Helping Veterans — and their Families

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

Judy Miner (right), Director of Providence At Home, met Illinois Senator Dick Durbin at a press conference in Chicago on May 16, 2010.

When Illinois Senator Dick Durbin held a press conference on Sunday, May 16, Judy Miner was there. Judy is the Director of Providence At Home, a division of Providence Life Services that provides in-home help to seniors, veterans, and people recovering from various types of hospital stays. She attended the press conference because Senator Durbin was announcing the passage of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009. Durbin authored a provision that establishes a program of technical, financial, and practical support for family caregivers of veterans or service people injured in the line of duty.

Judy’s husband is a veteran, so she has a personal interest in the Act and in Durbin’s provision. But she is also thrilled that this new act will allow Providence At Home to extend their services to even more clients.

“We already provide home care to disabled veterans, and we are proud to do so,” says Judy. In fact, employees of Providence Life Services went beyond the call of duty two years ago when they raised money to help one of their clients, an injured Army Reservist whose check from the VA was not enough to cover basic costs of living.

But Judy also understands the sacrifices that family members make when a loved one is injured. “Family members also need help,” she says. “Caregiving can be emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausting, and it takes a toll. I explained to Senator Durbin that Providence At Home is ready to work with his office in providing respite care to veterans’ family members who so desperately need it.”

Providence At Home serves communities in Illinois and Indiana from a main office at 16300 Louis Avenue in South Holland, Illinois. For more information, call 708-331-2005.

Medicare Coverage for In-Home Care

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

Providence At Home offers the education, care, and help you need to stay as independent as possible for as long as possible.

Brandy Shifteh

When you or your parents arrive at a point where some in-home help would make life easier, there is a lot of information and jargon to sift through. I recently spoke with Brandy Shifteh, Vice President of our Providence At Home division. She has an extensive understanding of services available, Medicare coverage, and what it takes to manage your own health. What follows are some of the points Brandy shared with me:

What’s covered by Medicare

When you’re trying to decide what kind of help you need, often the best place to start is learning what in-home services Medicare will cover. Medicare Part A offers 100% coverage (yes, 100%!) of skilled home healthcare services. And the eligibility requirements are pretty straightforward:

• The recipient must be homebound (meaning that leaving home requires a “considerable and taxing effort”).
• The recipient must be under the care of a physician who is recommending in-home care. The physician should establish a Plan of Care and review it periodically.
• The recipient must need intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, or speech therapy, or have a continuing need for occupational therapy.
• Services must be “reasonable and necessary.”

Medicare coverage is intended to be temporary, so Providence At Home caregivers focus on teaching their clients how to manage their own conditions. For example, we provide disease management education, medication teaching, new ostomy teaching, diabetic education, wound care, and IV management — all with the intent of helping people maintain their independence at home, and stay out of the hospital!

What’s not covered by Medicare

Other forms of help are also available from Providence At Home, but these are not covered by Medicare:

• Medication reminders
• Bathing assistance
• Morning and evening care
• Transportation
• In-home help, such as with laundry, meal preparation, errand-running, and more

Contacting Providence At Home

The in-home care division of Providence Life Services is called Providence At Home. From offices in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, we serve hundreds of communities, offering peace of mind to people who need a little extra help at home. If you have any questions about in-home services or coverage, please call the office in your neighborhood:

• South Holland, Illinois: 708-331-2005
• Homer Glen, Illinois: 708-301-3229
• St. John, Indiana: 219-365-3229
• Zeeland, Michigan: 616-772-2935

Brandy and her team look forward to serving you!

Since the Very Beginning

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

This article originally appeared in the February 2010 edition of the Providence Lifestyle newsletter. If you would like to receive a printed copy of this newsletter, send an email to mjongsma@provlife.com.

Jack and Della Riley were able to count on Providence Life Services for the care and compassion they needed.

The story of this ministry we share began in Palos Heights, Illinois, in 1960. And though it has spread to 16 other locations today, ministry continues at that original site. Jack and Della Riley’s story is a perfect example of both our faithfulness to our original purpose and our willingness to expand to offer new services that meet new needs.

