Home Health Care Frequently Asked Questions

Home Heath Care Private Pay FAQ

2011-03-25T02:14:00.004-04:00

Common questions asked by individuals who are seeking private pay homecare services for themselves or a loved one.

1. How do you recruit your caregivers?

We recruit out caregivers through a number of different sources that include but are not limited to; our website, local advertising, job readiness programs, employee referrals, job fairs and much more. All of our applicants are carefully screened, interviewed, and undergo background checks.

Not only are we a New York State Department of Health licensed Homecare agency but also a New York State licensed Personal Care Aide and Home Health Aide Training facility (Type of Training programs offered vary from offices). We are fully confident in the caregiver’s competency to deliver the highest level of care to our clients, because of our rigorous application, screen and training processes.

2. What happens if my caregiver does not show up?

First Care Of New York has Staff aides that are not assigned to a set client but serve as a fill-in if a no show would occur. They are readily available to serve as a back-up for any client , regardless the scope and tasks that are involved. They are certified PCA\HHA’s. Tthey are considered First Care Of New York elite, which can handle any assignment with 100 % satisfaction.

Frequently, after a staff aide has covered an assignment we get the request to have them assigned as the client’s permanent caregiver. We are always flattered by the request but our staff aides are strictly there to backup and cover any immediate need until a permanent replacement can be assigned.

We have an exceptionally large staff of paraprofessionals and work diligently to ensure 100% compatibility between our client and Caregiver.

3. Are your caregivers insured?

Yes, all First-Care of New York employees are covered under our (General, Professional and Workers compensation) policies.

4. Are the caregivers employees of your agency?

Yes, all our caregivers are hired and direct employees of First Care Of New York. We do not sub contract our homecare services, especially our paraprofessional.

5. Are your paraprofessionals supervised?

Yes, all employees are supervised by a registered nurse initially and every 3 months or if the patient condition changes, ensuring competency.

6. What type of ongoing training is given to your paraprofessionals to ensure they are current with any health related trends/changes?

All of our paraprofessionals need to complete mandatory annual in-service training and deemed competent by our registered nurses. We are in constant communication with paraprofessionals, via the client’s case coordinator; assigned RN, phone blasts, quarterly First Care Of New York newsletter, to ensure they are up to date with any health related trends/changes.

7. How often does a registered nurse visit the client?

A nurse will initially admit the client to our program and develop a Plan of Care, which the paraprofessional will be orientated to follow. After that step, the RN will visit every three months to reassess the client’s condition or whenever the client’s condition changes.

8. Is Someone available 24hrs a day, 7 days a week?

Yes, an on-call coordinator is available as well as a Registered Nurse after normal business hours to answer any and all questions.

9. What are my payment options to cover homecare services?

There are many payment options, such as: LTC (Long Term Care) insurance, reverse mortgage loan, and out of pocket payments. For more detailed information Click Here.

To find out more information about assisting yourself or a loved one with private duty home care, feel free contact us at 718-741-5950 and speak to a private duty specialist.

How to obtain Homecare Services?

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How to obtain Homecare Services?

Step 1: Introductory - Intake

This is the very first step on the road to quality homecare. You have the option of filling out a form online, by mail or calling and speaking to one of our enrollment specialists so we can help you with the homecare process. In order to seamlessly go through the process, you will need to supply the enrollment specialist with the following information: Primary Contact Information (Name, Address and Phone #), Emergency Contact, Insurance Information (Medicaid #, Medicare # or LTC Insurance Policy #), Date of Birth, and Primary Care Physician contact information.

Step 2: Data Entry & Contract Selection

Once the information has been collected it is onto entry and selection. Your confidential and secure information will be transferred to our patient tracking system, where we will strategically arrange the best program possible to meet your needs, based on your insurance coverage. Our goal is to allow you to retain all of the services you are used to and enjoy quality homecare without having to make any sacrifices to other aspects of your life due to insurance coverage. Finally with your approval, we will submit your information to one the following Home Care Programs:

Managed Long Term Care Program

Long Term Home Health Care Program

Hospice Program

Certified Home Health Agency

Managed Long Term Care Program, (MLTC) helps people who are chronically ill or are disabled and require long-term care services, such as home care or adult day care, which allows the patient to stay in their homes and communities as long as possible. The MLTC plan arranges and pays for a large selection of health and social services, and provides choice and flexibility in obtaining the necessary services from one place.

Long Term Home Health Care Program, (LTHHCP) is a variety of services that offer medical and non-medical care to people who have a chronic illness or disability. Long-term care helps meet health or personal needs. Most long-term care is to assist people with support services such as activities of daily living like dressing, bathing and using the bathroom. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, in assisted living or in nursing homes. It is important to remember that you may need long-term care at any age.

Hospice Programs are designed to provide care to people in the final phase of a terminal illness and focus on comfort and quality of life, rather than cure. The goal is to enable patients to be comfortable and free of pain, so that they live each day as fully as possible. Aggressive methods of pain control may be used. Hospice programs generally are home-based, but they sometimes provide services away from home -- in freestanding facilities, in nursing homes, or within hospitals. The philosophy of hospice is to provide support for the patient's emotional, social, and spiritual needs as well as medical symptoms as part of treating the whole person.

Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA) provide part-time, intermittent health care and support services to individuals who need intermediate and skilled nursing care. CHHA’s can also provide long-term nursing and home health aide services, can help patients determine the level of services they need, and can either provide or arrange for other services including physical, occupational, and speech therapy, medical supplies and equipment, social worker and nutrition services.

