Frequently Asked Questions
No matter what type or level of care you need, Health Care Connectors can provide exceptional assistance to you or a loved one. We understand that you may still have questions, so we have compiled the most commonly asked questions for your convenience. Contact our team today for more information or to set up services.
Health Care Medicare FAQs
What is Home Health Care?
Home Health Care is designed to help you recover in the comfort of your home through skilled nursing and physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Your health care provider can order home health care if they determine your condition requires you to remain at home for rehabilitation, recovery from illness, injury, or surgery.
Is Health Care Connectors accredited by a leading national organization?
Yes. Our agency is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC).
Is Health Care Connectors a Medicare-Certified Home Health Care Agency?
Yes. Our home health care agency is Medicare-certified. This is a requirement for Medicare to cover the cost of home health care services.
Is hospitalization a requirement to receive Home Health Care?
No. Hospitalization is not a requirement to receive home health care. You are eligible for home health care if you are homebound and need skilled care.
What does “Homebound” mean?
Home Health Care is for people who are homebound, which doesn’t mean you can’t leave home. It means that leaving home takes a great effort, often requiring assistance from another person or equipment such as a wheelchair or walker. Patients may leave home for medical treatment, and occasionally for non-medical reasons, while still qualifying for Home Health Care. Under Medicare guidelines, your doctor can evaluate your situation to determine if you are homebound.
Who pays for Home Health Care Services?
Medicare covers 100% of the cost of home health care services for eligible patients. If you require additional services not covered by Medicare or not eligible, you can pay out of pocket.
What about equipment and supplies?
Supplies, such as wound dressings, are covered when ordered as part of your care. Equipment like a wheelchair or walker is covered separately by Medicare, typically at 80% of the approved cost. Health Care Connectors arranges for equipment delivery as ordered by your doctor.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept Medicare, UnitedHealthcare, and Humana. We accept private pay with flexible rates and most major credit cards are accepted.
How often does someone visit?
Visit frequency is based on the doctor’s order and patient needs, typically one to two times per week. Visits typically last an hour or less.
How long can I have home health care?
Home Health Care is intended for short periods, such as a few weeks, to stabilize your health and help you manage your condition independently.
Are the home caregivers supervised and evaluated by a registered nurse?
Yes. Our clinical supervisor, a registered nurse, provides oversight and case management to ensure patients receive the prescribed care. The supervisor also reviews documentation and maintains good communication.
Can Home Health Care help with bathing and dressing?
If the patient has a skilled need and is receiving care from a nurse, speech pathologist, or physical therapist, the doctor may also order a home health aide to assist with personal care like bathing and dressing. Needing only personal care does not qualify for Home Health Care.
What about wounds and ostomy care?
Health Care Connectors has certified wound and ostomy nurse specialists who oversee care for conditions such as non-healing wounds, infections, and new ostomies.
How are you protecting your clients from COVID-19?
Health Care Connectors follows guidelines from OSHA, CDC, WHO, and local mandates. Our caregivers follow best practices to reduce infection spread, and we encourage employees to be fully vaccinated. Most caregivers and field staff are vaccinated.
Is there a live person available to speak to at any time?
Yes! We are available and working for you 24/7/365.
Home Care FAQs
What services are offered?
Our affiliate, Home Care Connectors, provides solely non-medical in-home care. We offer a variety of services, including companionship, safety supervision, homemaking, medication reminders, personal care assistance, transportation, and other in-home care assistance as needed. To better serve our clients, we offer three different levels of care: Incidental Care, Transitional Care, and 24/7 Long-Term Care.
What is Incidental Care?
Our first level of care, Incidental Care, is for clients who require assistance for a short period. It is provided as needed and includes services like mobility assistance, personal care, transportation, and post-op care.
What is Transitional Care?
Transitional Care ensures clients receive the necessary care after returning home. This care is flexible, with appointments typically lasting 4-12 hours, covering a wide range of tasks.
What is 24/7 Long-Term Care?
This is our most comprehensive program, offering clients personal care, safety monitoring, homemaking, and companionship around the clock.
What areas do you serve?
We proudly serve Fairfield County including:
- Bridgeport
- Darien
- Fairfield
- Greenwich
- New Canaan
- Norwalk
- Ridgefield
- Stamford
- Trumbull
- Weston
- Westport
- Wilton
- and more…
If you live in any of these areas or have questions about services outside of this area, please contact us.
Who could benefit from in-home care services?
Adults or seniors who cannot perform daily living activities independently, whether temporarily or permanently. Our clients vary in age and needs, so our service plans are customized to each individual.
What makes you unique?
We know that home is more than a place; it’s a feeling. We strive to ensure our clients feel comfortable in their own homes. Our customized in-home care approach was designed to support a variety of clients with both short-term and ongoing care needs. Our unique combination of compassionate caregivers, personalized service plans, efficient client monitoring, and dedication to high-quality care contributes to our success.
Hospice Care FAQs
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice focuses on caring, not curing the cause of the terminal illness. It seeks to keep the individual comfortable and make their remaining time as meaningful as possible.
Where does hospice care take place?
Anyplace that you call home. Whether it is nursing homes, assisted living centers, or hospital… it’s wherever you call home. The majority of hospice patients are cared for in their own homes or the homes of a loved one.
How does hospice care work?
Hospice involves a team-oriented approach that addresses the medical, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient. Members of the hospice staff make regular visits to assess the individual and provide additional care or other services. The hospice team develops a care plan that meets each person’s individual needs for pain management and symptom control. Support for family caregivers is also assessed throughout the care period.
Who makes up the hospice team?
The interdisciplinary team usually consists of:
- The patient’s personal physician
- Hospice physician (or medical director)
- Nurses
- Hospice aides
- Social workers
- Spiritual care providers or other counselors
- Bereavement professionals
- Speech, physical, and/or other occupational therapists
- Trained volunteers
How is hospice care paid for?
Most people receiving hospice care are covered by the Medicare hospice benefit. This benefit covers virtually all aspects of hospice care with little out-of-pocket expense to the patient or family.
Who qualifies for hospice care?
Hospice care is for any person who has a life-threatening or terminal illness. Most reimbursement sources require a prognosis of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course. All hospices consider the patient and family together as the unit of care.
