A Better Living Home Care Agency
(Sacramento)

9719 Lincoln Village, Suite 609
Sacramento, California 95827
(916) 361‑3000

A Better Living Home Care Agency
(Walnut Creek/Concord)

2280 Diamond Boulevard, Suite 580
Concord, California 94520
(925) 680‑0300

A Better Living Home Care Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most frequently asked questions about A Better Living Home Care Agency. If you have any other questions that are not answered here, please do not hesitate to call us toll free (800) 404‑4849.

• Who can benefit from home care services?
• How do you select caregivers for each client?
• What is the screening process for caregivers?
• What if I'm not happy with the caregiver you provided?
• What are Live‑In Services?
• Do you provide a free in‑home needs assessment?
• What if I only need someone a few hours?
• What training do your caregivers have?
• Will the same caregiver come each day/shift?
• Am I free to set up my own work schedule for caregivers?
• What services do you provide?
• When is a caregiver needed?
• If I want to cancel my services, how much notice do you require?
• Will Medicare, Health Insurance, HMO, or VA benefits pay for in home care?
• Will my Long Term Care policy cover this service?
• Will Workers' Compensation Insurance cover home care?
• What's the first step to acquiring home care services?

Who can benefit from home care services?

Anyone who needs non‑medical assistance day to day or from time to time. Our clients receive assistance with daily activities for enhanced independence. Conditions caregivers often provide assistance for are:

• Physical disabilities, either temporary, or permanent
• Alzheimer's disease and other dementias (mild to severe)
• Memory impairment, and/or other cognitive impairments
• Strokes
• Cancers
• Surgical recovery
• Medical illness recovery
• Hospice care
• Parkinson's disease
• Chronic conditions (such as heart disease, vascular disease, COPD, diabetes, kidney failure, the effects of strokes, and many others
• Frail elderly who are at risk of falls and other causes of injury
• Isolated seniors
• Children with disabilites
• Others needing permanent or temporary assitance

How do you select caregivers for each client?

We start the process when we receive a call about our services. Our knowledgeable staff begins gathering information and determining your needs and preferences immediately on the telephone. Then, we'll arrange an onsight meeting where we continue to gather information to further clarify the needs and preferences. Finally, we'll identify a highly compatible caregiver based on their experience, skills, personality, and location from our large professional caregiver provider panel. Of course, we back our caregiver selection with our Compatibility Guarantee. If you don't feel our caregiver selection is satisfactory, upon your request, we'll provide another caregiver within 48 hours.

Want to interview potential caregivers before they start? We are happy to arrange personal, or telephone interviews as is most practical, depending on the client, and caregiver availability.

What is the screening process for new caregivers joining your professional caregiver provider panel?

We interview each potential caregiver twice. Those that pass the first screening are invited to a second interview where we thoroughly review their qualifications, past work performance, and evaluate if they are positive, caring, friendly people that we would be proud to have join caregiver community. Finally, we verify prospective caregivers’ work references, and run background checks including; criminal history, driving history, and a social security number verification.

What if I'm not happy with the caregiver you provided?

First we'll talk to you to better define your needs and preferences. Then, of course, we'll provide you with another caregiver, based on your refined needs and preferences, within 48 hours. That is Caregiver Compatibility Guarantee.

What is a Live‑In Caregiver?

Often our clients need caregiver services around the clock. Sometimes they need assistance at night or just feel safer knowing someone is there ready to help in an emergency. Live‑In care is just like it sounds. A caregiver is provided a private room, food for meals and lives with the client. They sleep at night in the home, and are available to help as needed. You should not expect a Live in caregiver to be awake and working 24 hours a day! They need their sleep too. Generally, a Live In caregiver should be able to get at least 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep, and works 8 hours intermittently throughout the day. Fees for Live‑Ins are usually a flat fee per day (per diem), rather than by the hour. Ultimately, you and the caregiver can determine the exact role and responsibilities.

Do you provide a free in‑home needs and preferences assessment?

Absolutely. We will meet with you and your family in your home or hospital/skilled nursing facility to identify, assess, and discuss your needs and preferences. This meeting helps us identify the skills required and characteristics that you would hgihly value in a caregiver. This information enables us to provide you with a caregiver that is highly compatible with you and your family. Occasionally, individuals needing care, or their family members, have learned of our reputation and want or need to arrange for services over the phone without the free in-home assessment. In those cases where they prefer to arrange for care without the in home assessment we are happy to gather the information over the telephone and base our provider choice on the information gathered by our knowledgeable care coordinators. Either way, compatibility is guaranteed!

