Selecting an In Home Care-Giver

So the “Aha” moment arrives. Circumstances make you realize two things. 1) I’m not as young as I used to be, and 2.) “Old age ain’t for sissies” as the great Bette Davis once said.

Gradually, or sometimes suddenly, it happens… we can’t keep up with household chores, we can’t see the street signs to drive safely, we give up cooking or we can’t walk without holding on to the furniture. And it begins, a nagging fear that we’re losing our independence. In fact, loss of independence is the biggest fear among seniors. So what is the typical senior response? Pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and keep on going, of course! Call in the kids to help out! They’re supposed to take care of us in our old age, aren’t they? Unfortunately, the kids have spouses and children of their own. And they have full time jobs, not to mention they live out of town. It’s time for a new strategy.

Many seniors are finding the solution to remaining independent at home lies outside the family circle with paid caregivers. Gina Germany, of Touching Hearts Senior Care explains, “Most seniors find caregivers in two ways.
The old way is to run a classified ad or hire through a temporary service. The senior bears all the “employer” responsibility for this kind of caregiver.”

Germany recommends seniors ask the following questions of independent caregivers:

1. What client references can you provide?
2. What is your experience/background?
3. Do you have any certificates or training? Is it current?
4. Have you worked with ( Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, etc)?
5. What would you do if I had medical emergency?
6. How much notice would I have if you could not come in for a day?
Can you arrange your own substitutes?
7. How do I contact you?
8. Are you bonded? Have you ever been convicted of a crime?
9. Do you have liability insurance?

“These folks are usually less expensive but there’s a lot of risk involved in hiring them”, Germany says. She continues, “The downside is:

 It‘s difficult to find the right person.
 You are responsible for performing a criminal background check
 You are responsible for finding a replacement if the caregiver is absent
 You bear the burden for withholding payroll taxes, and providing state mandated worker’s compensation coverage.
 You bear the burden for liability problems like theft from or damage to your property. “


The new way is to contract with a Senior Care Agency. These private agencies provide “in-home, non-medical care”. The number of agencies is growing quickly to meet the demands of a fast-growing senior population. They provide a wide range of services including light housekeeping, meal preparation, laundry, transportation, shopping & errands, and in many states including Alabama, assistance with personal care. These one on one services can continue should the senior move into assisted living or even a nursing facility or hospital.”

Companion Care is usually available anywhere from a few hours up to 24 hours a day. Payment is private pay and may be covered by long term care insurance policies.

Some questions Germany suggests you ask a Companion Care agency:

1. Do they have references from other clients?
2. What services will they be providing?
3. What training/experience do the caregivers have?
4. How do they supervise their caregivers?
5. Are the caregivers bonded and covered by workers compensation insurance?
6. What is the schedule for service?
7. How do I change the schedule?
8. What if I have a problem with a caregiver?
9. Does the agency have an emergency or after-hours phone number?
10. What are the financial arrangements?
11. Who owns the agency? Is it part of a larger organization?
12. Are the caregivers employees held accountable by the agency or independent contractors accountable to no one?
13. Does the agency carry Professional Liability Insurance?

The Pros:

 Service is easily customized for each client’s needs
 Extensive hours available
 Staff is screened and supervised
 Agency is responsible for all employer tasks like payroll, taxes, liability insurance, workers compensation, bonding
 Agency is responsible for providing a replacement should the assigned caregiver fail to arrive or need a day off.

Germany says, “This service is more expensive than independent caregivers but the right agency will provide the most customizable, reliable, worry free, in- home service available.”

Veterans Benefits

If you are a Veterans or if you know of a Veteran, please read this important article about benefits that are available for those who qualify.



You cannot be charged for assistance with your VA application.

The applicant will only be paid back to the date that the application is TURNED IN.

It is not difficult to apply if you have trained advocates to assist you.

The Facts:
-VA Pensions are available for Veterans OR surviving spouses of Veterans.
-$22 Billion dollars is set aside each year for pension but very little is ever used.
-Millions of WWII and Korean War Veterans have no idea that it is even available.
-Surviving spouses of Veterans can qualify if they were married to the Veteran at his time of death, and have not remarried since (unless the most recent marriage was to a Veteran).


Preliminary Qualifications:
-90 days of active duty (anywhere in the world), with 1 day during wartime
-Honorably or Medically discharged
-Privately paying for Medical Expenses


Pension amounts:
-Married Veterans receive $1,949.00 per month / Both spouses Veterans $1,291 each
-Single Veterans receive $1,632.00 per month
-Widows of Veterans receive $1,055.00 per month

Department of Veterans Affairs pensions do not work like Medicaid. They are based upon the amount of medical expenses paid out of pocket for:
• Home Health Caregivers and Nursing Homes
• Assisted Living Communities and Alzheimer’s Communities
• Prescriptions and Medicare Supplement Insurance

There are other internet sources that may give out incomplete information to those who are asking for it. Please call even if you feel that you may not qualify.


Please call Gina Germany with Touching Hearts Senior Care at 251-445-4204
or visit our website at www.touchingheartsseniorcare.com

You cannot be charged for assistance with your VA application.

The applicant will only be paid back to the date that the application is TURNED IN.

It is not difficult to apply if you have trained advocates to assist you.

The Facts:
-VA Pensions are available for Veterans OR surviving spouses of Veterans.
-$22 Billion dollars is set aside each year for pension but very little is ever used.
-Millions of WWII and Korean War Veterans have no idea that it is even available.
-Surviving spouses of Veterans can qualify if they were married to the Veteran at his time of death, and have not remarried since (unless the most recent marriage was to a Veteran).


Preliminary Qualifications:
-90 days of active duty (anywhere in the world), with 1 day during wartime
-Honorably or Medically discharged
-Privately paying for Medical Expenses


Pension amounts:
-Married Veterans receive $1,949.00 per month / Both spouses Veterans $1,291 each
-Single Veterans receive $1,632.00 per month
-Widows of Veterans receive $1,055.00 per month

Department of Veterans Affairs pensions do not work like Medicaid. They are based upon the amount of medical expenses paid out of pocket for:
• Home Health Caregivers and Nursing Homes
• Assisted Living Communities and Alzheimer’s Communities
• Prescriptions and Medicare Supplement Insurance

There are other internet sources that may give out incomplete information to those who are asking for it. Please call even if you feel that you may not qualify.


Please call Gina Germany with Touching Hearts Senior Care at 251-445-4204
or visit our website at www.touchingheartsseniorcare.com