Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What does it mean that AngeliCare is accredited by The Joint Commission?
A. Accreditation means that AngeliCare has undergone a challenging, comprehensive on-site evaluation by a Joint Commission surveyor, similar to the process that local hospitals undertake to become accredited. The Joint Commission is considered the gold standard in health care and accreditation illustrates AngeliCare’s commitment to the highest level of client care and safety. We encourage you to ask your healthcare provider about The Joint Commission and what accreditation means in terms of quality of care. Back to Top
Q. What is in-home care?
A. Home care encompasses a broad range of non-medical personal care and support services provided to maturing seniors, health-challenged individuals, and disabled adults in their own residence. Support is provided by a professional CareGiver who assists the care recipient with everyday tasks they can no longer manage themselves. Back to Top
Q. What’s the difference between home care and home health care?
A. Home Care provides non-medical care to individuals in their own home. This type of “custodial" care focuses on helping individuals with their activities of daily living (ADLs), such as dressing, bathing, and meals. The majority of costs are usually covered by private pay.
Home Health Care is physician-prescribed care involving skilled nursing, physical therapy, or other treatment performed by licensed medical professionals. Home health care is designed to help seniors (or other patients) recuperate from an injury, illness, or surgery, and does not include custodial care. The majority of costs are usually paid by government healthcare programs or private insurance.
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Q: Why is it important that an in-home agency be accredited?
A: It is important that those considering in-home care services understand that non-medical, personal care and support agencies in California are not regulated or managed by any type of regulatory body. Anyone can simply purchase a standard business license and call themselves a non-medical provider. Accreditation is essential within an industry with no regulatory oversight, because it verifies that the agency has met and operates at elevated performance standards. AngeliCare is the only in-home personal care and support agency accredited by The Joint Commission in Fresno and Madera counties. Back to Top
Q. Do you have to be licensed to operate a home care agency?
A. No. The state of California does not regulate the home care industry, and there is no professional license requirement. Please note that Home Health Care Agencies, which provide physician-prescribed care, are required to have a license. Back to Top
Q. Explain the difference in the “Care Options” you offer.
A. Our Care Options allow us to segment the variety of care coverage we provide. Outside of our basic care shifts, we offer our clients a range of additional service options. For instance, we provide specialized 1- or 2-hour service calls and bathing visits, as well as 12- or 24-hour Continuous Care shifts. If you choose our Morning & Evening Pop-in Service, we’ll be there to assist when you wake up and when you go bed. You have full control over the frequency of care, from a one-time visit to everyday, at the time and place of your choosing. We also provide pre- and post-surgery assistance, travel companions, and respite care. Back to Top
Q. What is Respite Care?
A. By definition, “respite” means taking a break or short rest period. Our Respite Care provides temporary relief to family members from the duties of caring for an aging senior or health-challenged adult. Our qualified CareGivers will tend to the care recipient for a determined period of time, allowing the primary CareGiver(s) to have some quality time to themselves.
It is essential that family CareGivers get reprieves from their duties. Numerous studies confirm that CareGivers experience elevated risks of anxiety, depression, hospitalization, and premature aging. These heath risks increase significantly when the care recipient is afflicted with dementia or chronic health issues. Back to Top
Q. What home care services does AngeliCare provide?
A. We provide a wide range of services, segmented into the following four categories: Companion Care, Personal Care, Household Management, and Specialty Services. Please see our AngeliCare Services for a detailed listing of all care options and services.
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Q. Do you offer a Live-In Service?
A. No. As an agency, we believe it is in the best interests of our clients to no longer offer live-in service. However, we do offer 12-hour and 24-hour shifts, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss the advantages of our 24/7 Continuous Care. Back to Top
Q. Do you offer transportation services?
A. Yes. This is a very important part of our service. Many of our clients no longer drive, and they rely on our service to reach doctor’s appointments, church, grocery stores, or just to enjoy a leisurely drive. Our CareGivers can transport clients in their own car or in the CareGiver’s car. If the CareGiver’s car is used, mileage charges are applicable. Each of our CareGivers is required to have a valid driver’s license and appropriate insurance coverage. Back to Top
Q. When are your home care services available?
A. All of our care options and subsequent services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We offer a highly flexible, versatile schedule to meet the individual needs of our clients.
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Q. What areas do you serve and what are your hours of operation?
A. Our office is located in Fresno, serving Fresno and Madera counties, with the exception of Coalinga, Reedley, and the mountain communities. Our office hours are Monday-Friday, 9AM to 5PM PST. Clients always have 24/7 access to a management team member. If an emergency occurs and our office is closed, you will be directed to an emergency number, which will be answered by a management team member. Back to Top
Q. Do you impose any type of service minimums?
A. We do not have hourly or weekly minimums, nor do we require long-term contracts. Our standard care shift has a 4-minimum, but we do offer hourly care and specialty visits ranging from 1 to 3 hours. Back to Top
Q. What are the costs of your services?
A. We have a flexible pricing structure that offers a variety of rate options, including shift pricing, flat rate pricing and specialty visit rates. Due to the competitive nature of the home care industry, we do not list our prices online. If you are interested in our services, please contact our office to discuss your care needs. Once we have a clear understanding of your situation, we’ll give you a cost estimate over the phone. Upon completion of the free in-home assessment, we’ll provide you with a finalized cost quote. Back to Top
Q. Does Medicare or MediCal pay for your services?
A. Unfortunately, no. Home Care is considered “custodial care,” and neither Medicare nor MediCal (California’s version of Medicaid) will pay for this type of service unless prescribed by a physician.
