Freedom Home Health Care

Why Hire A Licensed Agency?

Freedom Home Healthcare is a licensed, full-service home healthcare agency. We employ all of our in-home caregivers and they are fully bonded and insured. As an employer, we withhold all necessary employment taxes and provide worker’s compensation, which relieves our clients from the burden of these liabilities.

Our dedicated team provides a full range of customized services, based on a consistent principle – Quality people provide high quality care, outstanding service and peace of mind.

Carefully Selected Employees Provide Quality Care and Peace of Mind

Our Freedom Home Healthcare team is the heart of our company. We understand that our success, as an organization, is based the quality of care provided by our caregivers, as well as the support provided by our dedicated clinical and customer service teams. We invest significant time and attention in screening, training and supervising our Freedom team members to ensure we provide the best quality of care.

Our comprehensive screening process includes a thorough background check, in addition to professional, criminal and driving records. We also verify:

• Legal authorization/documentation for employment in the United States
• Medical records and required immunizations
• Professional certifications and licenses
• Continuing education requirements are met

We know that caregiver and client compatibility are also key to success. Our initial nursing assessment is a crucial step to ensure that the needs of your loved one are clearly identified and appropriately matched with the skills and competencies of the chosen caregiver. While we typically identify a compatible caregiver right from the start, if for some reason our caregiver and client do not “connect”, we will make a change in caregiver. Additionally, when our caregiver needs time off, we will provide a suitable replacement caregiver.

If a family hires a caregiver privately and she/he is not a good fit, chances are good that the family will not be able to  readily identify a replacement caregiver. Likewise, if a privately hired caregiver become ill or needs time off, families are typically left scrambling to find a “fill-in”. Freedom never puts our clients in a position of having to scramble – we are always able to replace our caregiver if the need arises.

Choosing the Right Home Healthcare Provider

When an aging relative chooses to age in place, typically some sort of assistance is needed. But what type of help? Does your situation require a live-in caregiver? How can you be sure of what you need? For that matter, how can you be sure the agency you hire is the best fit for your loved one? Before you decide on a home health agency, be sure you have all the facts. Below are some questions to ask the the Directors of the agencies you are considering:

• Is the agency licensed, bonded and insured?
• Is this a licensed home care agency or an employment agency?
• Are the caregivers employees of the agency or independent contractors? Who is responsible for taxes?
• Will all care be monitored on an ongoing basis by an RN or will he or she only visit when care begins?
• Are the caregivers citizens or legal residents of the United States?
• Does the agency offer live-in care?
• What are the hiring standards for the agency? What type of background check does the agency perform on caregivers?
• Does the agency have someone on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week?
• Are there geriatric care managers or social workers on staff?

Important: Choosing a Home Health Care Agency versus a Home Care Registry

When interviewing home healthcare providers, beware that many agencies position themselves as “home care” companies when in fact they are not: they only refer caregivers to clients. They are not licensed or monitored by the State. They are not required to screen, conduct background and reference checks, or test workers. They are also not required to supervise caregivers or handle taxes and insurance. All of these tasks are the client’s responsibility. To identify and avoid these types of companies, always ask if the agency is licensed by the State and if caregivers are their legal employees.

Your Home Health Care Decision: Agency or Independent Caregiver

Once you choose home healthcare for an aging loved one, you must decide the type of care you prefer—an agency or independent caregiver. When examining this issue, consider the pros and cons of the situation.

Home Health Care Agency: Pros and Cons

• Agency assumes full liability for all care
• Agency assumes responsibility for worker taxes, insurance, benefits, etc.
• Back-up system is in place should usual caregiver be unable to work
• Caregiver supervision and replacement—if you are not pleased with a caregiver, the agency will handle dismissal and replacement
• Experienced caregivers ready to work on short notice
• Full background and reference checks conducted by the agency
• Provides legally mandated continuing education for caregivers
• Registered Nurse monitors all care
• Trained and licensed staff
• Only Con: Care may be more expensive than hiring a caregiver privately because the agency must incur the cost of hiring and screening employees, conducting background checks, providing initial and ongoing training and supervision, and paying for benefits such as workers’ compensation
• Independent Caregiver: Pros and Cons
  
• You are responsible for recruiting and interviewing applicants
• You are responsible for performing background and reference checks
• You are responsible for taxes, insurance and benefits
• You are responsible for supervising the caregiver
• You are responsible for dismissing and replacing an inappropriate caregiver
• No guarantee of clinical training or experience
• No back-up system in place should the caregiver be unable to work
• You may be exposed to a lawsuit if your caregiver is injured while on the job
• Care is not monitored by a Registered Nurse
• Only pro: care may be slightly less expensive than care through an agency

Before deciding on a home healthcare provider, make sure you ask the right questions and get the answers you need to make an informed decision. For more information on our home healthcare services please call our Clinical Director at the office closest to you or contact us. Your peace of mind is just a phone call away.
 
North Jersey: 866-737-3336
South Jersey: 888-964-2273
Philadelphia: 215-884-3737