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Home Care FAQs
If you have questions about receiving our services, including when and how to obtain them, or you want to know more about our staff and paying for services, you can find answers here.
Employment & training
Do I need an appointment for the Home Health Aide interview?
How do I sign up for Partners in Care Home Health Aide Training?
I do not live in any of your service areas. Am I still eligible to be employed by Partners in Care?
Where is the Partners in Care Manhattan office located?
Receiving Services
What types of services are provided by Partners in Care?
Is there a minimum amount of time for which I must receive services?
What steps do I need to take to start services?
Why is there a four-hour minimum, if I only need a home health aide for two hours?
Why does a PRI only last for 90 days?
How far in advance must I call to set up services?
Once I call and provide all the necessary information to start services, what is the next step?
What is the difference between a "licensed agency" and a "certified agency"?
My loved one has an ostomy. Can a Home Health Aide help care for it?
Do you have a CNA or homemaker service?
Do you provide escort services to accompany patients after outpatient procedures?
What is the difference between a Home Health Aide, LPN, and RN?
Is it possible for me to get a Home Health Aide for 3 hours a day, 7 days a week?
If I'm not compatible with my Home Health Aide, can I switch aides?
Do you draw blood for blood tests?
Can a Home Health Aide help administer medications?
What is the difference between a live-in Home Health Aide and receiving 24 hours of service?
What services may my Home Health Aide provide?
What is considered "continuous service?"
Do you provide assistance for people in wheelchairs?
Our Staff Members
What languages do Partners in Care Home Health Aides speak?
Are Partners in Care Home Health Aides screened, and in what manner?
Are Partners in Care Home Health Aides insured?
Insurance & Payment
What is the difference between Partners in Care and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York?
I may need service, but I'm not sure how much insurance will cover. How can I find out?
I have Medicare/Medicaid and I want to receive services from Partners in Care. Is that possible?
What is the difference between "certified pay" and "private pay"?
What forms of payment do you accept?
Employment & training
Do I need an appointment for the Home Health Aide interview?
No, you do not need an appointment to come for an interview. Our interviews are done on a walk-in basis.
How do I sign up for Partners in Care Home Health Aide Training?
To apply, come to our Manhattan office (1250 Broadway at 32nd Street, 10th floor). You can come any time, Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to 10 AM. Be sure to bring your ID, proof of address, and three phone numbers for reference.
I do not live in any of your service areas. Am I still eligible to be employed by Partners in Care?
Yes. However, you must be able to provide your own transportation.
Where is the Partners in Care Manhattan office located?
On the 10th floor of 1250 Broadway at 32nd Street.
Receiving Services
What types of services are provided by Partners in Care?
We can provide a variety of home care services to you or a loved one:
Nursing Assessments (including PRI/Screen)
Personal Care & Companionship Services
Is there a minimum amount of time for which I must receive service?
There is a four-hour minimum per day. Care can be provided from one to seven days per week, depending on the client's specific needs.
What steps do I need to take to start services?
The process is very easy. For service in the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau or Westchester Counties, simply call 1-888-9-GET-HELP or click here. Working closely with the client, family and physician, a Partners in Care registered nurse will recommend a Plan of Care. This plan is tailored to meet the client's specific needs. Because no two clients are alike, we are careful to match our caregivers with the personalities and needs of the client. A registered nurse will supervise your care.
Why is there a four-hour minimum, if I only need a home health aide for two hours?
We offer a bath service, which provides up to two hours of care, if the only assistance you require is with bathing and grooming. For other home health aide services, we require a four-hour minimum in order to ensure the best possible care and to maintain consistency with the caregiver who is working with the client.
Why does a PRI only last for 90 days?
A PRI (Patient Review Instrument) is required for nursing home eligibility and reimbursement. It is regulated by the NYS Department of Health HealthCare Financing Administration. The NYS Department of Health sets the reporting requirements and has determined that 90 days is the appropriate timeframe in which to provide the most accurate evaluation.
How far in advance must I call to set up services?
We handle all service requests as they are needed, from the same day to several weeks in advance. It is helpful if we are given at least 24-hours in advance of the time the service is needed.
Once I call and provide all the necessary information to start services, what is the next step?
Once your call is completed, a home health aide supervisor will be assigned to personally assist you with identifying the right staff member to meet your needs. The supervisor will then contact you to provide the name of the home health aide and answer any questions you may have.
If I need to get in touch with someone at Partners in Care over the weekend, on a holiday, or during the night, will someone be available to help me?
Yes, someone is available to help you seven days a week, and we are accessible 24 hours a day. We also have staff members who are on-call during non-office hours to assist you with any urgent service issues.
What is the difference between a "licensed agency" and a "certified agency"?
A licensed agency, like Partners in Care, is licensed by the New York State Department of Health to provide home care services, personal care and companionship, private duty nursing, escort services, and geriatric care services, among other services. A certified agency, like VNSNY, is certified to bill Medicare and/or Medicaid--this is something a licensed agency cannot do. Licensed agencies can provide many of the same services as a certified agency, so Partners in Care can provide the same services as VNSNY, but the referral for services from Partners in Care doesn’t need to come from your physician and the payment is made by the person receiving services, a guarantor (someone who accepts legal responsibility to pay for the services received on behalf of the patient), or through a long-term care insurance policy.
