We are not alone...

 No, this is not about extraterrestrials.  We're referring to the inevitable cycle of going from "being the

child and depending on parents" to "being the child that is caring for parents, and family, and career...".  It usually happens slowly, so slowly that most people are unaware until they are nearly pushed to a breaking point.  A light usually goes on at that point, and a decision is made to make changes.  The biggest problem here is that most people have waited far to long, and in an effort to set things right quickly, they make poor choices.
  Well known journalist Katie Couric recently began posting some articles about this transition.  She does a great job of explaining her family's situation, their challenges, thoughts, and plans.  One of the best quotes she makes is "Whatever we decide, we'll do it together, and I take some comfort in knowing we're not the only baby boomers dealing with these questions. There are no easy answers."
  You can read the entire article here.  It's an easy read and gets quickly to the point.  If you're feeling this pinch, or know someone that is, give us a call.  We work with families on a daily basis to find a solution that will work best for them.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!

 

The Pitfalls of Contracting Home Care

 Recently, lawsuits were launched against a large In Home Care company regarding their business practices.  In a nutshell, the company acted like a 'Placement Agency', locating workers that would then act as caregivers in private homes.  The workers would be paid directly by the client, and the Home Care Agency would bill the client for a finder's fee.  It's also important to note that the agency would not be licensed as a Home Care provider.

  In this scenario, the worker is actually a contractor working directly for the client, and not the Home Care company.  This means that the client in essence has hired their own employee, and is responsible for all taxes, social security, insurance, etc., that must be filed with state and federal government.  Even if the worker claims "1099 Contractor" status, all payments must be reported by the client, and the contract employee is liable for the payments.  The Home Care company has no obligation to perform any of these duties.  The lawsuits are claiming fraud, neglect, misrepresentation, and concealment of information to name a few.

  Probably the biggest draw to this sort of agreement is that the hourly costs are lower, typically by about %20 when compare to a licensed Home Care Agency.  However, when the liability of maintaining, reporting, and accurately managing the previously mentioned employee relationship is factored in, those savings are quickly lost.  The reality is that liability & costs are easily higher.

  At Home Helpers, all of our staff are employees of the agency.  They have undergone background checks, receive recurrent training, and are covered by our insurance policies.  As employees, all payroll requirements are covered by us.  When shopping for care services, these are critical items to keep in mind!  Be sure to look at the bigger picture!!!  Visit us online at www.lknHomeCare.com to learn more about us and our services.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!

Purchasing a Medical Alert Unit - Final Chapter

In the final installment of our series on Med Alert Systems, we'd like to offer a few quick tips on some of the items/features that are often overlooked in these systems.  Remember, the ultimate goal is to make an intelligent purchase!

One question we hear frequently is what is the difference in a "911 Dialer" and a full Medical Alert systems.  "911 Dialers" are typically available at drug stores, department stores, etc. They advertise a "One time fee", which is the purchase price, and no monthly fees.  While these may look similar to a Medical Alert unit, they differ in that they have one function: Dial 911.  On the surface, this may seem to meet the basic requirement.  However, there are drawbacks to this type of device, not the least of which is the ability to test it on a regular basis without contacting the 911 emergency center. If it's not tested regularly, how can you confirm it's function???  In addition, this type of unit does not provide health information to the responders, nor does it allow for "lesser needs" calls, such as having a neighbor or family member be contacted for some reason.

Before making your purchase, you should ask where the monitoring center is located. During a crisis clear communication is crucial, and adding an off-shore accent to deal with can slow things down.  Finally, on-going support & service are important.  When you're depending on a device for emergency events, it's comforting to know that, if there is a problem, it's easily resolved.  Local service is invaluable in this regard.

All of the units carried by our agency are installed & supported locally, our monitoring is provided by a CSAA 5-star U.S. center, and we're close by.  Feel free to view the most popular units we have on our web site.  If you have any questions,  give us a call.  We'll be glad to assist you in any way we can!

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!