- Who is Seasons of Care?
- What makes Seasons of Care different or the preferred provider?
- Does Seasons of Care provide personal care services (i.e. medical services) or just companionship or nonmedical services?
- Is Seasons of Care “certified?”
- How do you select your caregivers?
- Are the caregivers insured and bonded?
- Who supervises the caregivers who come to our home?
- When are caregivers available?
- Why should I use Seasons of Care instead of hiring my own caregiver?
- Will we always have the same caregiver?
- Who pays the caregiver?
- What is the first step for getting service?
- How are caregivers prepared for a new client?
- Are your services available in retirement communities, assisted living facilities or nursing homes?
1. Who is Seasons of Care?
Seasons of Care is full service Medicare certified home health company founded in 2002. It is owned by Tricia Schaum who manages the day to day operations of the business. She makes herself available to their clients as well as people who are calling for information. Often callers are facing the need for home care for the first time and do not know where to start. She takes the time with callers to answer their questions and to help them in any way and to provide as much useful information as possible.
As a user of home care services for over 30 years for her own mother, she knows firsthand how difficult it is for people to accept that they need help. She also understands how daunting it can be to not only determine what is the best option for your loved one but how to go about getting the care and help they need.
2. What makes Seasons of Care different or the preferred provider?
The biggest difference is Seasons of Care’s philosophy and mission for caring. From the beginning, Seasons of Care has cared for every person the way we would care for our own loved ones. And that is just not something we say or put in a brochure. It is what we do each and every day. Many clients tell us they have never experienced the high level of quality care and service that they receive from Seasons of Care.
These are some of the reasons our clients tell us that we are “the best” home care company that have ever known. And that is why most of our business comes from client referrals and “word of mouth”.
Another difference is that we are a full service home health care company. We provide both Private Pay and Skilled Services. Most companies, including hospital home care providers do not offer both kinds of services. This is an important benefit for clients who need more help and care than what Medicare provides. It is just so much easier and better to have all services provided by one provider.
3. Does Seasons of Care provide Personal Care Services or just companionship or housekeeping services?
Seasons of Care is one of the few companies that provide both Personal Care
Services and Homemaking Services.
Examples of Personal Care Services:
Bathing, Grooming, Dressing, Medication Reminders, Range of Motion exercises
Examples of Homemaking Services:
Companionship, Meal Preparation, Light Housekeeping, Laundry
4. Is Seasons of Care “certified?"
Seasons of Care is a certified Medicare Home Health Care company. As a Medicare certified home are company, Seasons of Care provides Skilled Services including Nursing and Therapy for Medicare patients. We have the same credentials and adhere to the same home care regulations and standards as any Medicare home care company, including those associated with hospitals.
While we provide the same medical services, our record is very different. Seasons of Care has been DEFICIENCY FREE for every Medicare survey. That means that Seasons of Care has never had to correct any deficiencies cited by the Medicare Surveyors. For most providers, they report they are deficiency free after they have corrected their deficiencies and the corrections are approved by the surveyors.
We have been told that they are only a few home care companies in Ohio who have a DEFICIENCY FREE Medicare record like Seasons of Care. And we are very proud of our accomplishment as we know the level of care and service we give to each of our clients every day.
5. How do you select your caregivers?
The company has a formal employment process. The process begins with a written examination to test their clinical and home care knowledge. If the applicant passes the examination, extensive interviews are conducted. Once it is determined the applicant has the skills and experience that we are looking for, the applicant begins the Employment process. References are checked, previous employment verified, and thorough background checks looking at felony and misdemeanor conviction history is completed. If “all checks out”, the applicant is scheduled for the Orientation Program.
The full day Orientation consists of 2 parts:
Orientation to Seasons of Care (1/2 day)
Mission, Policies and Procedures, Employee Handbook, etc.
Clinical Skills Testing (1/2 day)
A Registered Nurse tests the caregivers clinical skills and knowledge in a classroom setting. Caregivers are not assigned a client until they successfully pass the Clinical Test.
Our caregivers are home care professionals who have been thoroughly screened, tested and oriented to the company and to each client’s needs. We make sure that the caregivers have the essential skills to be successful.
6. Are the caregivers insured and bonded?
Every employee is fingerprinted for an extensive background check. They must have auto liability insurance, and a TB vaccination.
The company has comprehensive liability insurance as well. Because they are employees and not independent contractors, each employee is covered by Workers Compensation.
7. Who supervises the caregivers who come to our home?
Caregivers are supervised by the Care Coordinator, Clinical Manager and, ultimately, by the Owner. The caregivers are required to submit records of each client visit with their weekly time sheets. The Care Coordinator reviews these visit records on a weekly basis.
The Owner of Seasons of Care and the Care Coordinator make regular on-site visits to check the quality of care provided. We call clients and their family members on a regular basis to determine their level of satisfaction with our services. We encourage clients and family members to call us with any questions or issues so that we can resolve them.
8. When are caregivers available?
They are available when you need them. Our services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. There is usually a three hour minimum for a visit. But there is no minimum number of hours or visits for each week or month.
We have clients who have Seasons of Care caregivers every day, several days a week, or once a week. The caregiver may be with the client three hours each day or there may be caregivers 24 hours a day with the client. It is whatever the client and family needs to make sure their loved one is safe and secure.
9. Why should I use Seasons of Care instead of hiring my own caregiver?
There are several reasons. First, when you have a Seasons of Care caregiver, you are guaranteed to have a qualified and experienced caregiver. Their backgrounds have been checked and they are regularly supervised. It also means that if a caregiver is sick or on vacation, Seasons of Care arranges for another caregiver who is equally qualified.
10. Will we always have the same caregiver?
We know that consistency and continuity of care is extremely important. But we have found that it is best to have at least two caregivers who are familiar with the needs of the client. Depending on how much service a client receives, we will always have at least two or three caregivers who can meet the needs of the client.
11. Who pays the caregiver?
All of our Caregivers are employees--not independent contractors. As employees, Seasons of Care covers payroll taxes and workers compensation benefits. No money is ever exchanged between the caregiver and client. An invoice is sent to each client with an addressed return envelope.
12. What is the first step for getting service?
The first step is a free In-Home Assessment. The Owner of Seasons of Care meets with each new client in the client’s home to get to know their personal situation, needs and expectations. This meeting gives us an opportunity to further explain home care services and to answer your questions.
We know it is very difficult to obtain and accept help in your home for the first time. That is why we take the time to meet with you and your family so that you can feel more comfortable about the home care process. It also gives us a better insight as to which caregiver would be the best match for your needs and situation.
We develop a personalized Plan of Care that outlines the assistance needed for the client. The Plan assists you with daily living activities to maintain not only your quality of health but your quality of life.
13. How are caregivers prepared for a new client?
The Care Coordinator matches the skills and experiences of the caregiver with the needs of the new client. Seasons of Care never places a caregiver that does not have the necessary skills, experience and personality for the specific situation.
Once the caregiver is selected, the Care Coordinator reviews the personalized Care Plan for the new client in great detail with the caregiver. The assigned caregiver also has the opportunity to call the Care Coordinator with any questions as well. Our objective is to develop a good working and caring relationship with you from the first day.
14. Are your services available in retirement communities, assisted living facilities or nursing homes?
Yes. Our services assist people who need assistance with daily activities and can be provided anywhere a person needs help… in their home, in the hospital, assisted living, nursing home or retirement community.
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