FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q: Is PRIME certified/licensed and are its workers bonded and insured?
A: We are certified as a Home Services Agency by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). As an agency, PRIME provides NON-MEDICAL services only. Our employees are covered by our Worker's Compensation Insurance and they are bonded and liability insured.
Q: Does PRIME bill Medicare, Medicaid, or other private insurances for home care services?
A: PRIME does not bill Medicare and Medicaid. We accept long term care insurance policies that have home care service as a rider.
Q: How qualified are PRIME caregivers?
A: Most of our caregivers have formal caregiving training and have attended schools that offer Nurse Aide courses. Those who are not certified have at least two years of experience taking care of the elderly. We also insist on thoroughly screening our caregivers by conducting criminal background checks and verifying our applicants' professional and personal references. They also undergo the IDPH-mandated 8 hours of initial training, 8 hours of annual training and dementia/alzheimer's training.
Q: What if the caregiver sent me is not a good fit? Can I request somebody else?
A: Definitely! We are aware that personality differences can happen, even after rigorous screening. We are always ready to replace your caregiver if you wish to have someone else.
Q: Mom or Dad likes to go around town every week. Will your caregivers drive?
A: We have caregivers who drive, but they may not use their own car when they take mom or dad out. According to our Company regulations, the client's car has to be used for this purpose and the caregiver must be included in the client's car insurance.
Q: Can your caregivers communicate competently in English?
A: Absolutely! PRIME values its multi-cultural workforce, with caregivers coming from various ethnic backgrounds. However, we make sure that all of our caregivers are able to read, write and communicate clearly in English.
Q: Do I have to sign a service contract?
A: Yes, because it is part of the requirement of our Licensure. The client can terminate the service agreement after giving a 7-day notice, though. You will not be billed for days where service is not rendered.
Q: Do I have to commit to a set schedule?
A: Not necessarily. We will adjust to your preferred times and days. We require a minimum of three days in a week, and at least six hours per day.
Q: What type of tasks do caregivers perform?
A: Our caregivers may do the following: personal care, assist with walking, dressing up, meal preparation, assist with range of motion (ROM) exercises, light housekeeping, light laundry, providing companionship, escorting clients to medical appointments or social activities, as well as running errands.
Q: How many days off will a live-in caregiver have?
A: We have live-in caregivers who work 4 days in a week and take 3 days off. In some cases, depending on the preference of the live in caregivers, we can have 7 days work and then 7 days off. Live-in caregivers are supposed to have a minimum of 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep out of the 8 hours expected and 3 hours of meal and personal breaks based on the new Domestic Care Act of 2015.
Q: What happens when the live in caregiver is not able to get 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep out of the 8 hours sleeping period?
A: Based on the Companionship Services Act (also known as Domestic Care Act of 2015), live in caregivers who are not able to get 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep must be paid for those lost sleeping hours.
Q: To comply with the requirements of the Domestic Care Act of 2015, what does your Agency do if my mom or dad is up more than 3 times at night to the point that the live in caregiver is not able to get 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep?
A: We send a night shift person from 9pm/10pm until 6am so the live in caregiver can sleep and rest. The client will be billed separately for those hours.
Q: My relative is currently in the hospital. Do you offer bedside caregiving?
A: We do offer bedside caregiving in hospitals, nursing homes, or rehabilitation facilities.
Q: I'm out of state. Can I still get in touch to arrange services for my relative in the Chicagoland area?
A: Absolutely! Just dial our main office number or one of the 24/7 on-call numbers and someone will be ready to assist you.
A: We are certified as a Home Services Agency by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). As an agency, PRIME provides NON-MEDICAL services only. Our employees are covered by our Worker's Compensation Insurance and they are bonded and liability insured.
Q: Does PRIME bill Medicare, Medicaid, or other private insurances for home care services?
A: PRIME does not bill Medicare and Medicaid. We accept long term care insurance policies that have home care service as a rider.
Q: How qualified are PRIME caregivers?
A: Most of our caregivers have formal caregiving training and have attended schools that offer Nurse Aide courses. Those who are not certified have at least two years of experience taking care of the elderly. We also insist on thoroughly screening our caregivers by conducting criminal background checks and verifying our applicants' professional and personal references. They also undergo the IDPH-mandated 8 hours of initial training, 8 hours of annual training and dementia/alzheimer's training.
Q: What if the caregiver sent me is not a good fit? Can I request somebody else?
A: Definitely! We are aware that personality differences can happen, even after rigorous screening. We are always ready to replace your caregiver if you wish to have someone else.
Q: Mom or Dad likes to go around town every week. Will your caregivers drive?
A: We have caregivers who drive, but they may not use their own car when they take mom or dad out. According to our Company regulations, the client's car has to be used for this purpose and the caregiver must be included in the client's car insurance.
Q: Can your caregivers communicate competently in English?
A: Absolutely! PRIME values its multi-cultural workforce, with caregivers coming from various ethnic backgrounds. However, we make sure that all of our caregivers are able to read, write and communicate clearly in English.
Q: Do I have to sign a service contract?
A: Yes, because it is part of the requirement of our Licensure. The client can terminate the service agreement after giving a 7-day notice, though. You will not be billed for days where service is not rendered.
Q: Do I have to commit to a set schedule?
A: Not necessarily. We will adjust to your preferred times and days. We require a minimum of three days in a week, and at least six hours per day.
Q: What type of tasks do caregivers perform?
A: Our caregivers may do the following: personal care, assist with walking, dressing up, meal preparation, assist with range of motion (ROM) exercises, light housekeeping, light laundry, providing companionship, escorting clients to medical appointments or social activities, as well as running errands.
Q: How many days off will a live-in caregiver have?
A: We have live-in caregivers who work 4 days in a week and take 3 days off. In some cases, depending on the preference of the live in caregivers, we can have 7 days work and then 7 days off. Live-in caregivers are supposed to have a minimum of 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep out of the 8 hours expected and 3 hours of meal and personal breaks based on the new Domestic Care Act of 2015.
Q: What happens when the live in caregiver is not able to get 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep out of the 8 hours sleeping period?
A: Based on the Companionship Services Act (also known as Domestic Care Act of 2015), live in caregivers who are not able to get 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep must be paid for those lost sleeping hours.
Q: To comply with the requirements of the Domestic Care Act of 2015, what does your Agency do if my mom or dad is up more than 3 times at night to the point that the live in caregiver is not able to get 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep?
A: We send a night shift person from 9pm/10pm until 6am so the live in caregiver can sleep and rest. The client will be billed separately for those hours.
Q: My relative is currently in the hospital. Do you offer bedside caregiving?
A: We do offer bedside caregiving in hospitals, nursing homes, or rehabilitation facilities.
Q: I'm out of state. Can I still get in touch to arrange services for my relative in the Chicagoland area?
A: Absolutely! Just dial our main office number or one of the 24/7 on-call numbers and someone will be ready to assist you.