FAQ
Why should I choose Senior’s First Choice?
How do you screen your caregivers?
How do we get started?
Do I have to sign a long term contract?
Do I have to pay any money up front?
What are the pros and cons of hiring a private sitter?
What if Dad doesn’t get along with the Caregiver?
Are Senior’s First Choice caregivers insured?
How far in advance do you need to set up services?
If I need to get in touch with someone at the office over the weekend/ holiday/night regarding an issue, will someone be available to help me?
Can I hire the caregivers directly that senior’s First Choice sent to my home?
Mom needs help and cannot be left alone. Is an assisted living or nursing home facility the only option?
Does my doctor have to prescribe home care?
Daddy needs help, but is in denial and won’t allow anyone in the house. What do I do?
What are the payment options for home care?
Why should I choose Senior’s First Choice?
Senior’s First Choice offers a unique approach to in-home support services for the elderly. We hire only the most experienced and dependable caregivers and match each caregiver to the individual needs of our clients. Our quality control process, overseen by an experienced RN (Registered Nurse), ensures that our clients always receive the utmost quality of care, and our offer of unlimited caregiver replacements guarantees you’ll find the caregiver that’s right for you. Another contributing factor to our success is the quality of caregivers we represent. We have a very careful and thorough screening process that involves checking criminal background records, DMV reports, employment references, social security numbers and more. We’re also proud to say that we offer proprietary training programs.
How do you screen your caregivers?
All job applicants are screened in the following areas:
- Criminal Background Check - Background checks are completed to screen for felonies, misdemeanors, violations, outstanding warrants, and criminal time served
- Department of Motor Vehicles check
- Professional and Personal References
- Random Drug tests
- I-9 Verification
- Social Security
- Interview, skills assessment, entry level tests
How do we get started?
The process is very easy. Please call 770-888-6753 or click here to email us. Working closely with the client and family, Senior’s First Choice will assess your loved one’s needs and recommend a plan of care. This plan is tailored to meet the client’s specific needs. Because no two clients are alike, we are careful to match our caregivers with the personality and needs of the client. An RN will supervise your case.
Do I have to sign a long term contract?
Absolutely not. You are not locked into a long term contract, but are charged only for the hours a caregiver is actually in your home. There is a service agreement that guarantees that we will provide the services that you need, when you need them. Our services are customized to meet your needs, you choose the days and times based on your needs and you can stop service at any time.
Do I have to pay any money up front?
Absolutely not. You don’t pay the Doctor up front when you go visit him/her, so we don’t expect you to pay for our services up front either. We are dedicated to making you a happy client, and don’t want you to pay us up front for services that we have not yet performed.
What are the pros and cons of hiring a private sitter?
Many people choose to hire a care provider management company like Senior’s First Choice to reduce the stress on the family by handling everything for you. We can give you peace of mind that your loved one is being well cared for. Private sitters are initially less expensive because most people pay them “under the table” (don’t pay their social security, unemployment, and federal and state income taxes) and do not provide workers compensation insurance. However, the liability is much greater because the responsibility rests on the family. If the sitter gets hurt on the job, steals, or mistreats your loved one, the financial and emotional consequences could be devastating. Additionally, the family must do all the screening, interviewing, hiring, scheduling and management of the sitters.
What if Dad doesn’t get along with the Caregiver?
During the assessment interview we try to match a caregiver based on a variety of factors, including personalities. While most of our clients are satisfied with their initial caregiver, on occasion we do need to change a caregiver based on personality conflicts. We never forget that you are the client, and we are totally committed to your satisfaction. Simply put, if you don’t like the caregiver for whatever reason, we’ll change caregivers for you.
Are Senior’s First Choice caregivers insured?
All caregivers are insured and bonded, which means that the family is completely protected against liability.
How far in advance do you need to set up services?
We work to handle all service requests as needed from same day to several weeks in advance. It is helpful if we are given at least 24-hours advance notice.
If I need to get in touch with someone at the office over the weekend/ holiday/night regarding an issue, will someone be available to help me?
Yes, we have care providers on-call during non-office hours to assist you with any urgent service issues.
Can I hire the caregivers directly that senior’s First Choice sent to my home?
No. We ask all clients to sign a service agreement in which they agree not to hire our caregivers. Senior’s First Choice is not an employment agency and works extremely hard to recruit, train and retain only the best caregivers. If clients were to hire our caregivers directly, it would undermine the integrity of our operation and would ultimately be detrimental to our business.
Mom needs help and cannot be left alone. Is an assisted living or nursing home facility the only option?
In-home care is another excellent alternative to institutional living. Most people would rather stay at home; however, many people move into institutions due to the inability to perform simple regular daily activities such as cooking, cleaning, etc. Unfortunately, some people decline very rapidly after moving out of their homes, so this option should be carefully considered.
Does my doctor have to prescribe home care?
No. Your doctor only prescribes Home Health care, which is the intermittent skilled care that Medicare pays. Home care is self directed personal care, which means that you maintain full control over your circumstances and environment, while getting the assistance you need to remain safe and comfortable.
Daddy needs help, but is in denial and won’t allow anyone in the house. What do I do?
This is one of the most common and difficult problems that family caregivers face. We recommend that you start by investigating all available care options and have a plan in place. Unfortunately, in most cases of denial, the family will be jolted into action by an emergency and pre-planning will really pay off.
What are the payment options for home care?
Self-pay - The client or the client’s family pays for the service. We accept checks, MasterCard and Visa.
Long-Term Care Insurance - All policies are different, but we will be happy to assist you in checking on your coverage and filing your claims.
Workers Compensation Insurance
Dad was a veteran. Can the VA help him or my Mom?
The VA does provide benefits for veterans and surviving spouses, but this can sometimes be a difficult process to navigate without the proper help. We can help you navigate this process, and see if your parents are eligible. Most people would be surprised to find out that they can qualify for VA benefits with the proper guidance.
