FAQS
How do you recruit/select your CAREGivers?
Home Instead Senior Care are interviewing constantly in order to select the most appropriate CAREGiver for your needs. Our CAREGivers go through a comprehensive selection process and an intensive application from is completed. We also request four references and all our CAREGivers are Garda screened and checked.
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What training do you provide your CAREGivers?
Once hired all our CAREGivers start a comprehensive training programme. Before commencing employment they are required to complete an induction day, which introduces our company’s policies and procedures and covers topics such as infection control, providing safety measures, personal care and client confidentiality. In line with our continuous training we also provide Patient Moving and Handling training and further training in more challenging areas such as Alzheimers, Dementia, Personal Care and Hospice Care.
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How does Home Instead differ from other home care providers?
• We are not an agency. We are the world's largest, most trusted home care organisation with over 800 offices worldwide.
• Our CAREGivers are hired directly by us, which means we deal with all the administration of payroll, taxes, PRSI and provide public and employers liability insurance.
• Our Quality Care Managers visit the client on a periodic basis to assess the clients needs, support the Caregiver and monitor the quality of the service.
• We provide a back up service in the event a CAREGiver is sick or on holidays.
• We have an emergency contact number available 24/7, which you can contact in the evenings, weekends and through out the night.
• We were the first home care organisation in Ireland to be a preferred provider for the HSE and the first to have a contract with the HSE for the provision of enhanced home care services.
• We have been awarded the National Services Award for our the quality of services we provide around Ireland.
• We are a founder member of the Irish Private Home Care Association, which was set up to improve standards and help make home care more affordable for older people and their families.
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What services do you provide?
We provide a wide range of services to help older people maintain their independence and live at home for longer than would otherwise be possible.
From a few hours a day, up to 24 hours - seven days a week, including weekends and holidays, you can receive the services our clients find most beneficial, for example: light housekeeping; meal preparation; companionship; transport; personal care; dementia care; post hospital care; care for people with disabilities; and a live in service.
We provide anywhere from 2 hours up to 24/7 care, 365 days of the year. We will expand and reduce hours as required by the needs of the client.
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What happens if the CAREGiver is sick?
We have a bank of trained CAREGivers who readily available so we can provide care in short notice in the event of any CAREGiver being unable to work. We are available 24/7 if any emergencies should arise, even on evenings and weekends.
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Why should we employ a CAREGiver from Home Instead rather than privately?
When recruiting privately, it is your responsibility to check their background and to ensure that their PAYE and PRSI are taken care of. You become their employer and have to make sure that you have Employers and Public Liability Insurance to cover the carer in your home and also when transporting to and from events.
There is no guarantee that they are trained to meet your needs and there are no Quality Care Managers in place to monitor the quality of the service. If your carer is sick or on holidays there is no back up available to provide a replacement.
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Can we claim tax relief on the cost of Homecare?
Yes you can. Our clients or their family can avail of income tax relief of up to 41% on payments to Home Instead Senior Care of up to €50,000 per annum. The tax credit can be adjusted so that the relief will apply on a monthly basis rather than annually, which may otherwise be the case. We also advise families to avail of home care grants, which can be applied for through the relevant local health centre.
We would be happy to discuss in detail how you can go about claiming tax relief on home care fees.
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How many CAREGivers will I have?
The number of CAREGivers you will have depends on the number of hours you require weekly. We prefer to limit the number of CAREGivers in place as it’s important to maintain continuity and stability as much as possible. Once we’ve matched up the most suitable CAREGiver, we will personally introduce the CAREGiver to you. We endeavour to give you a CAREGiver who is capable of doing all tasks you require of them.
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Who pays the CAREGiver, you or me?
Your CAREGiver is employed by his or her locally, independently owned and operated franchise, which means the local office handles all the billing, payroll, taxes, insurance and administrative responsibilities for your CAREGiver.
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What are your rates and minimum hours of service?
Rates and service hours vary depending on your needs. Please
contact the Home Instead Senior Care office nearest you for specific rate information
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Do we pay you a start up fee?
No, you do not. Once we receive an enquiry we can provide a free no-obligation consultation at your house or wherever it suits, which will help you better understand our affordable in-home services. When the service starts we will invoice you twice monthly.
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And what if I don’t like the CAREGiver?
In the unlikely event that there is a personality clash between yourself and the CAREGiver, it is important to inform our staff so that we can act immediately and look to replace the CAREGiver. Our quality assurance visits by our Quality Care Managers ensure the Client/CAREGiver relationship meets expectations.
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Do you provide senior services to those in nursing homes or other retirement facilities?
Yes, Home Instead CAREGivers provide services to residents in retirement and nursing homes who may require additional attention and/or personalised long term care.
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Is Home Instead Senior Care a maid/cleaning service?
No, but CAREGivers can provide light housekeeping, laundry and ironing as part of our comprehensive care services.
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