FAQs

Your Syracuse In Home Senior Care Questions Answered!

Our Syracuse, NY home health care team wants to make your search for home care services easier, so we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked home care questions.

Click the questions below to reveal their answers.

Q: In what areas are your services available?
We are proud to provide home care services in Syracuse, NY and the surrounding suburbs in Onondaga County.
Q: Who needs in-home care?

Any senior looking to maintain independence at home or family caregiver in need of extra help or respite care can benefit from in-home care services. We offer non-medical senior home care services, covering needs from full-time, round-the-clock care to a few hours of companionship or assistance with daily tasks such as personal care, housekeeping, and cooking, just to name a few.

Q: How much does the service cost?
At Home Independent Living provides services at an hourly range depending on individual needs. We can answer this question better during a free family consultation.
Q. What are my payment options for home care services?

We accept several payment options for our home care services, including:

  • Private pay
  • Long-term care insurance
  • Veteran’s aid and attendance benefits

We know that understanding your payment options for in-home care can be confusing, so we are always happy to help walk you through the different payment options available to you. You may also like to view our Funding Home Care brochure.

Q. Are your home care services covered through Medicare, Medicaid, or insurance?
Our services can be covered by long-term care insurance for qualifying individuals.
Q. Is your agency licensed?
Although companion/homemaking agencies are not required to be licensed in New York State, we meet all NYS and federal employment regulations.
Q. Are your caregivers insured and bonded?
Yes. All of our caregivers are employed by our agency and are insured and bonded for your protection.
Q. What makes At Home Independent Living different from other in-home care companies?
We are a family owned and managed non-franchise business established in 1984, and are proud to have received the national Best of Home Care award every year since 2011. Additionally, all of our caregivers are employees of the company. Please see Our Differences page for more details.
Q. Who can receive in-home care?
Anyone interested in enhancing safety, independence and well-being in the comfort of home is eligible for At Home Independent Living’s professional in-home care services.
Q. Will I be able to reach a caregiver after hours? If so, how can I contact someone after hours?
All phone calls go to the agency office 24 hours a day. Call (315) 579-HOME (4663) and follow phone prompts after hours to get to on-call At Home Independent Living management.
Q. How quickly can I arrange for service?
We’ve been able to start some cases the day after we were contacted, but the timeframe for services depends upon a number of factors. Typically it takes about a week to get our services in place.
Q. Do you require a commitment to a minimum of hours and days a week in order to provide care?
Our minimum hour requirement per week is 4 hours. That could be one 4-hour shift or two 2-hour shifts. We’ll work with you to determine what you need and how to best meet those needs.
Q. Are your services available in nursing homes or assisted living facilities?
Yes. We provide services to assisted living, nursing home, hospital or rehab facilities.
Q. What if my caregiver is sick and cannot make it to my house?
All clients or responsible family members are contacted and notified that the scheduled caregiver cannot make it to the scheduled assignment. It is the decision of the client or family member as to whether the visit should be rescheduled or whether a replacement caregiver should be sent. In the case of inclement weather, we may not always be able to send a replacement.
Q. What kind of services do you provide?
We provide a variety of caregiving and housekeeping services that are tailored to your individual needs and wants, including transportation to outings or appointments, cleaning, cooking, laundry, pet care, engaging in social and/or intellectual stimulation, and most importantly, keeping you safe in your home.
Q. How are your caregivers screened?
Each caregiver, prior to employment, goes through three separate interviews. Each caregiver takes an online personality assessment specific to caregiving, a caregiving knowledge base test provided by the National Home Care Association of America, and goes through a thorough federal, state and county background check, driving record check, and previous employment verification prior to hiring. Following employment, random drug screening starts immediately and background checks are re-verified every two years.
Q. What kind of training do your caregivers receive?
We provide basic classroom training prior to caregivers starting work along with specific training if required to meet individual client needs. In addition, we have periodic and seasonal in-services to enhance caregivers’ knowledge. While there is no mandated training curriculum for non-medical agencies in New York State, we provide access to an extensive online caregiver training library with financial recognition to those caregivers who take initiative to enhance their knowledge and skills.
Q: Do you offer an emergency response system?
Yes! We partner with Electronic Caregiver™ to provide a personal emergency response system to promote safety, especially for those who are at risk of a fall, as well as those who could benefit from medication reminders. Learn more here.
Q: What digital tools are available to help me while I am alone?
Through our partnership with Electronic Caregiver™, we can help you select the right product and plan for your particular concerns and needs. For instance, these tools can help with chronic care management, instant access to a medical professional to answer questions, immediate medical care in an emergency, or even a state-of-the-art, 3D animated virtual caregiver.

 

Contact our team today to learn more about our in home care services in Cicero, Syracuse, Clay, Fayetteville, Salina, Camillus, and the surrounding areas. Click here to view our full service area.