How do I know that my caregiver will be honest and trustworthy?
How do you supervise your employees?
Will I get the same caregiver(s) all the time?
How do I know that I will get along with a caregiver?
Do you employ live-in caregivers?
Can you provide short-term care?
Can I interview the caregiver prior to the start of services?
Do I have to sign a contract with you?
Do I have to contract for a certain period of time?
Can the schedule be changed?
How quickly can services be provided?
What do I need to do to start services?
How often do I get billed for services?
Do you provide services in assisted living facilities?
Does Medicare cover your services?
My resources are limited. What should I do?
Does Medicaid cover your services?
Why would I use an agency if I can hire a caregiver privately for less cost?

How do I know that my caregiver will be honest and trustworthy?
Lighthouse Home Care completes a national arrest record check and criminal background check, a Department of Motor Vehicle check, a drug test, a reference check and a prior employment verification check. They are all employees of the company, need to follow policies and procedures of the company and are bonded and insured. All of our caregivers must have experience in the field and current employees refer many caregivers to us.

How do you supervise your employees?
A Care Manager introduces each caregiver to the client at the beginning of services and completes an in-depth review of the care plan. During the first month of service the representative visits the client and caregiver every 7 to 10 days to insure that the plan is being properly followed and that the client is pleased with the services and caregiver(s). The representative will then continue to make visits at least every 3 months or to introduce a new caregiver or communicate a change in the care plan. In addition, the caregiver is required to keep a care journal in the client’s home and to submit a weekly activity sheet to the company. Each caregiver is instructed to call the office on a timely basis if there is a change in the client’s condition.

Will I get the same caregiver(s) all the time?
We try our best to give you the same caregivers on a regular basis. Our preference is to have two caregivers on each case so that if there is a call-out the client will have a familiar caregiver to fill in. However, if the client prefers just one caregiver we will accommodate that request. If the case is 7 days per week, we will rotate the same caregivers. We understand that our clients will bond with the caregivers and that change can be a difficult situation for many of our clients. Therefore, we keep that in mind when assigning caregivers.

How do I know that I will get along with a caregiver?
Part of the reason that a Care Manager interviews each client and obtains input from family and other health care professionals, is to obtain information about the personality of the client. In this way, our managers can choose the appropriate caregiver for the case. The client may also interview the prospective caregiver(s) prior to the start of service, time permitting. If after a time, the client and the caregiver seem to be incompatible, a new caregiver can be introduced. We encourage communication between all parties to assure client satisfaction.

Do you employ live-in caregivers?
Yes we do. We have both caregivers that drive and have their own cars and caregivers that do not. Live-in caregivers must have their own room.

Can you provide short-term care?
Yes. Many of our clients only need care for a short period of time until they get back to being able to doing normal activities. We also can provide services for respite care or individuals just visiting in the area.

Can I interview the caregiver prior to the start of services?
Yes. Once you have contracted with Lighthouse Home Care, you may interview caregivers.

Do I have to sign a contract with you?
Yes. Because we are registered with the State of Connecticut it is mandatory that there is a contract that explains and clarifies the services that will be provided, the initial schedule and the price of services. This is for your protection.

Do I have to contract for a certain period of time?
No. You may cancel services at any time with appropriate notice.

Can the schedule be changed?
Yes. Your schedule may need to be changed for several reasons. It can be reduced or increased as needs and conditions change.

How quickly can services be provided?
Although we would like to have 2 weeks notice, we understand that most times this is not possible. We can begin services in as little as 24 to 48 hours.

What do I need to do to start services?
The first step is to have an initial consultation and have an assessment conducted. If you would like to use Lighthouse Home Care as your provider, you would need to go to contract and provide the company with a $200 deposit so that we may assign caregivers to your case and build your schedule.

How often do I get billed for services?
You will be billed on a weekly basis.

Do you provide services in assisted living facilities?
Yes. Many times the basic services contracted for in an assisted living facility are not sufficient. We can then assist you with an extension of those services.

Does Medicare cover your services?
No. We are a private pay company. We do accept long-term care insurance.

My resources are limited. What should I do?
Once you have used a certain amount of your assets, the State of Connecticut has a home care program that you may qualify for. Go to our “Resources” page to access the appropriate web site.

Does Medicaid cover your services?
Not at this time. Go to our “Resources” page to access the appropriate web site.

Why would I use an agency if I can hire a caregiver privately for less cost?
When you hire a caregiver privately, background checks are not available to the extent that they are to an agency, you would be responsible for insurance and most importantly there is no supervision and there are no policies and procedures for them to follow. What price can you put on peace of mind?