What if I only need someone a few hours?

That's no problem. We provide caregivers for as little as 24 hours to as many as 24 hours a day and we also have Live‑In caregivers. Once a caregiver is provided, you and the caregiver may establish a schedule that best meets your needs, even if it is less than 2 hours.

What training do your caregivers have?

We have a large caregiver provider registry with hundreds of caregivers who have a variety of skills, training and experience. Many of our caregivers are certified nursing assistants, or certified home health aides with extensive training and experience in acute environments. Others are personal care attendants, and companion/homemakers with significant caregiving experience and training care for seniors living with the affects of Alzheimer's dementia, strokes, Parkinson's disease, MS, cancer, hospice, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and many more conditions. Please remember, we provide caregivers for non-medical care and do not provide caregivers for skilled nursing or medical services.

Will the same caregiver come each day/shift?

Our goal is to establish long term, highly compatible care relationships between clients, their families and their caregivers. A key ingredient to developing a successful caregiving relationship is consistency. Once we provide a caregiver she/he is your caregiver. Of course, if a caregiver is ill, or otherwise unable to provide services, we can arrange for a temporary, or permanent alternate caregiver.

Am I free to set up my own work schedule for caregivers?

Absolutely. We do not dictate care schedules, and encourage clients and their families to develop a schedule that fits their need for in home assistance within their available resources. Clients and their families are free to develop a schedule that best meets their needs with caregivers.

To develop a deep, rewarding care relationship, and avoid turnover; create a schedule that promotes consistency, and fosters a long term caring relationship. Keep your expectations reasonable, avoid "Red Flag" situations.

1. Intermittent Assistance ‑ If caregiver assistance is required occasionally, we are happy to provide caregivers for errands, and appointments, the occasional visit, etc. upon request. We will always try to provide the same caregiver, but a caregiver's prior commitments may necessitate an alternate caregiver provide the services.
   
   
2. If 24 hour monitoring is needed and the caregiver is required to be awake at all times you should expect to need 2‑3 caregivers per day. We understand this type of care can be costly, and have some strategies to help you mitigate this cost depending on the intensity of care required.
   
   
3. If care is required 7 days a week for an extended period, you should expect 2 caregivers. Would you commit to working 7 days a week indefinitely? If a caregiver does agree to work 7 days a week, we are always there to provide a relief caregiver.
   
   
4. “Red Flag” ‑ Try to avoid "split schedules". For example, Monday through Friday 4 hours from 8am to 12pm, and 4 hrs from 6pm to 10pm. It is difficult for a single caregiver to maintain that schedule for very long. If an agency, or caregiver promises to do this indefinitely, beware. It is reasonable that you will require two caregivers if this is an extended schedule. We will always work to provide the same caregivers in this situation.
   
   
5. “Red Flag” ‑ Frequently moving the days and times of care may cause conflicts with a caregiver’s professional and personal commitments. Try to commit to a fixed schedule with a caregiver, and explain the need for flexibility with the caregiver. Of course, we'll be happy to provide a caregiver for those days your primary caregiver is unavailable.

What services do you provide?

Our expertise is providing individuals and their families with experienced, qualified, highly compatible caregivers in a manner that results in a solid, long term caregiving relationship. We offer a free on‑sight needs and preferences assessment (home, hospital, etc.), and are a source of knowledge on elder care issues and resources. The caregivers we provide are thoroughly screened, experienced, and care for individuals over the entire spectrum of care, from companion care through total acute in home care.
Click here to see Caregiver Services.

When is a caregiver needed?

Does your elder have one or more of these Red Alerts?

• Families who live out of town
• One or more unplanned hospital stays
• One or more visits to the ER
• One or more falls, trips, or slips
• Forgets to take medication
• Over/under dosing of medications
• Unpaid bills and home not managed well
• Difficulty and anxiety with new tasks
• Lost driving priviledges
• Any degree of cognitive impairment

This is a complex question with some simple answers. The issues involved are complex and include: cognitive, physical, and emotional status; family relationships; the desire to live at home; ability of family and friends to provide adequate assistance, an individual's willingness to accept assistance outside their family network, and financial resources. However, when boiled down to basic cognitive, physical, and emotional assistance needs, it is quite simple.

Cognitive Impairment ‑ If an individual has dementia, memory impairment, or is disoriented to the degree that they pose a risk to themselves or others, they need in home care assistance. When a spouse, family, or friend is unable to be onsite, they need the assistance of an in home caregiver. Many families have trouble believing their loved one needs assistance if the cognitive impairment appears to be mild, and they are otherwise in excellent physical condition. This is an accident waiting to happen. In an emergency, such as a fire from a stove burner that was left on, or a cigarette that was not extinguished, would they know to call the fire department and leave the home?

