Home Care Questions, Answered Plainly
The questions families ask us most often, answered the way we would answer them on the phone.
Most people calling a home care agency for the first time are not sure what they are allowed to ask. You can ask anything on this page, and a good deal more besides.
If your question is not here, call us. Nothing below is a sales answer and none of it commits you to anything.
Still not sure whether you need care yet?
That is the most common reason people hesitate, and it is a reasonable one. The clearest way to settle it is the free assessment: a coordinator comes to the home, looks at what is actually going on, and tells you honestly what they see.
Being told that care is not needed yet is a perfectly good outcome of that visit, and it happens regularly.
How to get the most out of a first call
Have three things ready: what specifically has changed at home recently, what a typical week looks like, and which days worry you most. Those three answers get us to a useful plan far faster than a list of diagnoses does.
What the free assessment includes
- A visit to the home, not a phone questionnaire
- An honest read on whether care is needed yet
- A written care plan with the hours it would take
- A weekly and monthly cost
- Advice on which benefits are worth applying for
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between companion care and personal care?
Companion care covers company, meals, errands, light housekeeping and keeping a routine. Personal care adds hands on help with bathing, dressing, grooming and moving safely. Many families start with companion care and add personal care hours later.
Is there a minimum number of hours?
Yes. We set a minimum visit length so the caregiver has time to cook, tidy and actually sit with your loved one rather than rushing through a list. We will tell you the minimum on the first call.
Will we get the same caregiver every visit?
Wherever the schedule allows, yes. Consistency is most of what makes home care work, so we build a small named team around each client rather than sending whoever is free.
How are caregivers screened?
Every caregiver is background checked, reference checked and interviewed in person before they are matched with a client.
Does Medicare pay for home care?
Medicare generally does not pay for ongoing non medical home care. Long term care insurance, VA benefits and Indiana Medicaid waiver programs each cover different parts of it, and we will help you work out which apply to you.
How quickly can care start?
Where we already staff your area, the free assessment usually happens within a few days, and care can begin shortly after it.
What if my parent refuses help?
Start with a task they already dislike, such as cleaning or driving to appointments, and frame it as help for you rather than for them. Acceptance almost always follows the first few visits once there is a real person in the room.
Can you care for someone with dementia?
Yes. Dementia care is routine led and needs patience and consistency above all, so we match caregivers carefully and keep the schedule as stable as we can.
What happens if our caregiver is ill?
We arrange cover with a caregiver who has been briefed on the care plan rather than cancelling the visit.
Can we change or stop the schedule?
Yes. There is no long term contract. Schedule changes need reasonable notice so we can staff them properly, and you can stop at any time.
Do you provide skilled nursing?
We provide non medical home care. Where skilled nursing is needed we will tell you plainly and help you find the right provider.
Which areas do you cover?
Mainly Indianapolis and the communities across Marion and Hamilton counties, subject to caregiver availability in your area.
Useful next steps
Ask us the question that is not on this page
A coordinator will talk it through with you, and the assessment that follows is free and carries no obligation.