NEHHC - Elder Care - Frequently Asked Questions

The short answer is, whatever it takes to keep you or your loved one healthy and comfortable. Typical services our caregivers provide include:

Each client will have a written Plan of Care, formulated by all "key players" in the client's life, including adult children, physician, and NEHHC's supervising RN. Together, you will determine a specific plan of care that provides all the services and assistance you or your loved one need. This RN will make contact in person and via telephone on a regular basis, ensuring the ongoing quality of care, coordinating additional services, and serving as a problem-solver when needed.

Yes. Most of our home healthcare staff are CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants) with at least 150 hours of medical training. A smaller percentage are PCA / PSSs (Personal Care Assistants / Personal Support Specialists) with 40 plus hours of training. All staff are CPR-certified. Unlike many home health care providers, New England Home Health Care is state licensed, requiring us to adhere to rigorous staffing and safety standards.

NEHHC also has 24-hour on-call services for staff relief and RN consultations.

Private pay means that the cost of NEHHC services are paid by the client, his or her family, or through private insurance, such as a long term health care policy.

We do not accept Medicare. Medicare covers only a very limited number of home services. NEHHC often works along with a Medicare Home Health Agency in order to give the client maximum home care support. Our company is dedicated, in part, to providing the many in-home services that Medicare does not cover, yet many families desperately need. While these services are not inexpensive, they are often critical to our clients' quality of life, and to their family's peace of mind. We strive to make them as affordable as possible.

Most times, yes. While early long-term care policies were often sparse in their coverage, newer or upgraded policies often cover our services. Our office will be happy to contact your insurance provider, with your permission, to determine the extent of your coverage.

Private homecare services are time and labor intensive, and are, unfortunately not something everyone can afford. While there is no magic answer for those with a limited budget, our staff has seen many ingenious ways families have used creative financing to fund home care. The best place to start is by calling our intake specialist at (207) 945 3374 (toll-free: 1-800-287-0338) for a confidential, obligation-free consultation. If it's more convenient, you fill out our inquiry form to request a return phone call at a time when you'll most likely be able to speak with us.

Absolutely not! Your caregiver is an employee of New England Home Health Care; we handle every aspect of care delivery for you, including supervision, payroll, liability insurance, and scheduling replacement caregivers when needed.

While a trusted neighbor may seem like a logical solution, there are many caveats to consider. What happens if the neighbor becomes ill, or wants a vacation? What if you're not satisfied with his or her work? What if he or she is injured on the job-who pays the bills? Who pays the taxes and registers all the paperwork required by the IRS?

New England Home Health Care providers are fully insured and bonded and backed by a staff of over 100 professional caregivers. NEHHC also handles all payroll, holiday scheduling, supervision, and has relief staff on hand to cover to any caregiver in case of sickness or family emergency. NEHHC providers must adhere to a clear code of ethics, insuring that our staff, while appreciated, stay on a caring but professional basis with clients.

While a person could "solve a problem" by hiring a friend or neighbor, the long term consequences can be a much larger problem in the long term.

No. New England Home Health Care providers follow a strict code of ethics designed to protect our clients, their families, and our providers from even a hint of financial impropriety. We have a specific, state-approved plan for purchases on behalf of our client, such as groceries. We encourage you to discuss this and other concerns and questions with NEHHC's supervising RN during your initial phone call or consultation.

Yes, that's correct. New England Home Health Care caregivers and support staff are unable to accept gifts of any kind from our clients or their families. It's important that clients and families always remember that their caregivers are employees of New England Home Health Care, are bound by their professional ethics to refrain from accepting gifts, either or money or other items with any monetary value. However, smiles and words of thanks are truly welcomed and cherished!

Certainly. New England Home Health Care ensures that each professional we provide will have proper level of training for his or her assignment. However, "personal chemistry" is also just as important a factor, and sometimes takes time to determine. While we take steps to make the right fit from the beginning, we are dedicated to your or loved one's satisfaction, and will assign a new caregiver to you if needed.

NEHHC often provides for the needs of the last stages of life for terminally ill clients. It is a difficult, often bittersweet period of life, and we do our utmost to make this time as comfortable as possible for both the client and family. While often interchanged for end-of-life care, the term "hospice" actually refers to a philosophy of providing the least amount of technology necessary to terminally ill clients and neither hastening nor extending life. New England Home Health Care does not adhere to a particular philosophy about end of life issues, other than providing excellent, professional in home care according to the client's and family's wishes.


