Client Portal

Preserving Dignity Through Independence at Home

Home Care FAQs

  1. Must I sign a contract?
  2. Why depend on Companions & Homemakers?
  3. How do you select your caregivers?
  4. Are your caregivers employees or independent contractors?
  5. What if my caregiver can’t make it to work?
  6. How quickly can I get services?
  7. How do you stay in touch once I start?
  8. What are your payment options?
  9. Is Companions & Homemakers insured?
  10. What are your business affiliations?
  11. What makes Companions & Homemakers different?
  12. Are you active in the community?

 

Must I sign a contract?
A contract is required by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection with whom we are registered (#HCA.0000101). Our clients are protected and aware of their service coverage options; however, clients may cancel at any time.

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Why depend on Companions & Homemakers?
We have been in business in Connecticut since 1990, and maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. We have won the “Best of” Award in the category of Home Care from the Connecticut Law Tribune’s reader’s poll. A number of our caregivers and coordinators have been awarded “Superior Service” awards and “Ethics in the Marketplace” awards from the Better Business Bureau, and to ensure we are always focused on what’s important, our clients, we have engaged a home care quality assurance firm to monitor our efforts.

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How do you select your caregivers?
We screen our caregivers very carefully. They all undergo a comprehensive review of their qualifications. We thoroughly check their employment and personal references, and we conduct a criminal background check. We also learn their likes, interests, and capabilities so that we can best match caregivers with clients.

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Are your caregivers employees or independent contractors?
Our caregivers are employees, not independent contractors. We feel that we can foster a better client care experience and support our mission when people are truly part of our team. Most caregivers do not fall under IRS guidelines for independent contractor status that other agencies may use. We pay their taxes, Medicare, and Social Security. We also offer medical and dental insurance for those who work 30 hours or more per week.

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What if my caregiver can’t make it to work?
We will provide a replacement as soon as possible. In fact, we often pay travel expenses for caregivers who respond to emergency fill-in situations, at no cost to our clients. We also have stand-by field staff who are available at any time to fill in for emergency coverage.

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How quickly can I get services?
In the event of an emergency, we can provide a qualified caregiver within a few hours. The more notice we have, the more time we can devote to finding a good match for you.

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How do you stay in touch once I start?
Our care coordinators will stay in touch with you at the level of contact you wish. We routinely place quality assurance calls, our field staff performs home visits, and clients have the opportunity to participate in our “Client Services Satisfaction Survey”. We are always a phone call away, 24/7.

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What are your payment options?
Payments can be made by personal check or credit card. We also accept many long-term care insurance payments, and we work closely with the Connecticut Homecare Program for Elders and the Veterans Administration. There are also grants available to those who qualify. For more information, please call our Billing department at (888) 844-4442.

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Is Companions & Homemakers insured?
Yes. Our caregivers are bonded and covered by Workers’ Compensation insurance. We also carry general and professional liability insurance coverage.

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What are your business affiliations?
We are an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau. We have memberships with the Connecticut Homemakers and Companions Association, we are one of the charter members of the Home Care Association of America, and we are a founding member of its Connecticut chapter. We have contractual agreements with and provided services for these non-profit organizations: Connecticut Community Care (CCCI), Southwest Connecticut Area Agency on Aging (SWCAA), South Central Connecticut Area Agency on Aging (SCAAA), and the Veterans’ Adminstration (VA).

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What makes Companions & Homemakers different?
We are not a franchise, a registry, or part of a national institutional conglomerate. We are a privately-owned, Connecticut based company, founded in 1990. Through our hard work, our demonstrated commitment to the client experience, and the invaluable support of our entire team, we have become a household name and earned the reputation as Connecticut’s most trusted and professional provider of home care services.

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Are you active in the community?
Absolutely. Connecticut is not only our workplace, it’s our home. We regularly participate in a variety of community events across the state, such as the Lucky Pup Rescue, Alzheimer’s Association Walks, Wounded Warriors, Get Your Irish Up, and the Empire Games for the Developmentally Challenged. For more information on events in which we participate, please visit the “News and Resources” page.

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Our Live-in Companions

Care designed to build & foster one-on-one relationships. Want to learn more about flexible care services?

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860-751-6990