About Us

• Geriatric Care Coordination
• Companion Care/Safety Supervision
• Homemaking – (light housekeeping, shopping, errands, meal preparation)
• Personal Care/Personal Assistance – (hands on, non-medical assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, grooming, dressing)
• Respite – (a combination of companion/homemaking/personal care but in blocks of 12 or 24 hours, meant to give caregivers of client relief)
• Handyman/Chore – (heavy cleaning, windows, carpets, assistance with moving, yard work, light home repairs, home maintenance)

We are licensed as a non-skilled, private duty home care agency in the state of PA.  Our private duty program is also licensed to roster caregivers under the Registry Model of service; however, a caregiver cannot legally work in our traditional Agency Model program and be a rostered caregiver in our Registry Model.

We can provide services in Allegheny, Washington, Fayette, Greene, Westmoreland, and Butler counties.  We are always open to considering a care request, so any area could be considered, although most of our caregivers serve Allegheny, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.

It is difficult to assign cost simply based on a care request, as every client has special and unique needs, and every care environment is different.  It is always best to allow our admission staff to visit with you, assess your environment and care needs, and together with you work out a care plan and related costs that make the most sense for you.  Under the Agency Model, there are multiple value-added aspects to our service that you may not realize until you begin receiving care. 

All our clients receive an initial care assessment and a personalized care plan.  Each client also receives ongoing monitoring and care coordination, to ensure our services are meeting your care needs and that you are safe, satisfied, and happy.  Our staff are continually monitored as they provide care, both through regular daily monitors of their calls in and out of our automated telephony system, and through on site, unannounced visits by our field supervisors.  We provide backup coverage should your regular caregiver need time off.  We provide regular training and specialized speakers that are always open to our clients and/or families to attend.  We provide our families with the support and guidance they need to navigate through the maze of caring for a loved one – from getting the care and supplies needed to determining how to pay for it.  We provide on call support after hours seven days/week.

In general, you can expect to pay between $28.75 – $35.75 an hour for services like companion, homemaking or personal care services; $35.00 – $55.00/hour for chore, Home Health aide bath visits are a minimum of $50/visit (visit cannot exceed 2 hours).  Final rates will be based on your specific care needs.  It is possible that a companion only case could cost more than a homemaking case – simply based on the care circumstances.  Rates are adjusted on an annual basis to accommodate cost of living increases.

We are also mandated by our Medicaid contract to charge private duty and visit rates at or above our contracted Medicaid rates – those rates can change periodically, and they will dictate our minimum ranges for each service type.

There could be different rates charged depending on the duration of the shift you request, whether you need care on a holiday, and if you request a caregiver to work overtime.  Generally, the difference is applied as an hourly differential for each hour worked.  All these costs, or potential costs, will be fully outlined in writing and explained in detail to you prior to receiving care.  We will also remind you of any additional amount you could be charged if you request care during a time that will cause you to incur any additional costs.

• PA Medicaid Waiver (Attendant Care/Act 150, ODP)
• PA Medicaid/Community Health Choices MCO’s:  UPMC, Amerihealth Caritas, PA Health & Wellness
• Area Agency on Aging Options program (Washington, Fayette, Greene, Westmoreland)
• VA
• ALS
• Community Life
• Longwood at Home
• Providence at Home

• Medicaid (Waiver Programs)
• UPMC, Amerihealth Caritas, PA Health & Wellness – Community Health Choices Program
• VA
• Various Long Term Care Insurances
• Some Private Insurances

Yes, we – and all our caregivers – are fully insured with the following:

• Professional Liability
• General Liability
• Worker’s Compensation
• Property Insurance
• Dishonesty/Crime Insurance (what “bonded” means)
• Umbrella Auto Insurance (above what our individual caregivers must maintain)

The above insurances cover everything from a caregiver injury while providing you care, to repair or replacement of something broken by one of our caregivers.

• If you require service that you will be paying for with your own funds (not government subsidized or paid through private insurance, Medicaid), you need only call our office and make a service request with our Client Services Manager.  Our CSM can answer all of your service questions, send you service information, and determine our ability to provide you with the service you or your loved one requires.

• Once we determine we can serve your needs, one of our Care Teams will be assigned to you.  Your Care Team will consist of an Admission Coordinator or Geriatric Care Coordinator, a Scheduling Coordinator, a Team Leader, and the caregiver (s) who will provide your care. 

• Our Coordinators coordinate your care and supports your caregiver in the field while our Scheduling Coordinator is responsible for day-to-day scheduling of your care. Your Coordinator and Scheduling Coordinator work together to ensure you are always receiving the care you require with the highest level of quality and excellent customer service.  We also utilize a Field Monitor Coordinator who conducts all our field monitors, assuring the aides who provide you with care are always meeting your expectations.

