How do I know if my loved one needs home care?

• Common signs include difficulty with daily tasks, missed medications, changes in hygiene or eating habits, forgetfulness or memory loss, mobility problems, and loneliness or social withdrawal.

• Many families also start home care after a hospital discharge or surgery, a dementia diagnosis, a fall, or when a spouse or family caregiver needs relief.

• Transitional care can be provided during recovery after a hospital stay or medical procedure, including transportation to follow-up appointments and help following the care instructions while healing.

How is home care different from home health care?

• Home care is non-medical support that includes both companion care and personal care, allowing seniors to stay safe and independent in their own homes.

• Home health care is medical care provided by licensed nurses or therapists under a doctor's orders such as wound care, surgical dressing changes, IV therapy, catheter maintenance, and ventilator or central line management.

Can caregivers perform medical tasks?

• Caregivers cannot perform skilled nursing care or invasive medical procedures, such as giving insulin or checking blood sugar levels. These tasks require a licensed nurse, and we do not provide skilled nursing care.

What is companion care?

• Companion care is non-medical support focused on a person's emotional and social well-being, but it does not include hands-on personal care, so the caregiver does not physically assist the client.

• It includes conversation, games, reading, hobbies, watching TV together, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, and going with the client to appointments and outings.

What is personal care?

• Personal care includes everything in companion care, plus hands-on help with bathing, dressing, toileting, incontinence care, mobility, and fall prevention, tailored to each client's needs.

• To make the choice easier, personal care and companion care cost the same. The only difference is that personal care requires a nursing assessment with the registered nurse supervising the caregivers.

• Most of our personal care caregivers are Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).

What is respite care?

• Respite care gives the primary family caregiver a break by having one of our caregivers step in temporarily, from a few hours a week to longer periods such as a vacation. It can include companionship or personal care, depending on the client's needs.

What are the benefits of in-home personal care?

• Seniors can age in place with personalized one-on-one support, flexible schedules, help with daily activities, and a lower cost than a facility, while families gain peace of mind.

• Professional care also gives family members time to rest and enjoy quality time together, preventing caregiver burnout. It adds to family involvement rather than replacing it.

Is in-home care better than assisted living or hiring a private caregiver?

• In-home care provides one-on-one attention in familiar surroundings, with professional supervision, background-checked caregivers, and backup coverage. It avoids the move to assisted living and the risks of hiring an independent caregiver on your own.

What home care services does Freedom Home Care provide?

• Bathing, Dressing, Grooming & Incontinence Care

• Toileting, Transfers & Feeding Assistance

• Walking & Mobility Support

• Medication Reminders

• Meal Preparation & Encouraging Nutrition and Hydration

• Light Housekeeping (dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, wiping counters, dishes, laundry & changing bed linens)

• Shopping & Errands

• Transportation to Doctor Appointments & Outings

• Companionship: Conversation, Games, Reading, TV & Hobbies

• Help Maintaining a Daily Routine

• Pet Care

• Others: please ask about anything else you might need

What areas do you serve?

• We serve clients throughout the state of Maryland and because we have caregivers throughout Maryland, care can usually be transferred to a new location as long as it is within the state.

Are services available 24/7? Do you offer live-in care?

• Yes. Care is available from 2 hours up to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

• We also offer live-in care, where a caregiver stays in the home for around-the-clock safety.

Do you offer short-term care, or only long-term care?

• We mainly provide long-term care, but short-term care may be available depending on caregiver availability. Please contact us to ask.

Do you provide care in hospitals, nursing homes, or assisted living communities?

• Yes. We can provide care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, and assisted living communities.

Can caregivers drive clients to appointments and errands?

• Yes. Caregivers can drive clients to doctor's appointments, errands, and other activities, help them safely get in and out of the vehicle, and go with them into their appointments.

• The caregiver can use their own vehicle or the client's vehicle, whichever is more convenient for your family.

• We verify that all caregivers responsible for driving clients have a valid driver's license and current auto insurance, and we also have a company auto insurance policy.

Do you care for people with Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's, or other conditions?

• Yes. Our caregivers provide support for people living with dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other chronic conditions, and all complete training in dementia care.

