14417 Big Basin Way, Suite #B, Saratoga, CA 95070
20 S. Santa Cruz Avenute, Suite #300, Los Gatos, CA 95030

Call Us At: (408) 384-4412

Home » Resources » Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

We hope this will answer the most Frequently Asked Questions at Help & Care, LLC, but if you have others, don’t hesitate to call (408) 384 4412 .

What is Home care?

Licensed home care providers, such as Help & Care, LLC, deliver non-medical personal care. They can help with chair-to-bed transfers, personal hygiene tasks, medication reminders, light housekeeping and other services.

What is the difference between home care and home health care?

Home health care is delivered to homebound patients by medical companies and medical professionals such as doctors, physical and occupational therapists, nurses, speech therapists and other skilled medical staff.

Home care providers assist with non-medical care tasks and often work in cooperation with home health professionals to help seniors. While home health providers come in for select appointments or therapy sessions and leave at the conclusion, home care providers deliver sustained non-medical support for as long as the client needs and desires.

Who is Help & Care, LLC?

Help & Care, LLC is a locally owned, non-medical, licensed home care company providing trained caregivers and companionship care to seniors living at home, in assisted living communities, and to those people in rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, and hospitals.

Owner Vassilina Breitbach.

Fees & Payments

What can I expect to pay for home care?

Each care plan is customized to every individual client and as a result, fees vary, but home care costs usually range between $25 and $29 per hour depending on services provided.

Does Medicare pay for your services?

Medicare may pay for some services, but it’s unlikely. For more information about Medicare coverage, click here.

Does my long-term insurance cover the cost of your services?

Yes, most long-term insurance policies do cover the costs of home care. We help families activate their coverage by providing the necessary paperwork and filing the required documents.

How often will I be billed?

Help & Care, LLC will send you a detailed, itemized invoice every two weeks. You pay the company directly through check or credit card.

Do I pay the caregiver directly?

No. You do not pay caregivers, nor do they accept tips.

Schedules & Care Visits

Is it possible to start service today?

Yes. In most cases, we can provide care support immediately. After you make the call, owner Vassilina Breitbach will meet with you, usually within a couple of hours, to provide a free preliminary assessment to determine your care needs. Caregivers can be scheduled to help soon after.

Do I have to sign a long-term contract? 

No. Home care is customized to your needs and preferences and so are the number of care visits. There is no long-term contract. You can cancel at any time.

Are your services available around the clock, even on weekends and overnight?

Absolutely. Caregivers are available 24/7 and there is someone to take your call at any hour.

Are your caregivers insured in my home?

Yes. Help & Care, LLC is an insured and licensed provider of home care and our caregivers are insured through the company.

What if I need to change the schedule or care plan?

Then changes will be made. We are here to support you and your loved one. When circumstances change, we can change the plan and care visits to accommodate those needs.

Can you care for someone who lives in assisted living or a nursing home?

Yes, we serve clients and families in private residences, retirement communities, and assisted-living communities and provide safety and companionship care and advocacy to clients in nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, and hospitals.

I am having surgery and just need a little bit of help; do I have to sign a long-term agreement?

No. You are not required to sign a long-term agreement. Our caregivers are here to support you when you return from the hospital and as long as you need while you recover from surgery. Many of our clients find that with in-home caregiver support they have more time to focus on their recovery and they heal faster. Our goal is to help you feel better so that you can return to your independent lifestyle as soon as possible. Our agreement ends, when you no longer need us.

Caregiver Qualifications & Care Delivery

How are your caregivers selected?

We hire caring, compassionate, and intelligent individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of seniors. Our caregivers are people who sought a meaningful career that allowed them to make a positive difference in their communities. They found that through caregiving.

What is your employee screening process?

Our rigorous hiring and training program includes a criminal background check, drug screening and driving record check. Each person we hire must have a clean driving record and up-to-date insurance. We carefully verify and check all references.

What is the training process for caregivers?

Once an individual is hired, he or she begins extensive caregiver training courses that include all facets of client care as well as specialized training in the care of people with dementia. Help & Care, LLC also provides and encourages ongoing training and advanced certification programs, like Certified Companion Aide (CCA®) and Certified Hospice Companion Aide (CHCA®) programs, as well as client services like our Fall Prevention Program.

What if I don’t like my caregiver? Can I make a change?

Yes. We do everything we can to match the needs, preferences, interests, and personality of your loved one to a caregiver who shares those qualities in the hopes of a comfortable connection. But, if the match isn’t working, please tell us and we will select another caregiver for your loved one. Your loved one’s care and comfort is our priority.

Do your caregivers have experience working with those who have dementia?

Yes. Every caregiver who works with a senior who is living with dementia or memory loss has extensive training in dementia care.

Can I talk to the caregivers directly?

Absolutely. If you have a question, concern, suggestion, or you just want to visit, talk to the caregiver who is there to help you and your loved one. Communication between families and caregivers is essential. While direct communication is not permitted when a caregiver is not in the home, the Help & Care office is available around the clock and staff will be happy to pass your messages on to caregivers. At Help & Care we are committed to protecting the privacy of both our clients and our caregivers and to upholding the highest professional standards.

Do you provide regular updates or is there someone I can call for immediate information?

Yes. Caregivers will document their daily work with clients in the Care Plan Book. This book includes notes on each care visit, alerts about changes in health, care, or client preferences and a log of daily living activities.

This Care Plan Book remains in your home. It is there for your review and also serves as a tool to help the caregiving team provide a consistent care routine for the client. We are also available for in-person (or over the phone) care conferences with families (and with other care providers).

Beyond that, we have people answering the phones to get you the information and support you need anytime day or night.

Does your company help with medications?

Yes. We can remind clients to take prescribed medicines at the correct times, we observe and document the client taking the medicines, and the dosages and types taken. We do not administer medication.

Can your caregivers drive to doctor’s appointments?

Absolutely. Not only do caregivers transport seniors to medical appointments, but they will help your loved one check in and settle into the waiting room. If the wait time is long, caregivers will communicate again with receptionists to help to facilitate the appointment. If desired, caregivers can even sit in on the appointment and take notes of what occurs. Following the appointment, caregivers will help the senior safely to the car, pick up any necessary prescriptions, and drive them home. Once there, we will help them settle back comfortably into their residence.