• If client is coming home from a hospital, ask the discharge planner or case manager from the hospital to recommend a company if not three companies to choose from; some hospitals will only recommend one or two—their favorites. Many times the hospital and company is affiliated to increase their profits with one stop shopping. Not always the best way to go. Shop around.  Geron is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Clients’ attorney, primary care and or specialty doctors for referrals; if client is home and in need of care, ask the local senior center,
• Double check the yellow pages under “Home Health Services” or go on-line for “home health care” and the town and state you live in—disregard the paid advertisements or lists;
• Word of mouth, friends with similar circumstances, neighbors, etc.
• Double check with the local Chamber of Commerce or BBB for referrals or complaints, etc. and check the industries associations. Is the entity in good standing with each? We are members in good standing with BBB, Northwest Chamber of Commerce, Coalition of Agencies Relating to Elderly Services (CARES), Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), www.newmilfordbusiness.com (Networking Group), and a founding member of the New Milford TRIAD chapter.

• Nurses, certified nurses’ aide, home health aide, personal care attendant, companion, sitter?
  GeronNursing offers:  Geriatric Care Manager, Registered Nurses, and Licensed Practical Nurses.
  Geron Home Care offers: Personal Care Attendants.
• Does the company maintain a 24-hour a day service, including holidays, weekends, overnights?  Does it have an answering service with on-call personnel from the company itself?  Yes, we do!
• Is there a registered nurse available at all times to answer questions or for emergencies? Does the RN assess the client and provide a care plan?  How often is it reviewed?  Yes, we can!
• Is a Geriatric Care Manager affiliated with the company for other services? Such as acting as a liaison between doctor, family, attorney, etc. Yes!  We can make a referral for a GCM.
• Are the fees based on per hour, per day, per shift?
  Geron is an hourly service.
• Does the company provide live-ins? Be careful here.  A very cheap and cost effective way to go, but the caliber of people is lacking.  Many are transients and/or hard to get rid of or to get out of the house if the client does not like the person.  Also, with live-ins, sometimes they can become too tired to properly take care of the client, or there is no replacement available in case the live-in gets sick or there is a family emergency.  We do not supply live-ins as we provide quality care.
• If a private pay company, will they accommodate the client’s needs?  In other words, will the company try to oversell services?  Such as, if client and/or family can pour the medications, the client does not need a nurse but rather a certified nurses’ aide or personal care attendant.  Will the company accommodate the hours needed such as 8am-12noon and 4pm-8pm rather than 8am to 8pm?  A cost savings of four hours. We tailor make the client’s schedule with the appropriate level of care depending upon client’s needs and wants.  We have a two-hour minimum.

• If a licensed home health care agency by the Health Dept. of the state, then the agency should accept payment from Medicare/Medicaid, secondary insurance companies, etc.
• If not, then is it a private nurses’ registry or private agency accepting private pay and long term care insurance companies, etc. GeronNursing is a private pay company and also accepts long-term care insurance.  GeronNursing is registered with the State of CT and Dept of Labor.
  

• Bonded? Are the caregivers covered?
• Liability insurance?
• Worker’s compensation for caregiver? (The answer here will tell you if  the caregivers are true employees or possibly sub-contractors).
• We are fully bonded and insured.

W-2/1099—whose responsibility is it to pay the employee?  (best case scenario is to have the company pay the caregiver as a true employee—taking out taxes, full coverages for insurance, unemployment filings, SS matching, etc.)  If the client or family is responsible for caregiver payment, yes, it will be cheaper to pay the caregiver directly but then remember the client or whoever is writing the check is the employer with all its responsibilities.  If the caregiver is paid by the client, then expect a fee from the company as a registry fee or placement fee.  This fee can be per hour or a one-time placement fee based on a three-month average of placement fees collectively. GeronNursing  is the true employer. All staff is paid through us as W-2 employees. There is no risk to the client dealing with caregivers’ federal and state filings as we take care of it.

Ask the questions: “How does the company follow-up with the client and caregiver for successful placement?” 

• What is the company’s policy to exchange caregivers?
• Can the family and /or client interview the caregiver prior to starting the services at no charge?  A very good idea!  This helps with the unknown for the client—A comfort level can be established for the client.

Yes, We follow up with the client to make sure they are satisfied.  We prefer to send the caregiver to the client’s home prior to the start of the care.  This allows an easier transition for both client and caregiver.  The client’s comfort level is our priority.  If the client is satisfied with the caregiver, we will continue to schedule the person with the client.  If for some reason, the client is not satisfied with the match, we will send other candidates to the client’s home until satisfied.

Be specific as to what the job entails. Tell the company and caregiver the expectations of the job. For example, is house cleaning included with the care of the client?  Will driving be included with the job? Whose car is used? Be prepared if the caregiver’s car is used, you need to reimburse mileage at the standard IRS amount. A bath/shower, grocery shopping, meal preparation any activity of daily living, (ADL’s) feeding, bathing, toileting, continence care, transferring, dressing, cognitive impairment, etc. can be included here. Share with the company and caregiver the likes and dislikes of the client. Does the client have any pastimes, interests or hobbies?  Was the client in the military?

It is best to have a clear-cut idea of what the client and family need and want.  Then as the care continues, the care plan can be changed to accommodate the client.

• Are holidays, weekends extra? Yes, holidays and weekends are an additional charge.
• Is there a minimum of hours required for the caregiver to work? Our minimum is two hours of care per visit unless it is a nurse visit.
• Does the company supply you with a rate sheet? Be sure to ask the company for a rate sheet prior to the start of care. 
• Ask about hidden fees.  We provide a clear rate sheet. Hourly charges are listed according to the level of care needed. There are no hidden fees.

• Criminal background record check in all states?
• 10 panel drug screen?
• Caregiver physically fit for duty?
• Negative PPD test for TB screening?
• Present and past employment checks?
• Personal references checked?
• Covid-19 vaccination verification?

GeronNursing prescreens each applicant as above before being hired to ensure the caregiver is fit for duty.