Frequently asked questions about home care

When it comes to ensuring your loved one will receive the proper care they deserve, you may have some questions. We hope to alleviate any concerns with some of the most common questions regarding home care. You can also read our advice on when to choose home care to help consider your needs.

Please note these questions are written in a general manner, and are not meant to act as direct healthcare advice. Every LifeGiver client will receive a personalized Customer Care Plan to fit their specific needs, and will be matched with the right caregiver to provide for those needs. If you would like to discuss a particular home care situation, please contact us to arrange an appointment.

About LifeGiver Home Care

  • LifeGiver provides numerous home care services to clients throughout southeastern Pennsylvania, ranging from companionship and homemaking to specialized care for certain medical conditions. If you’re unsure what category you or your loved one would require, please contact us and we will go over your Client Assessment form.

  • Our home care agency is able to provide services in Bucks, Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery and Chester Counties in southeastern Pennsylvania.

About our caregivers

  • Yes, LifeGiver and all its caregivers are insured for general liability, workers compensation, and are fully bonded. In addition to a comprehensive interview process, we also perform a criminal history background clearance and basic disease prevention testing.

  • Yes. We will selectively match caregivers with every client’s needs, and you can choose to be part of the process. If the needs of our clients change, we may need to adjust caregivers’ schedules for a period of time to meet those expectations. Additionally, we can accommodate any requests you may have for a change in caregivers. Your assurance and satisfaction in our caregivers is our guarantee.

  • At LifeGiver, we understand that a strong rapport and trust with your caregiver is vital to a successful home care experience. We fully support building a long term caring relationship with our clients.

    At times, due to the type of care plan created or the hours needed to support the needs of the client, having more than one caregiver is necessary. Regardless, we will try to keep the continuity of caregivers whenever possible. If at any given time you choose to change caregivers, we will work with you to readjust for the best situation possible.

  • LifeGiver employees can assist in reminding individuals to take their medications. We can also report any side effects and assist with pre-measured medication packages.

  • Yes, you can change services at your discretion. We are flexible to support changing needs, either temporarily or permanently. LifeGiver does not operate under any long term contract arrangements and if desired, service can also be discontinued.

  • Yes! We operate within government programs that pay family members or close friends to act as caregivers. However, to become a paid family caregiver, you must qualify against determined eligibility criteria.

Home care costs and planning

  • LifeGiver uses three distinct tools to track our caregivers: timesheets filled out by caregivers and signed by clients, LifeGiver scorecards left at the residence with notes for the client to review, and an Internet-based system to verify time and attendance.

    Our itemized invoices are always sent after services are complete, and we can provide additional copies of them digitally. If there are any questions about time or date of care, or schedule adjustments, these invoices can be reviewed with a LifeGiver representative.

  • Every client in our service receives a unique care plan, so costs vary from one client to the next. Our home care services are typically billed on an hourly basis. To discuss the exact rates for the services, we will set up an in-home consultation to begin discussing a Custom Care Plan and the rates for each service on your plan.

    We also provide a written rate sheet prior to initiating care services. Rates will never be increased without at least thirty days' notice.

  • Unfortunately, Medicare does not pay for the type of hourly personal care service that LifeGiver provides. LifeGiver is able to provide documentation to third parties like long-term care insurance companies that can help you obtain better coverage for our services.

    Additionally, LifeGiver can give you guidance on other forms of reimbursement which include reverse mortgage, health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts.

  • No, you never need to pay our caregivers directly. We bill weekly after service is provided, and typically accept direct deposits or credit cards as forms of payment. However, we can discuss what works best for you during an introductory appointment.

  • We adhere to all applicable federal and state guidelines about privacy of personal and healthcare information. This starts once we have a formal services agreement, which stipulates the exact restrictions on the use of your information. Any unauthorized individuals will not be given access to information without the formal consent of a client or legally authorized representative.

    Your information is never sold to any third party systems under any circumstances. Only the office personnel and caregivers who are directly involved in your services will have access to information related to the care of your loved one.

  • Just contact us by phone or email. We can arrange a time to fully discuss your particular home care situation and how LifeGiver can help. Afterward, we’ll begin putting together your Custom Care Plan and matching your loved one with the right caregiver. 

    We look forward to working with you!