Della Riley has had several falls over the past years, requiring surgery and rehab. When she fell again last May, she endured another surgery and then agreed to try the rehab services at Providence of Palos Heights.

Her family was worried about her husband Jack, who would be left alone in their home. Jack’s health was fragile, and the family worried that he wouldn’t eat without his wife. They also were anxious about him driving alone to visit Della. So they contacted Providence At Home and arranged for a live-in caregiver to take care of Jack at home.

The Providence caregiver cooked for Jack every day and drove him daily to Providence of Palos Heights to visit with Della during her rehab.

But Jack’s health continued to decline, and heart problems landed him in the hospital. The doctors and Jack’s family decided he needed rehab — which would give him the physical exercise he needed as well as allowing him to be with his wife again. Providence accommodated both Rileys in the same room and coordinated their rehab schedules.

Jack’s heart held out for three more days before he was re-admitted to the hospital, where he died peacefully a few days later. Della was able to visit him at the hospital, but the last time they were truly together was during their three days at Providence of Palos Heights.

Following Jack’s death, Della continued with her rehab. She appreciated the support she received from staff who expressed their sympathy and residents who had gone through similar experiences. The Providence environment provided both the physical help and the emotional support she needed.

Della is now home again, with the same Providence At Home caregiver who cared for Jack. Providence technology devices help keep her safe and in contact with her family when the caregiver is off duty.

Jack and Della Riley were able to count on Providence to provide exactly the care they needed — both at our original location in Palos Heights and in their own home. Rehab, in-home services, assistive technology — these are all new forms of care. But they are delivered with the same Christ-like compassion that has been part of our mission since the very beginning.

Private Duty Help at Home: 3 things to consider

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

When you begin to feel you need a little extra help at home — with getting out of bed, or remembering to take your meds, or light housekeeping — you might decide to hire a private duty caregiver. “Private duty” caregivers can provide non-medical help with a variety of daily activities.

There are two basic options when it comes to private duty care: “independent” or “agency.” An independent private duty caregiver is an individual you pay directly for your caregiving needs, as opposed to paying an agency to send one of their caregiving employees. Paying an independent caregiver is usually less expensive, but the risks can be higher. Consider the following:

1. Taxes

Agency: When you work through an agency, the agency assures that the legal requirements for taxes are properly addressed.

Independent: If you hire an independent caregiver, IRS regulations classify you as that person’s employer, and you become liable for:

• Social Security Taxes

• Unemployment compensation

• Payroll taxes

• Interest on any payments owed

• Possible civil fines of up to $100,000

• Possible criminal penalties

2. Workers compensation, and general and professional liability

Agency: When you work through an agency, the agency is responsible for workers compensation, and they carry insurance to cover general and professional liability.

Independent: If you hire an independent, private duty caregiver, you could be responsible to pay all of the caregiver’s medical expenses and disability coverage if he or she is injured while working for you. If your private caregiver doesn’t have insurance, you will be liable if the caregiver is injured on your property. You could also be considered liable if the caregiver fails to perform his or her duties or causes injury to you, a loved one, or a third party.

3. Peace of mind

Agency: When deciding which agency to hire, choose one that is licensed by state regulators, assuring quality oversight. Licensing gives you the assurance that the caregivers are bonded, which protects you from theft or damage to property. Agencies that are licensed also do background checks, drug screenings, TB tests, and competency evaluations on all their caregivers, to assure that you receive the best care, under the direction of a health care professional, with a care plan that is being properly followed.

Independent: If you hire an independent caregiver, it is up to you to screen this person and make sure he or she can be trusted in your home, with your personal well-being.

In Illinois, Providence At Home is state-licensed to offer a variety of services, both medical and non-medical. In fact, our caregivers are people who see their work as a ministry. You’ll sense the difference as soon as they walk in the door. When you’re ready to start exploring the at-home care options available, contact the Providence At Home office nearest you to ask for an info pack:

• South Holland, Illinois – 708-331-2005

• Homer Glen, Illinois – 708-301-3229

• St. John, Indiana – 219-365-3229

Or use our convenient online form to request the information you need.

We understand the risks of hiring at-home help. Providence At Home is here to give you the services you need and the peace of mind you deserve!