Helper Services - Provides or accompanies with: * grocery shopping & errands * transportation to appointments, church services or outings. Homecare Aide Serivices - Provides assistance with the activities of daily living, * bathing, dressing & grooming, hygiene * meal preparation, set up & feeding, * assistance with walking, getting in and out of bed or chairs, transferring from a wheelchair, * exercises * monitoring medication routines. We provide much more, click here for our full list of services! FAQs & Articles WHAT IS PRIVATE DUTY HOME CARE? WHO PAYS FOR IT? Private Duty is the term used for homecare services, which are not covered by Medicare. Medicare does not pay for private duty home care. The client and/or family are usually responsible for the cost. Some insurance plans may cover a portion of the cost, depending on the number of hours and the level of care required. Nightingales will be happy to assist you in contacting your insurance company to see if any of our services are covered. WHO CAN USE PRIVATE DUTY HOME CARE? Private Duty home care is available to everyone, of all ages. Unlike a Medicare agency, private duty services do not require a doctors’ order. This means the client and/or family members are able to decide if they would like or need the services. The client and/or family members are also able to decide on the length and type of services they would like. WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE NIGHTINGALES OVER OTHER AGENCIES? WHAT MAKES NIGHTINGALES DIFFERENT FROM OTHER AGENCIES? Nightingales is not a franchise or a chain. We are locally owned and operated by Chris Blaydes, RN. As a Registered Nurse, Chris17 years of Registered Nursing and Case Management experience serving the Illinois Valley community. Nightingale's Care is more than a sitter/companion service. Though this type of service is available through Nightingales, our staff is trained and qualified to provide much more. Nightingales’ staff is trained and qualified to provide both medical and non-medical services. Nightingales provides “hands on” care. Our clients are not required to get in & out of beds or chairs, or on or off of a toilet or commode on their own. Our clients do not have to be able to walk on their own, feed themselves or provide bathing & personal hygiene independently. Nightingales’ staff has the knowledge base and training to assist with or totally provide these services. Nightingales’ staff includes Certified Nurses Aides and Registered Nurses. All care and services provided are supervised by our Registered Nursing staff. Nightingales’ staff receives on going training, education and supervision by our Registered Nursing staff. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL SERVICES? Medical services focus more directly on the physical and mental health of our clients. Medical services provide for actual “hands on” care provided by our Certified Nurses Aides or our Registered Nurses, when necessary. Non-medical services provide for sitters and companionship when “hands on” or medical care is not needed. HOW DO I ARRANGE FOR SERVICES? A simple phone call is all it takes! After answering all your questions, we will arrange an appointment to meet with you, and your family if you would like. Together we will discuss what type of services would best fit your needs and lifestyle. A plan of care will then be established and supervised by our Registered Nursing staff. DOES NIGHTINGALES REQUIRE A CONTRACT OR DEPOSIT? No. Nightingales does not require a contract or a deposit. You can continue with Nightingales for as long as you need or as short as you want - and you can always have us back again. HOW DOES NIGHTINGALES SCREEN AND SELECT ITS’ EMPLOYEES? During the hiring process, all of Nightingales’ staff is thoroughly interviewed, reference checks and criminal background checks are performed. All of Nightingales’ staff is from local communities, we do not recruit employees from other areas. CAN I REACH AN AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT? Yes. Nightingales is available to assist you when ever the need arises. An agency representative is available to our clients, their families and our staff - 24 hours a day/365 days a year. A Registered Nurse is also available - 24 hours a day/365 days a year should a medical condition arise. WHY NOT JUST HIRE A CAREGIVER PRIVATELY AND SAVE THE COST OF GOING THROUGH AN AGENCY? If you are considering hiring your own caregivers to save costs - BEWARE! Being the “employer” on your own involves significant risks and liabilities. To name only a few….. * You will be responsible for any work related injuries, professional liability and payroll taxes. (Social Security, Unemployment, Federal & State) You will be responsible for interviewing, background checks, training and supervision. * Your risks are further increased with the potential of hiring an unreliable, unqualified or poorly trained individual. All of Nightingales’ staff remains Nightingales employees. This means Nightingales is responsible for hiring, training, payroll, taxes, insurance, scheduling and supervision.