Happy Spring Everyone!
It is time to get out and enjoy the warm, refreshing sunshine. Wildflowers are blooming, the hills surrounding our beautiful communities are green, and the evenings are cool and comfortable.
This month’s blog will feature answers to the most commonly asked questions we receive regarding our company, our caregivers, and the services we provide. We know making caregiving decisions is difficult, that you need answers and options. This is a great place to start!
Please take a few minutes to review the Q & A, and feel free to give us a call with any questions. We will be happy to speak with you about your specific family situation, and we are available to offer ideas and solutions.
Q: What are the guiding principles of Great Life Senior Care?
A: Our company motto is “Our Family Caring for Yours.” That is the principle that guides every aspect of how we care for your loved ones. A trusted relationship, and care tailored to the needs of our clients is critical to this principle.
Q: What is your mission at Great Life Senior Care?
A: To help our clients remain independent, provide peace of mind for families and loved ones, promote healing and extend life, reduce stress, and keep families together.
Q: How do you select your caregivers?
A: Our caregivers are carefully interviewed and screened. We review references, perform a criminal background check and drug screen. Caregivers are registered with the State of California Home Care Aid Registry, and they are experienced, trained, bonded and insured.
We try to carefully match our clients with the right caregiver, based on availability, skills required, and compatibility. The importance of a good relationship between caregiver and client can bring comfort and friendship as well as providing care.
Q: In which communities do you provide services?
A: We regularly serve clients in Menifee, Sun City, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, and Temecula, but we have also cared for clients in Hemet, Wildomar, and as far away as Riverside and Poway. We will offer services wherever a caregiver is willing and able to go safely.
Q: Can you help with medications?
A: Our caregivers can assist with medication reminders to ensure medications are taken the right day and the right time.
Q: Who needs senior care?
A: As seniors age, they may develop difficulty managing activities of daily living. The burden on families can be overwhelming as they try to protect the independence of their loved ones while providing a safe environment. Often a little assistance can relieve that burden while enhancing safety and improving the quality of life, making it possible for seniors to stay in their homes.
Q: What home care services do you provide?
A: We offer a wide variety of customized services to care for the needs of our clients. Services may include companion care, personal care, medication management, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, respite care, senior care, and transitional care. Our caregivers may also provide meal preparation, transportation, light housekeeping, and a host of other helpful services.
Q: What makes Great Life Senior Care different from other companies?
A: We are veteran owned and offer a personal and caring experience. Caregiving is not a one-size-fits-all approach. We provide services that are customized to fit each client’s individual needs. Our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We work with you on your schedule to optimize the best of care.
Q: How much do services cost?
A: Great Life Senior Care offers easy to manage, affordable services that work with any budget. We do this to offer peace of mind and help our clients age in place. Costs are based on each client’s needs, including the level of service and hours needed per week. We will be happy to provide a quote for our services and set up a payment plan that works for you.
Q: Are home care services covered by Medicare or insurance?
A: Medicare does not pay for this type of care, but many long-term care policies will reimburse for home care services. We can assist you in working with your insurance company in determining if services are covered, and help you receive the benefits you are entitled to.
Q: Who pays the caregiver?
A: Great Life Senior Care pays our employees and handles all of the payroll, taxes, insurance, and administrative responsibilities. Our caregivers are W2 employees, not independent contractors. If you have long-term care insurance, we will happily submit proper paperwork to them for your reimbursement.
Q: Why should I call Great Life Senior Care rather than hiring someone advertising their own caregiving services?
A: When you bring in a private caregiver, they may not be bonded and insured, nor have the rigorous training, screening, accountability and protections that are provided by Great Life Senior Care. We know bringing someone into your home presents an element of risk as to the integrity and qualifications of that individual. You may rest assured Great Life has completed these security steps for you.
In addition, if our caregiver is injured on the job, they are covered by general liability and workman’s compensation insurance, relieving you of any financial responsibility for their injuries. Most Homeowner’s Insurance policies exclude coverage for anyone working within your home.
Q: What if my loved one’s needs change after starting home care?
A: We can easily adjust the level of care or hours needed to accommodate your loved one. We understand care needs can change quickly, so flexibility is a key part of providing excellent care. The client or family communicates directly with our team with concerns or changes to hoursor level of care.
We do ask for 24-hour notice when needing to change or cancel a shift, and a 2- week notice if cancelling service. In either case, if there is an emergency we can and will make an exception.
Q: Are your services only for seniors?
A: No, we also provide services to individuals with disabilities or those recovering from an accident, illness, or surgery. We can also assist clients who are transitioning from hospitalization or rehabilitation to home. Our client’s minimum age requirement is 18.
Q: Do you offer services to Veterans?
A: The owner of Great Life is a veteran and we appreciate all who have served our country. We offer a Veteran’s Discount, and it is our pleasure to happily work with Veteran’s Aid Programs to benefit those requiring our services.
Q: Can you provide 24-hour home care?
A: Yes, we can provide home care around-the-clock. We can serve clients in assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, or rehabilitation centers. When a client’s personal care requires more than these settings can provide, we are a great option for safety and peace of mind.
Q: Will I always have the same caregiver?
A: A long-term caregiving relationship is our goal. We strive to match our clients with the best caregivers for their needs, recognizing that on occasion another caregiver might be needed to cover a shift. For that reason, we prefer that our clients are comfortable with more than one of our caregivers. We will certainly make changes at our client's request.
We understand that continuity of care, trust, and rapport is important in the bond between caregiver and client. That is something we take seriously for the best possible outcomes. For those requiring extended hours or around-the-clock care requiring multiple caregivers, our goal is the same. We want our clients to be satisfied and we will do everything possible to achieve that goal.
Q: What happens if my caregiver is sick and is unable to come?
A: We have a strong team of caregivers. On the rare occasions when a caregiver calls in sick, our team responds quickly, working together to make certain our clients have continued care by another caregiver during these instances.
Q: How do I get started?
A: A simple phone call to Great Life Senior Care at (951) 679-9592 or a request on our website at Greatlifeseniorcare.com is all you need. We will contact you to arrange a free, no obligation, personal assessment to determine the level of care needed, and offer suggestions on how we can best serve you. From a few hours a week to around-the-clock care, we have compassionate caregivers ready to assist.
Anita White, contributor for Great Life Senior Care