Frequently Asked Questions about Senior Care
What is home care and how does it differ from home healthcare?
In its truest meaning, home care refers to any type of care (medical or non-medical) that is provided for the client in their home. In recent years, however, there has been a slight shift in terminology. While home care can be used to describe both medical and non-medical care, typically "home care" refers to non-medical care such as companionship/homemaking services and personal care services, while "home healthcare" refers to the provision of skilled nursing care and other care such as speech, physical or occupational therapy often provided by Medicare.
What services does Comfort Keepers® provide?
Comfort Keepers provides companionship services such as meal preparation, laundry, light housekeeping, grocery shopping/errands, incidental transportation, medication reminders, grooming, live-in service, and respite care. We also provide personal care services such as bathing, grooming, hygiene, mobility assistance, transferring and positioning, toileting, incontinence, and feeding/special diet assistance. We also provide memory care (Dementia/Alzheimer’s care) and in-home safety technology solutions. Our Anoka provides Private Duty Nursing and Veterans Care.
How we select our Comfort Keepers®
Each caregiver, special people we call Comfort Keepers, is an employee who is carefully screened and trained before caring for a client. Each must undergo a rigorous process including national and local criminal background checks, DMV, and personal and professional reference checks. All Comfort Keepers are bonded, insured, and covered by Workers’ Compensation insurance for our clients’ peace of mind. We strive to hire the very best caregivers to become Comfort Keepers because we only hire people we would want to care for a member of our own family.
How much does in-home care cost?
We encourage you to contact the office directly at 651-789-0317 to discuss the situation and get a good solid understanding of what the services would cost for your particular needs.
Are services available 24 hours, 7 days a week?
Yes. Services are available for as little as a 4-hour visit up to 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Do you provide services to those in nursing homes or assisted living communities?
Yes. Comfort Keepers can provide companionship or personal care to residents at assisted living communities and nursing homes who may desire additional attention or personalized care.
Is there a written plan of care for each client? Is it modified and if so, how often?
The local Comfort Keepers office develops an individualized and completely confidential Plan of Care for each client. The purpose is to document the type of care services needed and when the client would like to initiate care. Once the client, authorized family members, and our office agree on the Plan of Care, the office staff will use that information to recommend the Comfort Keeper who will be delivering the service, establish the schedule and agree to the monitoring and communication.
Plans of Care are reviewed with the client and family at least every six months but may be more frequent based on the client's needs. Comprehensive clients receive an updated plan of care through a nurse visit every 90 days or if there is a change of condition. The review is an important process to ensure the client is receiving the appropriate level of care and is pleased with the Comfort Keeper providing the care.
Will I have the same Comfort Keeper all the time? How will I meet my Comfort Keeper?
During the initial conversation and the in-home visit, the Client Care Coordinator will document the services required and the client's preferences for a Comfort Keeper match. Then, the Client Care Coordinator selects the best caregiver fit for the client and will arrange an introduction between the client, Comfort Keeper, and Coordinator to introduce each member of this new team. During that meeting, all of the involved parties review the Plan of Care to ensure that everyone agrees and understands what services are to be provided.
What if my Comfort Keeper is sick or on vacation?
Each Comfort Keepers office employs a team of caregivers so that your care service will not be interrupted if someone gets sick or goes on vacation. If your Comfort Keeper is unavailable, the Client Care Coordinator will arrange another caregiver and will contact you in advance of the change. The Client Care Coordinator will also introduce the interim caregiver to you and review your Plan of Care with the interim caregiver prior to service. Our goal is to ensure that services are provided as expected. Your safety and security are a top priority.
What are ADLs and IADLs?
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) include the basic tasks essential for day-to-day functioning, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, mobility, and toileting. Many seniors who require help with such activities are largely independent but may require help with one or two ADLs. In some cases, intermittent help from a family member or friend may be all that is needed. However, in many cases, particularly when family or friends are unavailable and the importance of scheduling these activities is critical, informal care arrangements may not be adequate.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are considered those activities which are less basic than the traditional ADLs. IADLs, nevertheless, are important in enhancing a client’s quality of life. IADLs include such activities as shopping, paying bills, cleaning, doing the laundry, and meal preparation. Many seniors require assistance with IADLs rather than ADLs. Some seniors want someone to escort them when they are shopping and help them avoid situations that might cause them to fall. Other seniors may welcome assistance with their bill paying and medical appointments. Comfort Keepers offers an array of companionship and homemaking services to assist our clients with IADLs. Please contact the Comfort Keepers location nearest you or your loved one for more information.
What can we and can't we do under Minnesota Licensure?
Comfort Keepers holds a Comprehensive license under the State of Minnesota. We can administer medications under the direction of our RN as well as perform other nurse-delegated tasks. For more information/detail on these services, please contact the office. If you fall, we cannot lift you, since such actions could contribute to hurting you. We cannot move furniture or climb on chairs, stools, or ladders, or perform any type of outdoor maintenance. Although we want to be of assistance in any way we can, please do not put us in a compromising position of asking our caregivers for something we are not permitted to do.
How do we know we will be satisfied with our caregiver?
If there is ever any issue with the quality of our caregiver’s service, please do not hesitate to discuss the matter directly with the caregiver. In the unforeseen event that the issue cannot be resolved, please call our office immediately. Your complete and total satisfaction will always be our biggest concern. If you are unhappy with your caregiver, we shall be only too happy to provide you with another.
