Answers to common home care questions

What if I need to speak with someone after business hours?

SYNERGY HomeCare is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Outside normal business hours, we have an on-call staff member available to help you. Learn more here  

I have insurance, and I'm not sure if it covers non-medical home care or home health care services. Will Synergy HomeCare verify coverage before starting service?

Yes. SYNERGY HomeCare is very knowledgeable in dealing with insurance companies. With your approval, we will contact your insurance provider and share the results with you.

Is Medicare or Medicaid available for non-medical in-home care?

Before 2019, Medicare did not pay for non-medical home care and selectively covered home health care. In 2019, some Medicare Advantage plans became available, which may cover non-medical home care services depending on a members’ plan.

Medicaid can reimburse for non-medical home care services to help individuals remain living safely in their homes. However, Medicaid rules are state-specific, and therefore, eligibility and benefits differ in every state. Please refer to your state-specific guide for Medicaid programs covering home care services.

What different services do you offer?

SYNERGY HomeCare is proud to offer a full menu of non-medical home care services. SYNERGY HomeCare of Tewksbury will help determine the specific services needed to provide solutions, uniquely customized for your desired needs and outcomes.

Can you do short term care?

Yes. Your needs and goals always determine our Customized Plan of Care - it's part of our “No Contracts, Just Care” philosophy.  Learn more here.

Can you care for someone in a facility (hospital, nursing home, or assisted living)?

Yes. Synergy HomeCare will provide home care services to everyone, wherever they call home.

What if a family member needs to be put in a care facility while receiving SYNERGY HomeCare’s services?

SYNERGY HomeCare can easily transition with you. We work with you and the facility to continue providing the same quality home care services you are accustomed to receiving.

Do I have to sign a contract locking me into services?

No. SYNERGY HomeCare is here to meet your needs, and as your needs change, so will the services you receive. Our service agreement reflects this and adapts to meet changing needs.

How often do I get billed for services?

Typically clients are billed weekly.

Is there any additional cost to me?

No. Every SYNERGY HomeCare service agreement is clear and transparent; there are no hidden fees. The most typical additional cost you may incur is mileage when you ask your caregiver to run errands in their vehicle.

Do you accept credit card payments?

Yes, SYNERGY HomeCare offices accept credit card payments.

Why would I hire a SYNERGY HomeCare caregiver versus a private caregiver for my family?

If you hire privately, you become the employer of the caregiver. The following are just a few of the things you must take into consideration when hiring privately.

• Once you hire a caregiver privately, you are responsible for all state and federal payroll taxes. By using SYNERGY HomeCare, payroll and taxes for the caregiver are managed for you.
• You must obtain Workers Compensation Insurance or make sure your private caregiver comes with insurance. If not, you could be responsible for any injuries claimed to have happened while working at your home. How will you pay for any claims of disability if they are filed against you? SYNERGY HomeCare provides Workers Compensation for all employees.
• What happens if the private person doesn’t show up for work? Are you prepared to stay home and take care of your loved one? SYNERGY HomeCare has a backup contingency plan should a caregiver have an emergency, ensuring you receive the expected support.
• Are you capable of running a comprehensive, national criminal background check? At SYNERGY HomeCare, all our employees have a thorough national criminal background check before providing our clients services.
• Is the private caregiver bonded against theft? All SYNERGY HomeCare employees are bonded.
• Who will supervise him/her? SYNERGY HomeCare conducts routine in-service training as well as supervisory visits for all caregivers.

These are just some of the items to take into consideration when hiring a caregiver privately. With SYNERGY HomeCare, we take the worry out of any of these issues.

Learn How to Choose a Home Care Agency here.

What should I be looking for in a non-medical home care agency?

The best in-home care agencies, like SYNERGY HomeCare of Tewksbury, will respond immediately to your home care needs by:

• Having someone available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
• Committing to always providing services.
• Having bonded employees.
• Having company employees, not contractors. Employees should have national criminal background checks run.
• Ensure that no one shows up at your home without an introduction, a comprehensive understanding of your customized Plan of Care, and agency identification.
• Providing routine visits to your home to ensure you are delighted with the services you’re receiving.

How long will it take to get a caregiver?

Based on your needs and requests, we can typically provide a caregiver immediately or at your convenience.

What happens if a caregiver is unable to show up for a scheduled shift?

Our CARE Team approach means that if your family’s caregiver is unavailable for any reason, another member of your CARE Team will be available to provide you with care. 

How do you select my caregiver?

SYNERGY HomeCare caregivers are required to pass a thorough reference and national criminal background check successfully. Our caregivers are fully bonded and insured and required to complete our Orientation program and complete assigned training programs. SYNERGY HomeCare will then focus on matching your specific needs and requests to each caregiver's skills, background, and personality to ensure the ideal companion for each important client.