strong bonds.

In-home assistance offers vital support for family caregivers. For example:

• Home care supplements the work of family caregivers, so you have the energy to continue providing effective care.
• In-home caregivers are your eyes and ears for those times when you need to be away from home.
• You can take a rest from your caregiving responsibilities to fulfill other obligations, recharge or take care of yourself.

With the extra support private home care provides, many family caregivers feel greater satisfaction and closeness with their loved one. By practicing healthy self-care, you may experience improved health and emotional well-being as well.

We approach each client as a unique individual, taking into account their preferences and goals. Our supervising nursing professionals are experienced in asking the right questions to understand which services will help your loved one most. We’ll set up an initial consultation to learn more about your situation and make personalized recommendations. Throughout your loved one’s time receiving personal care, we’ll monitor their needs so we can ensure they’re receiving the right services at the right time.

A live-in caregiver stays in your loved one’s home overnight, sleeping at night and providing care during the day.

With 24-hour care, your loved one has two caregivers. Each one stays awake to provide care during a 12-hour shift, ensuring your loved one receives care around the clock.

We invest the time needed to find the right caregiver for our clients. Our goal is to start home caregiver visits within 48 hours.

Our in-home caregivers adapt to your schedule. We can usually accommodate schedule changes with one week’s notice and do everything possible to be available during your preferred hours.

Home help services are flexible. Depending on your needs, you can arrange care for a few hours a week up to 24 hours a day. Private duty home care can continue just a few weeks, or it can be a source of lifelong support. Many of our clients find home care is a cost-effective alternative to nursing home care, so they continue receiving services for several years. There is no long-term obligation. You can increase or decrease services as your needs change.

These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but home care and home health care are two different types of in-home care:

• Home care is non-medical care, such as companionship and help with daily activities like bathing, moving around and household chores. It is often paid for out-of-pocket or through long-term care insurance.
• Home health care is skilled care, such as nursing and physical therapy, which requires an order from a doctor. It is often paid for through Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance.

Some people receive both home health care and personal home care at the same time. A home health aide through skilled home health services can assist with bathing and grooming. A caregiver through home care can provide additional support that isn’t covered by Medicare, such as companionship, light housekeeping and help with errands.

If you’re unsure of the type of care you need, call our in-home care agency near you. Amedisys offers a full continuum of in-home care, including personal home care, home health care and hospice. We can help you navigate your options.

No. You do not need a doctor’s referral, certification or pre-authorization for our personal care services. You do not need to meet eligibility criteria. You can choose the home support services you want and get started on a time frame that works for you.

By contrast, a doctor’s order is required for home health care, a type of in-home care that can include skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.

There are several benefits to choosing an elderly caregiver through an in-home care agency like Amedisys:

• Our thorough screenings and trainings make it easier for families to find a well-qualified aide at home. This offers greater security and peace of mind, without having to take the time to check references or conduct your own background checks.
• We employ over 2,000 private duty caregivers. When connecting your loved one with a compatible caregiver, we draw from an expansive network of home care specialists. This helps us find just the right match.
• Homecare companies handle the logistics, such as paying taxes, maintaining insurance coverage and scheduling back-up care, so you can focus on other priorities.

Amedisys has provided personal home care since 1991.

Amedisys currently offers home care services in Massachusetts, and around Jacksonville, Florida and Knoxville, Tennessee. We can provide referrals to reputable caregiver agencies in your area if you need care outside our service area.

Amedisys provides a wide range of home care services, including grooming, bathing assistance and help with other daily activities, running errands, companionship, light housekeeping and more. Our care plans are flexible. Clients can get help a few hours a week up to 24 hours a day, depending on their needs.

To get started, call the Amedisys home care agency near you or call (800) 281-0878. We’ll learn about your family’s needs and answer your questions about in-home care. After a complimentary home care consultation with a nurse, we’ll match you with a professional caregiver.