After working in nursing homes for many years, two licensed practical nurses, Rebecca Little and Laura Doenges, of Delhi, teamed up to offer an alternative to senior citizens.
Twelve years ago, they started Around the Clock In Home Referrals LLC. They created an employment agency that provides customers with referrals to non-medical companions who help seniors age in place. They are licensed by the state Department of Labor.
Today, “there are many groups in the area that provide in-home care,” Little said. “We are the only licensed one.”
Home care refers to personal care activities such as bathing, grooming, meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry and medication reminders. Going grocery shopping or taking a client to a doctor’s appointment are other examples of personal care. Around the Clock companions assist seniors with activities of daily living.
“No one envisions their golden years in a nursing home,” Doenges said. Yet, many families assume that when a loved one experiences a major health setback, such as surgery, a fall, or a hospitalization, a nursing home is the only long-term solution.
“We make staying home a viable option,” Little said. “Our typical clients are the elderly population.”
It is all about “safety, supervision, care and compassion” she said. The company does background and reference checks on the caregivers it refers.
When clients call and need help to stay at home, Around the Clock supplies them with several resumes of caregivers who have already been vetted and who are currently available. The family hiring the caregiver interviews the caregiver and negotiates the price for the number of hours per week they want, directly with the caregiver.
Generally, the client pays for in-home services out of pocket. If the individual has a long-term care insurance policy, they can get reimbursed. Around the Clock and its contractors are not paid by Medicare or Medicaid.
“Typically, the going rate we see being charged is $25 to $30 per hour for in-home care.” Little said. “We do not set the price.”
Per state licensing laws, Around the Clock receives a 10% commission for its referral services. Logistically, it also recommends an online vendor that uses GPS tracking to their clientele.
“It is a safe way for somebody to get paid,” Little said. No bank account information is exchanged and the senior citizen does not have to write checks.
Each caregiver carries liability insurance and Around the Clock carries additional insurance.
There are other companies that supply medical professionals who provide home health services such as wound care, intravenous medication and changing a catheter. Around the Clock does not offer those types of services. It specializes in companion services.
“At the end of the day, we wanted to create a service that we would use ourselves,” Doenges said. For example, when Little’s brother had cancer, she cared for him at home and hired other caregivers in her network to supplement as needed.
“If a client picks who they are comfortable with having in their own home, they feel like they are gaining back some of their control,” Doenges said.
Little and Doenges met each other when their sons entered Kindergarten. Their sons are both 21 years old now.
“We formed a friendship first,” Little said. Later, she encouraged Doenges to do home care. When she agreed, “We struck out on our own.”
“We decided we could do a much better job,” Little said. Around the Clock has six Google reviews and a five-star rating. “We have an entire book of letters of recommendation.” Many are hand-written thank you notes. Others are typed.
The pair bring this book to every event in which they participate. “We do a lot of Office of Aging events in multiple counties and veterans events too,” Little said.
In many cases, a combination of professional home care services and family support can help individuals remain safely at home for longer than they might have thought possible.
“We have a very large pool of contractors,” Little said. If a caregiver becomes unavailable for any reason and the family needs a replacement, Around the Clock refers additional caregivers.
The company serves families in Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster counties.
“When a family calls, they are often overtired and overwhelmed,” Doenges said. “We try to respond quickly.”
“Customer service is of the utmost importance to us,” Little said. “Communications is super important too.”
For more information, visit www.atcinhomecare.org.