• Once your team is assigned, our Admission Coordinator will come to your home at your convenience to review your care needs, create your service plan, and answer your questions.  It is at this time that your schedule and service rates will be determined.

• Once your caregiver(s) have been selected, our Admission Coordinator will arrange a visit with you so you can meet suitable potential caregivers.  If you are not satisfied with the caregiver(s) we have selected, we can arrange for you to meet a different caregiver, who, with your help, better meets your specifications.  Care proceeds from here based on your schedule.

• If you have Medicaid, VA, are receiving funding through a local Area Agency on Aging, or have private long-term care or medical insurance that will be paying for your care or any portion of it – you will need to follow their process for acquiring and securing care.  We can help you with determining what that process is and guide you through it.  If you are not sure what you might qualify for, you should start by calling the Area Agency on Aging’s SeniorLine (every county has its own) and request an assessment for services.  An intake worker will come to your home to assess your care needs, determine if you are eligible for any government subsidy for care, and guide you through the necessary steps to qualify for subsidized care (this includes Waiver programs).  Once you are eligible, you can choose which provider you wish to provide your care from among those certified through Medicaid.

• If you are paying for your care privately, you can request whatever care or support you wish.  As long as we feel our staff are competent, and the care is appropriate, we are happy to provide it.  If your care is subsidized or through private insurance, your carrier will determine what services you can receive, how much, and for how long.  We will be required to follow your carrier’s service requirements at all times. You can also supplement your carrier’s service by paying privately for different or additional care, should you want it.

While we strive to serve all clients, it may be difficult for us to staff infrequent shifts, schedules that change frequently or shifts that are less than three hours in duration, unless you are requesting visit-based care. For the most consistent, reliable care it is best to schedule care in consistent shifts that are two hours in duration or longer.  The reason for this is simple:  if you want a reliable, consistent, and high-quality caregiver, the schedule you request from us must also be reliable, consistent, and high quality. It is exceedingly difficult for our caregivers to travel to multiple clients to work shifts that are less than three hours long. To ensure we maintain a ready, strong, and reliable workforce – it is essential that we be able to offer our caregivers reasonable assignments. This is for your benefit, as much as it is for our caregivers.  For this reason, we do not typically accept requests for service that are less than a three hour shift.  We may agree to do so but if we do, you will be charged a premium rate for all service provided less than the three hour shift minimum.

If your care is paid by Medicaid or County subsidy, or if you have private insurance paying for any of your care, there will be restrictions and care requirements that those payers will require and must be followed.

If you are paying privately, you are able to request whatever care you would like from us.  As long as we feel the request is appropriate and we have a caregiver who is able to fulfill your request, there will be no restrictions.  As a general rule, to transport clients assigned staff must take and pass our driver’s certification training.  Requests to transport or drive a client can be considered and approved on a case-by-case basis, however specific insurance requirements must be met, and all instances of transport must be clearly defined in your service plan.  Mileage charges will apply above and beyond the hourly rate for service.

We employ the following types of caregivers:

• Companions/Homemakers
• Personal Care Aides
• Certified Nurse Aides/Home Health Aides

Each type of caregiver has specific training requirements and can provide certain levels of care based on that training.  Home care aides typically have between 40 and 75 hours of training (formal or through previous on the job training).  All of our employees are CPR/1^st aid certified, have clear criminal records, a complete physical upon hire, are free from communicable diseases and are tested for TB.  All staff must also pass a series of hands-on skills competency tests and an intensive orientation.  Every employee has at least two positive reference checks and must be a solid match for our agency’s mission and philosophy in care delivery.  All newly hired employees must undergo an initial assessment phase of 90 days of enhanced monitors that verifies and assures they are a good fit and can meet all performance expectations while in the field.  Employees must also complete a minimum of 12 hours of continuing education annually.  Our employees are monitored in the field regularly and performance is evaluated formally twice a year.

Reliable, satisfying coverage is our priority, we understand how important this is to our clients – so we will make every attempt initially to create the best match possible for you, using our unique skill matching system.  If at any time you are not fully satisfied with your caregiver, you should call your Coordinator who handles your care coordination and discuss your concerns with him/her.  We always do everything we can to work at finding the best fit, which is for your benefit and the benefit of our caregivers. 

We are available 24/7 – if you need us after 5pm, before 9am or on the weekend/ a holiday, we can be reached at (412) 523-7841.  If your caregiver calls off, you will be given a choice for a replacement, we try to plan proactively for times like this by having at least one other qualified caregiver shadow with your regular staff person.  If you would like a replacement aide, we will send a replacement caregiver on the day your regular caregiver is off.  There are times when we are given little or no notice of an employee call off, and in those cases we may experience difficulty finding a qualified, immediately available replacement.  Reliability is one of the most important aspects of our care, so we always do everything we can to assure we cover all shifts/visits, but you should always have a backup plan in place as well.