My loved one has an ostomy. Can a Home Health Aide help care for it?
Yes, Partners in Care Home Health Aides may care for an ostomy, as long as it is mature.
Do you have a CNA or homemaker service?
We do not provide CNA or homemaker services. However, we do have Home Health Aides that are able to provide services to assist with daily living and perform light housekeeping.
Do you have a service that provides someone who can escort me to and from doctor's appointments or to the hospital?
Yes. This is our Ambulatory Escort service.
Do you provide escort services to patients after outpatient procedures?
Yes. This is part of our Ambulatory Escort service.
What is the difference between a Home Health Aide, an LPN, and an RN?
A Home Health Aide is certified to assist in activities of daily living. An LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) is licensed to assist in activities of daily living as well as some skilled nursing needs. An RN (Registered Nurse) is licensed to assist in activities of daily living and perform skilled nursing needs at a higher level, while remaining within our policy.
Is it possible for me to get a Home Health Aide for 3 hours a day, 7 days a week?
Partners in Care requires a minimum of four hours of daily care. You can request any number of days as long as you meet the minimum of four hours of care for each day of service.
I love the services of the Home Health Aide you provided. Is it possible for me to receive services from this particular individual again?
We will try our best to match you with the same aide.
If I'm not compatible with my Home Health Aide, can I switch aides?
Of course. We try to match patients and aides in the best possible way. If you are not comfortable with the match we made, we are more than willing to provide you with a different aide.
Do you draw blood for blood tests?
No.
Can a Home Health Aide help administer medications?
No. Home Heath Aides are not allowed to administer medications. However, they can remind you or your loved one to take his or her prescribed medication. If you would like someone to administer medications for you or your loved one, we are able to provide skilled nursing service.
What is the difference between a live-in Home Heath Aide and receiving 24 hours of service?
Having a live-in Home Health Aide requires that you provide a place for one aide to sleep. Receiving 24 hours of service means you will receive care through the day from two different aides who each have a 12-hour long shift.
What services may my Home Health Aide provide?
Your Home Health Aide can remind your loved one to take his or her medication and assist with the process, perform light housekeeping (laundry, doing the dishes, etc.), escort your loved one to appointments, among other services. Your Home Health Aide is not allowed to perform skilled nursing services, which include opening prescription bottles and administering medication. We provide skilled nursing services to help with these needs.
What is considered "continuous service?"
Continuous service is defined as receiving services for three or more days in one case.
I would like to interview my aide before he or she begins providing services. Am I allowed to do this?
When we create a profile for you, we ask a series of questions to help us better understand the type of aide who will be compatible with you or your loved one. We search our extensive database to match you with the best possible aide for your wants and needs. You may choose to interview the aide before he or she begins, with an associated cost.
Do you provide assistance for people in wheelchairs?
Yes.
Our Staff Members
What languages do Partners in Care Home Health Aides speak?
Our aides speak a variety of languages, including Spanish, Russian and Chinese. We do our best to find an aide who speaks the client's preferred language.
Are Partners in Care home health aides screened, and in what manner?
All candidates are carefully screened in the following areas:
- Criminal Background Check. Background checks are completed to screen for felonies, misdemeanors, violations, outstanding warrants, and criminal time served. Partners in Care looks as far back into an individual’s history as possible.
- Social Security Check. This check include all counties in which the candidate has lived or worked.
- Personal References
- Work References
- Employee Health Check. Candidates undergo a drug screening, physical examination and immunization update.
- Proof of Address
- I - 9 Verification
- Certificate Verification
- Interview, skills assessment, and entry-level tests, including reading and writing.
A candidate must pass all of the above criteria as well as complete our rigorous training program.
Are Partners in Care Home Health Aides insured?
All Partners in Care Home Health Aides are insured and certified.
Insurance & Payment
What is the difference between Partners in Care and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York?
Partners in Care is an affiliate of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. We are the private pay sector of VNSNY.
I may need service, but I'm not sure how much insurance will cover. How can I find this out?
We will call your insurance company to verify your policy and the amount of coverage for which you are eligible and call you back to let you know.
I have Medicare/Medicaid and I want to receive services from Partners in Care. Is that possible?
Yes. In order to do so, you need to be referred by your primary physician to our parent company, the Visiting Nurse Service of New York.
How do I contact the Visiting Nurse Service of New York to find out about the amount of service Medicare or Medicaid will cover or to have my doctor refer me?
In order to inquire about the amount of service Medicare or Medicaid will cover, you can have your primary physician call VNSNY's referral services at (212) 609 - 7500, option #3.
I would still like to receive services through Partners in Care. Is there a way for me to do this?
Yes. Partners in Care can act as a supplement to Medicare or Medicaid hours. This means that if you feel you aren't receiving enough services through Medicare/Medicaid, you can receive more through Partners in Care, by paying privately.
What is the difference between "certified pay" and "private pay"?
Certified pay means the patient's care is funded by Medicare, Medicaid, or other forms of insurance. With private pay, the patient pays for services out of his or her own pocket, or with a long-term care insurance policy.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Although credit card is the preferred method of payment, we accept checks as well.
Contact
For answers to any other questions, please call us at 1-888-9-GET-HELP.