The Atlanta area is home to many home care agencies, which mainly fall into two categories: local businesses and franchises. While franchises are locally owned and operated, they are generally required to adhere to policies and procedures dictated by the national entity. By contrast, local independent businesses may have more flexibility. Full Heart Home Care LLC is an independent company formed in Atlanta to serve Atlanta and surrounding areas.
Regardless of type, the following are some criteria to consider when considering home care companies.
Caregivers as Employees
Caregivers should be W-2 employees of the agency you choose, not contractors. This protects you from liability in the event of an injury and prevents you from being sued by a caregiver. Caregivers who are employees of a licensed agency are covered by the company’s worker’s compensation policy, and the company’s general liability insurance and bonding (also known as theft insurance) protects you. Additionally, agencies take care of payroll taxes, giving you one less thing to worry about.
Caregiver Vetting
The topic of background checks is more complex than a simple yes or no. A range of background checks is available. An individual can obtain the most basic type from his or her local police department, but the scope of this check is local and extremely limited. While some home care companies might rely only on this most basic check, many go a step further with a slightly more expensive standard background check, which includes a national criminal search. However, many offenses will not show up in the national screening and others will not appear as “criminal” offenses. Full Heart Home Care invests in the most thorough background checks allowable by law, which go back seven years and include motor vehicle records. Be sure to ask what is included in the background checks for any agency you’re considering.
Not all background checks are created equal…
Full Heart Home Care:
Industry Standard:
Flexible Scheduling
All home care agencies in Georgia are required to accommodate client decisions to cancel or change planned services without penalty, so all should be flexible in that regard. However, most agencies have a fixed hourly rate and minimum visit duration, which means you have to pay for the minimum two or three hours, even if you only need a caregiver for one hour. Full Heart Home Care does not have a minimum visit duration or minimum number of hours per week. If you only need one hour of help, we will be happy to accommodate you. Because our rates vary according to how much care is needed, shorter visits will be more expensive per hour but will certainly be more affordable than paying for an extra hour or two you don’t need.
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, Full Heart Home Care is a local, independent company. We are here to serve you, regardless of how much or how little care you need. We will listen to you, then work with you to create a care plan that’s as unique as you are. Please contact us to learn more!