Long Term Care Insurance companies require no physical disability, if a policy holder is cognitively impaired, to qualify for benefits. If the insurance companies think they need care‑and are willing to pay for it‑you should seriously consider in home care.

Physical Disablities ‑ Many people function for years with physical disabilities. When they no longer can perform a basic "Activity of Daily Living" and their spouse, family, or friends are unable to assist in their performance, then an in home caregiver is needed. Basic Activities of Daily Living include: bathing, dressing, hygiene, using the toilet, feeding oneself, ambulation (walking), or wheelchair tranfers. Long Term Care Insurance companies usually require assistance with 2 activities of daily living, to qualify for benefits.

Of course there are many other activities that one may require assistance with when living at home even if the basic Activities of Daily Living can be performed, such as: grocery shopping, meal preparation, self administration of medication, housekeeping, driving or arranging transportation, home maintenance, caring for pets, and using the telephone to name a few.

Emotional and Social Wellbeing ‑ Once homebound, individuals with diminished physical and/or mental capacity may cease interacting with their friends and social groups, and can become isolated. Caregivers can be a great source of emotional and social support. They can accompany clients shopping, to church, to social functions, play games, and stimulate their thinking. Sometimes a caregiver can just be there to listen to the rich and interesting stories of their client’s lives and share their experiences.

If I want to cancel services, how much notice do you require?

As a courtesy to the caregivers, and our clients, we require just 2 business days notice to cancel services. We understand that life is full of changes. We are very flexible and happy to accommodate your home care needs.

Beware ‑ Some agencies use an unethical contracting practice that preys on the elderly. These agencies will require a large deposit and long notice period (two to four weeks) to cancel or even reduce service. If they do not receive the notice, they keep the deposit and bill for any unpaid services. This is a gimmick to discourage dissatisfied clients from seeking assistance from other agencies. We understand that needs can change quickly; if a family member or friend steps in to provide care, we are happy to provide them relief or supplemental caregivers as needed. Our interest is developing a positive long term relationship, and we refuse to breach our ethics with gimmicks that force clients to keep our agency beyond when we are needed. Our service speaks for itself.

Will Medicare, Health Insurance, HMO, or VA benefits pay for in‑home care?

Unfortunately, HMOs, Health Insurance policies, and Medicare, do not provide any benefit for in home caregiving. They call it custodial or non‑medical home care. There are some Veteran Administration benefits that do cover some home care aide services.

HMOs, Health Insurance, and Medicare provide coverage for "home health care". Usually after a discharge from the hospital a nurse, or physical therapist may come to the home to perform medical services, such as sterile bandage changes or therapy. A nurse assistant may even assist with bathing to maintain hygiene. These care professionals do not stay for an extended period; they arrive, provide hands on care, and leave. Due to the complex nature of maintaining compliance with state licensing and federal regulations, Medicare certified home health agencies do not provide in home caregivers for non‑medical home care, other than an occasional bathing service. Your policy may list "home care", or "personal care services" under the "home health care" benefits, but don't be misled. The "home care" that it refers to only pertains to nurse assistant visits under the supervision of a registered nurse of the home health agency while providing medical services, and are extremely limited in scope.

Will my Long Term Care policy cover this service?

Long Term Care policies provide coverage; however, each policy is different and may have requirements that need to be met before they will pay. We understand that sometimes the policies can be complicated, and the confusing terminology doesn't help, that's why we are happy to help you with this process. If you are considering applying for home care benefits, call us and we'll be happy to review your policy over the phone or in your home, during a needs and preferences assessment. Always call your agent or the insurer for benefit clarification, and to begin the claim process as early as you can. Want to ask expert questions of a Long Term Care Insurance company about a policy?

Will Workers' Compensation Insurance cover home care?

We provide home caregivers to many clients receiving workers' compensation benefits. If non‑medical in home care, sometimes called custodial care or personal care, is authorized, we can provide a caregiver with the prior approval of the workers' compensation insurer and will accept direct payment from the insurer.

What's the first step to acquiring home care services?

The first step is to call, and we can begin learning about your needs and preferences. Then we can meet with you, at a location of your choice to, further assess and define client and family needs and preferences. You can begin right now by calling us, or if you prefer, request a free in‑home consultation online. For your convenience, our knowledgeable staff will even arrange for home care over the phone. Contact us today, and we'll start finding an experienced, qualified, highly compatible caregiver immediately.