Step 3: Contract Intake Form & Submission Once we have determined the contract that will best serve you, we essentially become your advocates. We take your information and fill out all forms that the different programs require to allow us to get you the homecare services you need. We work directly with you throughout the entire process, while keeping you, the patient, up to date on any news and occurrences. We want to make sure you know what is happening at all times, we believe in communication and awareness, which is why we take the time to keep you informed.

Step 4: Pre Approval Nurses’ Assessment

This portion of the process is where we finally get to know about you personally. A Nurse will visit your home at a date and time that is comfortable for you, and will conduct a full physical assessment. During this time, the Nurse will accumulate detailed medical history information in order to develop a Care-plan, which is given to us and serves as the blueprint for the care that you or your loved one will receive.

Final Step: Approval & Admission

At long last you are ready to receive homecare services. A coordinator will be assigned to you and will serve as your personal help-line. The coordinator will call and introduce themselves to you and provide their contact information. A Nurse from First Care of New York will visit you at your home to admit you to the agency which can take up to two and a half hours by performing a full assessment from head to toe, in addition to developing a detailed care plan for the paraprofessional to follow. The process is now complete.

Welcome to the First Care of New York Family.

The Key to First Care is AID!!!

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The decision-making process that goes into selecting the proper Homecare Services can be a long and arduous path. When finally deciding that it is time to seek services, the last thing you need is for the process to be made more difficult with paperwork. At First Care, we aid you through this transition. Our staff members are available to help fill out your paperwork, acquire all necessary medical documentation, while keeping you alert and involved as the process develops.

Later, the process will transfer to a designated Coordinator who will supervise and schedule the staff of aides for your case. The compliance and nursing departments will manage the Registered Nursing visits that take place upon admission to First Care’s supervision and quarterly thereafter; or more frequently if there are any changes in the patient’s needs or health. First Care’s personnel will ensure that your case is provided with the services specified from your physician; as well as address any questions or concerns you may have. Our aides’ service patients who need: Live in Care, Personal Care Aide, Home Health Aide, Companionship, Daily Living or Private Duty care.

The assistance doesn’t stop there! At First Care, we want you to feel that we are available to you at all times 24/7. First Care’s staff is here to make sure that your needs are met and satisfied. First Care of New York will be there to aid in the Homecare process, before, during and after your time with us. No matter what, aid is always available!

Home Care - Fact or Fiction

2010-07-08T16:59:00.001-04:00

Fact or Fiction - Five statements commonly made in and around the Homecare process:

1. First Care of New York can help me get services, but I am responsible for finding a way to pay for it.

     FICTION!!! In addition to helping patients with homecare services we are able to provide a patient with a direct way to get insurance including Medicaid to help supplement or in some cases cover the Homecare service in full. Furthermore, we make sure all of the stressful paperwork is accurate and secure. We work hard to always keep the patient informed of the process.

2. First Care of New York sends a nurse to perform the initial assessment FREE of charge.

     FACT!!! There is no charge for the initial assessment, which is completed by our fully licensed nurses.

3. First Care of New York can only provide Home Health Aide services.

     FICTION!!! In addition to Home Health Aides, First Care offers the community all kinds of Homecare services including: Live in Care, Personal Care Aide, Companionship, Daily Living and Private Duty care. We work hard to customize all services depending on the patient’s individual needs.

4. First Care of New York is involved with many activities in the community.

     FACT!!! First Care of New York participates in Health Fair’s all across the city. Furthermore, we participate in City-wide events such as: the Hope and Possibility Marathon. For this event, First Care raised money for Cancer research of which all of the donations collected were sent to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. We will be hosting our own Health and Wellness Event which will take place in Jehova Shalom Church in the Bronx, NY on Saturday, July 17th, 2010, beginning at 10am.

5. First Care of New York only provides services for Senior Citizens.

     FICTION!!! First Care of New York provides services for children who have disabilities and require special attention. This service will allow, you, the parent to cope, provide for and support your child in their development. We believe in servicing everyone equally and not undervaluing the needs of any individual.

My father is eighty five and still very independent and has no major medical conditions. How can we obtain Home Care services for my dad?

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You or your father would need to contact First Care of New York’s intake department at 718-364-7251 and press extension 9. Our intake department will gather all pertinent medical information, physician information and insurance about your father, in order to see which service would be most appropriate to meet his needs. Once all items have been identified, a registered nurse will make a home visit and assess the patient and the home environment and determine if we can provide safe care or if your dad needs a higher level of care. The process from initial phone call to start of care can take anywhere from approximately 20 – 40 days.We service Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and New York City areas.

Are you an accredited home health care agency?

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Yes, we are accredited by the Joint Commission with a gold seal of approval.

Do your certified aides go through criminal background tests?

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Yes, all of our aides are fingerprinted and undergo an extensive criminal background check.

What areas do you service?

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We are licensed by the New York State Department Of Health to service :
Bronx
Manhattan
Brooklyn
Queens.

Are the certified aides insured?

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Yes, all First-Care of New York employees are covered under our (General, Professional and Workers compensation) policies.

Are the aides supervised?

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All employees are supervised by a registered nurse, ensuring competency.

What type of ongoing training is given to the certified aides?

2009-06-01T02:20:00.005-04:00

All aides are required to complete mandatory annual in-service hours and are deemed competent by our registered nurses.

How often does a registered nurse visit the patient?

2009-06-01T02:20:00.002-04:00

A nurse will initially admit the patient to our program and every 3 months reassess the patient's condition or whenever the patient's condition changes.

Is someone available 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week?

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Yes, an on-call coordinator is available after normal business hours to answer any questions.

How do we pay for the service?

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We accept Private Pay, Medicaid and Long Term Care Insurance.

If any additional questions?

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If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact the office at
Phone: 718-364-7251 Ext 219
and an office representative will be glad to assist you
or
email us at :mailto:info@1st-care.org