What is dementia, and how is it different from Alzheimer's?

• Dementia is a general term for a group of conditions that cause a decline in memory, thinking, and behavior. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia; others include vascular, Lewy body, and frontotemporal dementia.

What are the signs of dementia?

• Memory loss, trouble finding words, poor judgment, confusion about time or place, mood or personality changes, and difficulty with daily activities. Ongoing symptoms should be evaluated by a doctor.

What is dementia care, and can it be provided at home?

• Yes. Dementia care is specialized support that focuses on the person's remaining abilities, reduces stress and difficult behaviors, and keeps daily routines consistent.

• With help such as fall prevention, structured routines, and nutrition support, many people with dementia can remain safely at home longer.

How do I get started, and how soon can care begin?

• Once you are ready, we gather details about your needs and schedule (days and times) and share relevant case details with our current caregivers and then, if needed, our network of 500+ pre-screened caregivers to find the right match.

• Then we schedule a nursing assessment and send you the initial paperwork to complete. Once this is completed, the care services can begin right away. If needed, care could begin within a few days.

Do I need a doctor's authorization for your services?

• No prescription or doctor's authorization is needed. Families choose the services, schedule, and frequency of care.

Do you do an initial assessment, and how is it done?

• Yes. Our Registered Nurse completes a comprehensive nursing assessment to determine each client's specific care needs.

• The assessment can usually be scheduled within 48 hours.

Do we need to sign a contract before the assessment?

• Before the assessment, you just sign a Consent for Treatment form and a Payment Authorization form. The full admission paperwork is completed after the assessment.

Is there a fee for the assessment, or a deposit?

• No deposit or upfront payment is required.

• There is a $150 nursing assessment fee ONLY if services are canceled before reaching 40 hours of care.

Can we meet and approve the caregiver before care begins?

• Yes. For many cases we can arrange a "meet and greet" with the caregiver by Zoom before services start. After the call, we check with you to confirm you would like to move forward with that caregiver.

Will we receive a written care plan?

• Yes. After the assessment, our RN creates an individualized care plan that is available in our WellSky Home Care online portal for both the caregiver and the family. The plan is reviewed with the client and family and updated as needs change.

Are caregivers from Freedom Home Care employees or contractors?

• All caregivers, including replacement caregivers, are employees, not independent contractors. Every caregiver goes through the same screening, background checks and training.

What certifications and training do your caregivers have?

• 98% of our caregivers are Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).

• All caregivers must hold in-person CPR and First Aid certifications.

• All caregivers complete required online training in HIPAA, dementia care, diabetes care, and other relevant topics.

• Before joining our team, each caregiver must pass a skills assessment with our Registered Nurse.

• Our caregiver training program received the Best of Home Care Leader award from Activated Insights.

How do you screen caregivers?

• We verify criminal history, references from previous employers, and certifications, including CPR, First Aid, and CNA credentials.

• We perform state-approved Livescan fingerprint background checks that search Maryland and FBI criminal databases.

• Our owner also owns a background check company, so we go further than most agencies, running criminal background checks for every state the caregiver has lived in over the last 10 years.

How much experience do your caregivers have?

• Most of our caregivers have at least 2 years of professional caregiving experience, and most are CNAs with training in senior care and dementia care.

Will we have the same caregiver each time?

• We work to keep the same caregivers on your schedule as much as possible for consistency. For longer schedules, such as full-day care seven days a week, two regular caregivers are usually needed, with an occasional backup for time off.

What happens if the regular caregiver is sick, on vacation, or can't make it in?

• We have replacement caregivers available and will let you know in advance who will be coming.

• Because we are willing to pay caregivers extra when needed, we can almost always arrange a replacement for the same day. All replacement caregivers have the same qualifications as your regular caregiver.

What if a caregiver is late or doesn't show up?

• Caregivers notify us in advance if they are running late, and we notify you right away by text or phone call. We can also see in our WellSky Home Care online portal whether a caregiver has clocked in and contact them if they have not.

• You are only charged for the time the caregiver actually works.

Can I change the schedule or reduce hours?

