Are caregiving services covered under my insurance or will I need to pay out of pocket?

Generally, it depends on the type of long term care insurance coverage you have. We encourage you to call our office and one of our geriatric care managers can assist you with insurance verification.

If you do not have any long-term care insurance, you will find our pricing to be very competitive. We encourage you to call other providers and choose the provider that is best for you or your family member’s needs and budgeting concerns.

 

Are your caregivers bonded and insured through your agency?

Yes, all Oakland Helping Hands staff are insured and bonded as well as thoroughly screened through criminal background checks.

 

How are your caregivers selected?

After a careful and thorough screening process, Oakland Helping Hands engages in multi-level interviews as well as a complete criminal background check for potential employees. We hire only quality caregivers who have at least 3 years of experience and who have a passion for caring for people.

 

Can I meet my companion caregiver before signing on for services?

At Oakland Helping Hands we strive to select the best matched companions to suit the needs of our customers. We offer free assessments, and through careful screening questions and customer needs assessments, do our best to pair customers with a compatible caregiver. If for some reason there is a need for a change, simply call our office to discuss.

 

Do you provide caregiving services to seniors living in independent or assisted living communities?

Yes, Oakland Helping Hands provides personal care and companionship services to seniors who may require additional support while residing in senior living communities. Give us a call for a free assessment so we can determine your needs.

Is your company certified and accredited?

Yes, Oakland Home Care is certified by CMS and accredited through The Joint Commission.

 

Is home care covered by insurance?

Home Care services through Oakland Home Care are fully covered by Medicare, as well as many private insurances, including Medicare Advantage plans.  A home care specialist is available to answer your questions about Medicare and other private insurances coverage. Please call us at (248) 865-9418 with any questions.

 

What does homebound mean?

Qualifying for what is called “homebound status” is required to be able to receive home care services. Homebound status means that you have trouble leaving your home without help. Examples include using a cane, wheelchair, walker, or crutches, needing special transportation or needing help from another person to get around. If you have an illness or injury, or leaving your home isn’t recommended because of your condition, that qualifies as homebound as well.  You may leave home for medical treatment or short, infrequent absences for non-medical reasons, like an occasional trip to the barber, a walk around the block or a drive, or attendance at a family reunion, funeral, graduation and still qualify for homebound status.

 

How quickly can I expect home care services to start?

We can schedule our clinical staff to make an in-home visit within 24 hours of receiving your demographic information and a physician’s order.

 

Will I see the same nurse or therapist for every visit?

Yes. Barring any vacation or sick leave, you will see the same nurse or therapist for all of your care needs.

 

Are your home health aides bonded and insured through your agency?

Yes, all of our caregivers are bonded and insured through our agency.

 

What is a fall prevention program?

According to the National Institute of Health, nearly 8 million American adults report having a chronic problem with balance. Oakland Home Care’s Fall Prevention program is focused on reducing falls in the elderly by improving functional status. Our Physical and/or Occupational Therapists assess the patient in their home environment in order to design a unique plan of care for the patient. The home safety evaluation includes an assessment of the patient’s mobility, posture, balance, strength, coordination and function. Therapists will also assess the need for assistive devices or adaptive equipment that may enable our patients to remain active and independent in their home setting.

When is a patient eligible for hospice care?

When a patient chooses not to pursue aggressive, curative treatment or has exhausted all avenues of the curative process, hospice care may be appropriate. A patient’s doctor determines their eligibility based on a prognosis of six months or less if the patient’s disease runs its normal course.

 

Does being on hospice service hasten a patient’s death?

No, hospice does not hasten or postpone death. It is care provided to patients to make them more comfortable and peaceful at the end of their lives.

 

What is the cost of hospice care?

Medicare pays for 100% of the patient’s hospice care under the following conditions:

• Patient is eligible for the Medicare Part A hospice benefit.
• Patient’s doctor and hospice agency’s medical director determine that the patient is eligible
• Patient or patient representative chooses to elect the Medicare Hospice Benefit.

If you have other private insurance, feel free to call our office at (248) 865-9418 to ask about insurance coverage.

 

Can I be cared for by hospice if I reside in an independent or assisted living community?

Hospice services can be provided to a terminally ill person wherever they live. This means a patient living in an assisted living community can receive specialized visits from nurses, nursing aides, chaplains, social workers, and volunteers, in addition to other care and services provided by the senior living community.

 

How can hospice care help?

Oakland Hospice provides specialized care services (patient care including symptom management, emotional support, spiritual support and psychosocial intervention), addressing issues most important to the patient’s needs and wants at the end of their life focusing on improving the individual’s quality of life.

 

How does hospice care help families?

Unlike traditional medicine, the focus of hospice care is on the family as well as the patient. The hospice care plan considers the family’s wishes and concerns along with the medical needs of the hospice patient. The family is an integral part of the plan and the delivery of care. After the patient passes away, the hospice bereavement team is there for the patient’s family for an additional 13 months to provide support.

 

Who initiates hospice care?

Hospice can be initiated by a patient, family member, caregiver, physician or other medical professional.

 

How long can someone be in hospice care?

Typically, a patient is under hospice care for 6 months or less.

 

What services does hospice care cover?

Medicare will pay 100% of all hospice team services, medications, durable medical equipment and medical supplies related to the terminal illness and/prognosis.

 

When can hospice care be started?

A physician must order hospice care before the program can start. Hospice can begin immediately after the patient and family have learned about how the program works through informed consent and have agreed to be admitted to hospice.

 

Who makes up the hospice care team?

The interdisciplinary team usually consists of:

• The patient’s personal physician
• Hospice physician (or medical director)
• Nurses
• Home health aides
• Social workers
• Spiritual care providers or other counselors
• Bereavement professionals
• Speech, physical, and/or other occupational therapists
• Trained volunteers.

Can I receive Oakland Therapy services in my home?

Yes. There are the benefits of access to specialty equipment in an outpatient therapy clinic. However, many of the therapy exercises can be modified to allow you to receive therapy in and around your own home, with the assistance of smaller equipment that can travel as well as any equipment you may have in your home.

 

What Oakland Therapy services are covered by insurance?

Most insurance plans cover some form or duration of therapy. Feel free to call us at (248) 865-9418 with your insurance information to see if the therapy you need is covered by your insurance.

 

What services does Physical Therapy include?

• Rehabilitation after surgery
• Strength and endurance training to improve functional abilities with daily activities
• Balance and coordination to prevent or decrease the risk of falls at home
• Weight bearing exercises as you recover from injuries or surgery
• Strength training and muscle control

 

What services does Occupational Therapy include?

• Focus on improving the ability to complete Activities of Daily Living
• Use of assistive devices
• Safety techniques for getting in and out of bed/chair
• Upper body strengthening for energy conservation
• Complete safety assessment