Why should I choose your service?
Atlantic Caregiving places a heavy emphasis on screening caregivers and making sure there is a good fit between client and caregiver. Many of our placements are due to word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied Bermuda clients and their families. Our Managerial Staff stay in close contact on a regular basis with our caregivers and clients to ensure you are happy with all aspects of our service.
Are your caregivers experienced?
Our caregivers have a wide range of experience. We have qualified nurses, certified caregivers and all are qualified in CPR. Even more importantly, they have a passion for providing care – and they are our employees, thoroughly interviewed, screened and background checked, trained and oriented. One of our guiding principles is that we will never hire someone that we wouldn’t feel comfortable placing with our own families.
What are your home care rates?
Because our services and schedules are tailored to the needs of the client, the rate of service for each client is determined at the initial assessment meeting, when our coordinators meet with the client and/or the client’s family in their home to get a good idea of the client’s situation and needs. Rates range from $34.00 – $45.00 per hour. The assessment fee is $50.
What are my payment options?
There are a variety of payment options,
- Private Pay – We accept personal cheques and direct deposits.
- Online bank transfers
- Credit Cards are accepted but a 5% charge is added to the invoice or statement
A two-week security deposit is required before services begin. This deposit is held until the service ends and is applied to the final invoice or refunded to the client.
Clients are invoiced every two weeks.
Will Future Care or my private insurance reimburse for your services?
You must check with your individual private insurance company on what your policy states regarding at home care. Futurecare clients should check with the future care agents to arrange an assessment by their case managers to determine eligibility for personal home care benefits.
Wouldn’t it be cheaper to hire someone privately instead of through an agency like yours?
It might be cheaper, but you would not get the range of services provided by Atlantic Caregiving. Our coordinators fully interview and screen our caregivers, check references and conduct a police check. Coverage of scheduled hours could be an issue if the private duty staff is ill or needs time off. We conduct regular quality checks and if a caregiver is not a good fit for a client, we will replace them.
Do we have to sign a contract for a certain length of time?
To begin services we require a signed Contract and Terms of Business, that doesn’t obligate you for any specific time. The purpose of the agreement is to review our services and to outline expectations. We do require a 24-hour notice for all cancellations for us to contact scheduled caregivers and inform them of the shift cancellation or change. Termination of services require 2 weeks-notice on long term clients.
Can I change my services and/or my schedule after I sign the Service Agreement?
Yes. Simply call our office and speak with one of our coordinators with any changes you would like to make.
May I receive your services in other settings besides my home?
Yes. We are happy to provide care in nursing facilities, hospitals, rehabilitation centres and other places, and as a travel companion. We also assist with the transition from one location to another, such as a rehabilitation facility to home or home to an assisted living residence.
How quickly can I have a caregiver in place?
We can usually place a caregiver with a client within a day or so, although this is dependent on the hours of coverage being requested. We insist on carrying out an initial assessment and home visit to determine the level of care needed, making the best match for the client and writing a care plan before starting the service.
Will I always have the same caregiver?
Atlantic Caregiving believes that an important part of our service is consistency and we make every effort to send the caregiver with whom you are familiar. If your regular caregiver is unable to work a scheduled shift due to vacation, illness or some other emergency, we will do everything possible to find a suitable substitute and will keep you informed of any changes.
What happens if a caregiver is sick or needs a vacation?
We will provide a substitute caregiver to meet your needs and we will ensure that the replacement has been fully orientated by our Nurse Consultant. Our written care plan ensures that our caregivers know exactly what needs to be done when filling in for someone else. We also communicate to the client and family members of this change to make sure they are comfortable with the temporary person we are sending.
Will I be able to reach a supervisor or someone at any time of day?
Atlantic Caregiving provides a hotline to on-call staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for EMERGENCIES.
Why do your Nurse Coordinators come by? Is there something wrong?
Our nurses make it a point to visit every client on a regular basis and will do so on an unscheduled basis to ensure quality. We feel that by staying close to our clients and their assigned caregivers, we are better able to address each individual client’s changing needs.
What is a live-in situation and why would I want to consider it?
The live-in option is a wonderful alternative for clients who would like the security of having someone in their home and do not require hourly around-the-clock care. A live-in caregiver works directly with the client 8-10 hours per day, has free time 6-8 hours, and sleeps at night. Atlantic Caregiving can provide caregivers to cover days off. The live-in rate is less than the cost of hourly around-the-clock care.