Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I arrange for home care services?
A. A telephone call to our office will start your request or inquiry for services; just speak to our Director of Patient Services or Nurse Supervisor. Each individual is a Registered Nurse with at least 10 years home care experience. After a brief conversation with you, she will be able to make a recommendation as to what steps to follow.

Q. The person who I am trying to help is on Medicare (and/or Medicaid); does Neighbors Home Care bill them directly?
A. If, after speaking to our nurse, she feels the services you are requesting might be covered under Medicare and/or Medicaid, we will contact the appropriate program for you. Because we have contracts for the provision of paraprofessional services with multiple Certified Home Health Agencies (CHHA), Long Term Home Health Care Programs (LTHHCP), and Hospice organizations, we can provide a vast array of options and resources. The billing process will be fully explained to you, including what charges, if any, will be your direct responsibility.

Q. What if I want more services than are authorized and paid for by Medicare and/or Medicaid?
A. By discussing the patient’s home care needs in detail, we can arrange for additional paraprofessional services on a private pay basis to augment those hours of services where you do not have to pay.

Q. Can you send someone to help tomorrow?
A. Our nurse will collaborate with the patient’s physician, hospital discharge planner, and/or social worker to have a complete nursing assessment to determine their environmental, physical, and psychosocial needs and existing supports. This evaluation must be completed prior to rendering any direct patient care. Additionally, the patient’s physician must complete and sign medical orders before patient care can be rendered. After the evaluation is complete and it is determined that care can be SAFELY AND ADEQUATELY rendered, a Plan of Care is established and followed by our experienced and certified paraprofessional home care workers.

Q. How do you know what type of person will come in to my (the patient's) home?
A. Every attempt is made to assign personnel who are familiar with each patient’s cultural and social environment within their own neighborhood. Personnel are chosen to work for Neighbors Home Care only if they have demonstrated a high degree of professional competence. Each employee must have completed an approved training program and passed a written examination prior to ANY direct patient contact.All employees have their work references and criminal background thoroughly checked.In addition, all employees must have a physical examination prior to employment that meets the requirements of the New York State Department of Health.

Q. Do you supervise your employees?
A. Yes, the paraprofessional home care workers are all employees of Neighbors Home Care and we supervise them in a variety of ways. First and foremost, we have instituted a “daily check” system. This unique system means that every day (including holidays, weekends, and nights) phone calls are made to patients’ homes by one of our staff members to insure that our paraprofessional is on time and performing the assigned tasks according to the plan of care. When a new paraprofessional is coming to your home for the first time or as a replacement for your regular paraprofessional, a Nurse will orient the worker to your needs. In addition, the Nurse will visit the patient at regular intervals to monitor patient care and ensure the proper placement of employees.

Q. What types of payment do you accept?
A. Neighbors Home Care accepts personal checks as well as American Express. You can ask our Director of Paitient Services or Nurse Supervisor for more details.