	Contact / About NEHHC	FAQs Elderly Care What specifically will our NEHHC caregiver do to help me or my loved one? Who decides what services will be provided? What if there is a medical emergency? Are your home caregivers trained medical personnel? What exactly does "private pay" mean? Do you accept Medicare? Will long-term care insurance cover NEHHC's homecare services? I would love to have New England Home Health Care provide homecare for my parent. However, I'm not sure our family can afford it. Are there any programs out there to help? What if our NEHHC aid wants to take a vacation? Do I have to find a replacement? I have a neighbor who has done home aide work, and I'm wondering if I should hire him or her. What's the down side? Can our NEHHC caregiver pay my parents' bills for them? Is it true that NEHHC employees can't accept "bonuses" or gifts? What if I or my loved one wants a different caregiver? Can we try someone else? My parent is terminally ill and wishes to die at home. Do you provide terminal care or hospice services? What specifically will our NEHHC caregiver do to help me or my loved one? The short answer is, whatever it takes to keep you or your loved one healthy and comfortable. Typical services our caregivers provide include: Assistance in bathing and dressing Meal preparation Medication dispensing and monitoring Laundry and housekeeping Transportation to medical appointments Companionship and emotional support Informal education and support of family members (Back to top) Who decides what services will be provided? Each client will have a written Plan of Care, formulated by all "key players" in the client's life, including adult children, physician, and NEHHC's supervising RN. Together, you will determine a specific plan of care that provides all the services and assistance you or your loved one need. This RN will make contact in person and via telephone on a regular basis, ensuring the ongoing quality of care, coordinating additional services, and serving as a problem-solver when needed. (Back to top) What if there is a medical emergency? Are your home caregivers trained medical personnel? Yes. Most of our home healthcare staff are CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants) with at least 150 hours of medical training. A smaller percentage are PCA / PSSs (Personal Care Assistants / Personal Support Specialists) with 40 plus hours of training. All staff are CPR-certified. Unlike many home health care providers, New England Home Health Care is state licensed, requiring us to adhere to rigorous staffing and safety standards. NEHHC also has 24-hour on-call services for staff relief and RN consultations. (Back to top) What exactly does "private pay" mean? Do you accept Medicare? Private pay means that the cost of NEHHC services are paid by the client, his or her family, or through private insurance, such as a long term health care policy. We do not accept Medicare. Medicare covers only a very limited number of home services. NEHHC often works along with a Medicare Home Health Agency in order to give the client maximum home care support. Our company is dedicated, in part, to providing the many in-home services that Medicare does not cover, yet many families desperately need. While these services are not inexpensive, they are often critical to our clients' quality of life, and to their family's peace of mind. We strive to make them as affordable as possible. (Back to top) Will long-term care insurance cover NEHHC's homecare services? Most times, yes. While early long-term care policies were often sparse in their coverage, newer or upgraded policies often cover our services. Our office will be happy to contact your insurance provider, with your permission, to determine the extent of your coverage. (Back to top) I would love to have New England Home Health Care provide homecare for my parent. However, I'm not sure our family can afford it. Are there any programs out there to help? Private homecare services are time and labor intensive, and are, unfortunately not something everyone can afford. While there is no magic answer for those with a limited budget, our staff has seen many ingenious ways families have used creative financing to fund home care. The best place to start is by calling our intake specialist at (207) 945 3374 (toll-free: 1-800-287-0338) for a confidential, obligation-free consultation. If it's more convenient, you fill out our inquiry form to request a return phone call at a time when you'll most likely be able to speak with us. (Back to top) What if our NEHHC caregiver wants to take a vacation? Do I have to find a replacement? Absolutely not! Your caregiver is an employee of New England Home Health Care; we handle every aspect of care delivery for you, including supervision, payroll, liability insurance, and scheduling replacement caregivers when needed. (Back to top) I have a neighbor who has done home care work, and I'm wondering if I should hire him or her. What's the down side? While a trusted neighbor may seem like a logical solution, there are many caveats to consider. What happens if the neighbor becomes ill, or wants a vacation? What if you're not satisfied with his or her work? What if he or she is injured on the job-who pays the bills? Who pays the taxes and registers all the paperwork required by the IRS? New England Home Health Care providers are fully insured and bonded and backed by a staff of over 100 professional caregivers. NEHHC also handles all payroll, holiday scheduling, supervision, and has relief staff on hand to cover to any caregiver in case of sickness or family emergency. NEHHC providers must adhere to a clear code of ethics, insuring that our staff, while appreciated, stay on a caring but professional basis with clients. While a person could "solve a problem" by hiring a friend or neighbor, the long term consequences can be a much larger problem in the long term. (Back to top) Can our NEHHC caregiver pay my parents' bills for them? No. New England Home Health Care providers follow a strict code of ethics designed to protect our clients, their families, and our providers from even a hint of financial impropriety. We have a specific, state-approved plan for purchases on behalf of our client, such as groceries. We encourage you to discuss this and other concerns and questions with NEHHC's supervising RN during your initial phone call or consultation. (Back to top) Is it true that NEHHC employees can't accept "bonuses" or gifts? Yes, that's correct. New England Home Health Care caregivers and support staff are unable to accept gifts of any kind from our clients or their families. It's important that clients and families always remember that their caregivers are employees of New England Home Health Care, are bound by their professional ethics to refrain from accepting gifts, either or money or other items with any monetary value. However, smiles and words of thanks are truly welcomed and cherished! (Back to top) What if I or my loved one wants a different caregiver? Can we try someone else? Certainly. New England Home Health Care ensures that each professional we provide will have proper level of training for his or her assignment. However, "personal chemistry" is also just as important a factor, and sometimes takes time to determine. While we take steps to make the right fit from the beginning, we are dedicated to your or loved one's satisfaction, and will assign a new caregiver to you if needed. (Back to top) My parent is terminally ill and wishes to die at home. Do you provide terminal care or hospice services? NEHHC often provides for the needs of the last stages of life for terminally ill clients. It is a difficult, often bittersweet period of life, and we do our utmost to make this time as comfortable as possible for both the client and family. While often interchanged for end-of-life care, the term "hospice" actually refers to a philosophy of providing the least amount of technology necessary to terminally ill clients and neither hastening nor extending life. New England Home Health Care does not adhere to a particular philosophy about end of life issues, other than providing excellent, professional in home care according to the client's and family's wishes. (Back to top)