• Yes, schedules are flexible. We just ask for as much notice as possible so we can adjust caregiver coverage adequately.

Who supervises the caregivers, and how do you monitor quality?

• Caregivers report to our HR Administrator and our Registered Nurse. Our HR Administrator makes unannounced home visits, and our nurse makes regular supervisory visits.

• We also monitor quality through our WellSky Home Care online portal which tracks caregiver notes and family feedback.

How is daily care documented, and how will our family stay updated?

• Caregivers record the tasks they complete each day, such as meals, fluids, medication reminders, walking, and bathroom assistance, in our WellSky Home Care online portal.

• Families can see this information anytime through the WellSky Family Portal, where they can also ask questions and add tasks.

What if we are not happy with the caregiver?

• We take every concern seriously. If a caregiver is not a good fit, call our office at 443-364-4663 and we will discuss the issue and, if you prefer, arrange for a new caregiver.

Who do we contact with any questions or issues?

• Call or text our main office at 443-364-4663. You will always reach a real person, NEVER an AI bot.

• Office hours are 8am to 8pm, plus we have on-call staff after hours.

What are your charges for home care services?

• 2-hour shift: $45/hour

• 3-hour shift: $36/hour

• 4 to 6-hour shift: $33/hour

• 7 to 9-hour shift: $31/hour

• 10+ hour shift: $29/hour

• 24-hour live-in shift: $445/shift (8 hours of sleep required)

• Additional Considerations:

  • Couples care: additional $5/hour

  • Complex cases: variable depending on case

Are weekend and holiday rates different?

• Weekends are charged at the same rate.

• Holidays (seven per year) are charged at time and a half (1.5x the regular rate) and we pay our caregivers time and a half on those days.

Is there a minimum number of hours?

• Yes. The minimum is 2 hours per shift and 10 hours per week.

Are there any additional charges?

• When the caregiver drives their own car for client transport or errands then mileage is charged at the IRS standard rate which is $0.73 per mile in 2026, paid directly to the caregiver.

• Payments made by credit card incur an additional fee of $1 per hour of care.

How does billing and payment work?

• Invoices are run every other Monday for hours serviced the prior two weeks. Payment is automatically deducted from the account you choose: bank account (checking/savings) or credit card.

Do I pay the caregiver directly?

• No. You pay our agency, not the caregiver, so you have no tax or employer payroll responsibilities.

Do you accept Medicare or health insurance?

• We accept private pay, long-term care insurance, and VA benefits but we do not accept Medicare or health insurance as they do not normally cover non-medical home care.

Does long-term care insurance cover home care?

• Many long-term care insurance policies cover non-medical home care from licensed Maryland agencies. Waiting periods, benefit limits, and requirements vary, so we recommend reviewing your policy carefully.

Do you accept VA benefits?

• Yes. Veterans and surviving spouses who meet the VA's financial and care-need requirements may be able to use their benefits for in-home care with Freedom Home Care.

What is your cancellation policy?

• You can cancel services at any time without penalty. The only exception is that a $150 nursing assessment fee is applied if services are canceled before reaching 40 hours of care.

• We have been in business for over 10 years BUT we are not a franchise:

  • The franchise home care model requires around $4 per hour to be sent back to corporate headquarters providing little value to the client…

  • …allowing us to keep our rates over $4 per hour lower

• Criminal background checks, caregiver screening & training:

  • We also own a criminal background check company, so we ensure every caregiver is fingerprinted through our system plus we search nationwide criminal information systems not available to non-background check companies

  • Our caregivers are all W-2 employees with most having significant caregiving experience and CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) and/or CMT (Certified Medication Technician) certifications

  • Continual caregiver training is a top priority as evidenced by our Best of Home Care in Training awards

• Our reliability rating is almost 100% with our automation allowing us to communicate any open shift to all our caregivers within minutes (we also increase the pay rate as needed to ensure success!)

• Family Portal Software: our complimentary software allows clients and family members to be directly connected to care plans and daily tasks

• Licensed with the MD Department of Health (License #: R4163)

• We are bonded and insured with professional liability, general liability, and workers' compensation insurance, plus auto coverage when a caregiver drives a client.

• A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)