What is home care?

Home care is non-medical support, such as companionship, help around the house, and personal care, that allows seniors to stay safe and independent in their own homes. It is different from skilled nursing care.

How is home care different from home health care?

Home health care is medical care provided by licensed nurses or therapists under a doctor's orders. Home care is non-medical help with daily life, such as bathing, meal preparation, housekeeping, and companionship.

What are the benefits of in-home 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.

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.

Why should we choose your agency?

We have over 10 years of experience and take a personal approach to every client, taking the time to listen to each family's needs.

Our caregiver training program received the Best of Home Care Leader award from Activated Insights, and we are BBB Accredited with an A+ rating.

What is companion care?

Companion care is non-medical support focused on a person's emotional and social well-being. 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, and companion care does not.

What home care services do you 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

Please ask about anything else you might need.

What areas do you serve?

We serve clients throughout the state of Maryland. 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.

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 the case with our current caregivers and our network of 500+ pre-screened caregivers to find the right match.

We then schedule a nursing assessment and send you the paperwork to complete. Once a caregiver is matched and the assessment and documents are complete, services can begin right away. In most cases, care starts within the same week.

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 be done in person at your home or virtually by Zoom, whichever you prefer. It can usually be scheduled within 48 hours and always within one week.

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.

Do we need to sign a contract before the assessment?

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

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

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

Will we receive a written care plan?

Yes. After the assessment, our RN creates an individualized care plan that is available in our 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 your employees?

Yes. All caregivers, including replacement caregivers, are employed directly by our agency, not independent contractors. Every caregiver goes through the same background checks, training, bonding, and insurance requirements.

What certifications and training do your caregivers have?

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

All caregivers must hold CPR and First Aid certifications, completed in person.

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.

Because our owner also owns a background check company, we go further and run criminal background checks for every state the caregiver has lived in over the last 10 years, a step few agencies take.

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.

Can we meet and approve the caregiver before care begins?

Yes. We arrange a "meet and greet" with the caregiver by Zoom before services start. Afterward, we check with you to confirm you would like to move forward with that caregiver.

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 a different caregiver.

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 7 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 come?

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 system whether a caregiver has clocked in and contact them if they have not.

You are only charged for the time the caregiver works. If there is a last-minute no-show, we act quickly to send a replacement whenever possible.

Can I change the schedule or reduce hours?

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

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 system 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 system based on the care plan.

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

Who do we contact if there is a problem?

Call or text our main office at 443-364-4663. You will always reach a real person, never an automated system.

Office hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and we also have on-call staff after hours for urgent needs.

How is my personal information kept private?

All caregivers complete HIPAA training, and client information is shared only with the staff and caregivers directly involved in care.

How long have you been in business?

Over 10 years. We have been serving families since March 2016.

Is your agency licensed?

Yes. We are licensed by the State of Maryland (license number R4163).

We are also BBB Accredited with an A+ rating.

Are the agency and its caregivers bonded and insured?

Yes. The agency is bonded and insured, and every caregiver is bonded and covered by our insurance while caring for clients.

What types of insurance do you carry?

We carry professional liability, general liability, and workers' compensation insurance, plus auto coverage when a caregiver drives a client in the client's car.

What happens if someone is injured or something is damaged during care?

If a caregiver is injured while working in your home, they are covered by our workers' compensation insurance.

If a caregiver accidentally injures a client or damages property, our professional liability insurance applies.

Can you provide proof of your license, bonding, and insurance?

Yes. Just ask, and we will email you copies.

What are your rates?

• 2-hour shifts: $45/hour

• 3-hour shifts: $36/hour

• 4–6 hour shifts: $33/hour

• 7–9 hour shifts: $31/hour

• 10+ hour shifts: $29/hour

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

• Couples care: +$5/hour

Are weekend and holiday rates different?

Weekends are charged at the regular rate.

Holidays (7 per year) are charged at time and a half (1.5x the regular rate), since 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?

Mileage is charged at $0.73 per mile when the caregiver drives their own car.

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

How does billing and payment work?

Billing is every two weeks. Payment is automatically deducted from the account you choose: 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 responsibilities.

What is your cancellation policy?

You can cancel services at any time without penalty. The only exception is the $150 nursing assessment fee, which applies if services are canceled before reaching 40 hours of care.

How can I pay for care? Do you accept Medicare, Medicaid, or health insurance?

We accept private pay, long-term care insurance, and VA benefits.

We do not accept Medicare, Medicaid, or health insurance. Original Medicare generally does not 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.