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Q. Do you accept any type of insurance?
A. We do accept Long Term Care (LTC) and Workman’s Compensation (WC) insurance, and we have an established relationship with most major LTC and WC carriers. Back to Top
Q. How do you select your CareGivers?
A. We follow a rigorous screening and selection process when choosing our team members. Although we have pre-determined qualifications and skills criteria, we only hire compassionate, dependable individuals who truly enjoy working with seniors. We receive a high volume of applicants, but very few are offered a position on our team. Please visit our Careers page to learn more about our employment standards. Back to Top
Q. What kind of training do you provide to your CareGivers?
A. Before any CareGiver is assigned to a client, they must go through rigorous company indoctrination and training. Initial training includes numerous professional trade courses, as well as the CARES Dementia Training Program. All of our CareGivers are certified in CPR and First Aid. Our ongoing education and training process ensures that our CareGivers are constantly improving their skills and building their knowledge. Many of our team members opt to participate in our exclusive Certified Companion Aid Program (CCA).
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Q. Can you explain how you match CareGivers and clients?
A. We use a combination of technology, psychology, and intuition when matching clients and CareGivers. Many variables are considered, including the client's care needs, personality traits, the CareGiver's skill sets, life experiences, availability, and likes/dislikes. Many years of experience have helped us to hone our intuitive matching skills. Back to Top
Q. What happens if the CareGiver isn’t working out?
A. In the event that a match doesn’t work, we immediately search for a replacement. The placement process is repeated until both the client and the CareGiver are satisfied with the pairing. Back to Top
Q. My father lives in a senior facility but could use some extra personal care. Can you help?
A. Absolutely. We provide service to any type of residence or facility, including hospitals. Wherever your loved one calls “home,” our CareGivers can visit to ensure their comfort, safety, and well-being.
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Q How do your safeguard a client’s privacy and prevent identity theft?
A. We follow specific company guidelines and policies to protect each client’s privacy and personal information (medical or otherwise) throughout all levels of our agency. Every aspect of correspondence involving client information is treated as private and confidential. We never inform, divulge, or release any type of client information without direct authorization from the client, guardian, or legal representative.
Our company is HIPPA compliant, requiring that every AngeliCare associate is indoctrinated and trained accordingly. Additionally, as a preventative measure, all discarded client-related information, regardless of content, is deleted, erased, or shredded. Back to Top
Q What’s the difference between an independent CareGiver and an agency?
A. While they may seem very similar, there are actually some significant differences. An independent, or private, CareGiver, works for themselves and deals directly with the care recipient and/or the family. The only true benefit to hiring a private CareGiver is cost.
Independent CareGivers aren’t insured or bonded, and it can be very difficult to verify their personal history and work experience. Considering that this individual will have unsupervised access to you or a loved one, including the home and all belongings, this is not a decision to be taken lightly.
In an agency setting like AngeliCare, CareGivers are screened, experienced, bonded, and insured. They are hand-picked, well-trained individuals who are supervised and monitored by our management team. Back to Top
Q. What happens if the CareGiver is sick or doesn’t show?
A. Our CareGivers are not permitted to work when sick, but regardless of the reason, if your scheduled CareGiver can’t make it, they will be replaced with another qualified, professional CareGiver.
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Q. How are you different than a nursing home?
A. We offer an alternative to the traditional “retirement” system that was forced upon previous generations. At AngeliCare, we follow a “healthy aging in place” care process, which allows seniors to maintain their independence and remain in their own home for as long as possible. This results in happier, healthier, and more self-respecting seniors.
Our care system utilizes professional CareGivers who visit the client’s residence to assist them with everyday tasks they can no longer manage themselves. We offer seniors the chance to be self-sufficient and remain in control of their life. Back to Top
Q. Are home care agencies required to be supervised by a registered nurse?
A. No. Home Care agencies provide only non-medical service, which means that nursing supervision or management is unessential. Many home care agencies are owned and/or managed by nurses, who then advertise their credentials accordingly. All primary care is fulfilled by CareGivers, who are integral to the client’s well-being. When considering an agency, you should inquire about their employment standards, screening process, training levels, and compliance policies required of their CareGivers. Other focal points include the Care Process, established history, and legality. Back to Top
Q. Is your agency insured and CareGivers insured?
A. Yes. Our agency carries general and professional liability insurance. All of our CareGivers are dedicated company employees who are bonded and covered by Workman’s Compensation Insurance. Back to Top
