Is the company licensed through the state? Are the staff bonded and insured?
Connecting Hearts is licensed and certified. The staff is bonded and insured.
Are there different charge rates for different types of services?
Our rates are based upon the length of visit and the specific needs of each client. To get a quote or to schedule a free, no obligation assessment, please contact us.
Are the rates different for nights, holiday, and weekends?
We do not charge extra for nights or weekends. We charge time and half for major holidays.
Is there a sign up fee?
There is no sign up fee with Connecting Hearts!
Is there a contract involved and if so for how long?
There is no contract with Connecting Hearts. There is a service agreement that spells out our rates and services. You can cancel at any time.
Do you require a deposit?
There is a two week deposit if you require 24-hour care. This deposit is refunded at time of cancellation of services.
How quickly can services be started?
We are very responsive to your needs. Services can begin immediately, regardless of the situation.
Does the company accept Medicare or payment from insurance companies?
We are not Medicare certified. We work with clients who have Long Term Care Insurance and are reliant on payment from an insurance policy.
Do you accept Long Term Care Insurance?
Yes. Long Term Care Insurance covers most home care expenses, up to your policy’s daily limits. Medicare, Medicaid or other healthy insurances plans do not cover home care, since our duties are non-medical. For former US servicewomen, the Veterans Administration Pension Plan offers a home care benefit called the “Aid & Attendance pension. Ask us for more information.
What kind of Services do you provide?
Connecting Hearts provides companionship services such as meal preparation, laundry, light housekeeping, grocery shopping/errands, incidental transportation, medication reminders, grooming, live-in service and respite care for families. Personal care such as bathing, grooming, and hygiene, mobility assistance, transferring and positioning, toileting and incontinence care along with feeding and meeting special diet needs. We work with Dementia / Alzheimer’s clients.
Are you available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
We are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. You can always reach a manager. (Some companies won’t answer their pagers over the weekend).
Do I get to meet the caregiver in advance?
Yes. You are actively involved (as much as you want to be) in the selection process. Our goal is “Continuity of Care”. By meeting your loved one and family, it helps us to use our selection system, to select the right caregiver for your needs. This takes the guess work out in matching the right caregiver.
We encourage every client and authorized representative of the client to be as involved as possible in this decision-making process. We will never send a caregiver whom you are not satisfied with. If a change needs to be made, we’ll handle all the coordination and make the necessary phone calls.
Our Care Manager or the owner will meet the caregiver(s) when we start helping your loved one.
If the caregiver is ill or on vacation will you send another one?
Yes. Our goal is to provide the services needed. We always have backup, so there should never be a gap in care.
If a caregiver is unavailable, our Client Care Coordinator will arrange another caregiver to assist your loved one. You will be contacted in advance of the change. She will introduce the interim caregiver and review the Plan of Care prior to service.
Can your caregivers provide transportation?
Yes. Our caregivers can drive to appointments, senior centers or any place. There’s no extra charge to your hourly or daily rate. If you require the caregiver to drive his or her own vehicle, you are billed a standard per mileage rate to cover fuel cost.
How do I know my caregiver will be trustworthy?
We conduct a thorough criminal background check, DMV check and social security trace. At the time of their personal interview for hire, a urine drug test is done. All of our caregivers are screened for honesty and integrity. We only hire the most responsible and qualified caregivers who have a minimum of 1 year verifiable experience and references.
Will the same caregiver come each shift?
Yes. Continuity of care is primary with Connecting Hearts. Our goal is to establish a long-term match between client and caregiver, based on trust and a strong rapport.
Can I change the schedule?
Yes. Changes can easily be made with a 48-hour period and often the same day.
Do you provide services in assisted and independent living facilities?
Yes. People sometimes discover that the assistance provided in an assisted living facility is not enough to enable them to remain independent. We provide a caregiver to make this possible.