How Does a Registry Work?
Are you interested in keeping your spouse, parent or any family member at home another year longer?
If the answer is yes, explore the FAQ’s and answers that follow:
Friends for Friends offers a quality, affordable option to help you care for your loved ones at home. Friends for Friends, a homecare registry, provides qualified CNA’s and companions to fulfill your caregiving needs.
Q. What’s the difference between an agency and a registry?
A. Homecare agencies employ their own caregivers, run the necessary background checks, take care of the payroll taxes and insurance and assign the caregiver who will care for your loved one. Agencies are also responsible for Worker’s Comp., taxes, and other insurance.
Homecare registries, such as Friends for Friends, carefully screens prospective caregivers and runs extensive background checks. We meet with the prospective client to find out as much as possible about their wants, needs, hobbies and medical conditions in order to match a caregiver who will complement the client in order to establish a close relationship between client and caregiver.
Q. How is payment made when using a registry?
A. Payment is made by clients directly to caregiver and agency with separate checks. While payment schedule to caregiver is negotiated with/by caregiver and client, agency fees are paid weekly or bi-weekly.
Q. Is it difficult to keep track of payments and taxes?
A. Clients are provided with time slips which helps them keep track of the caregiver’s payments and agency fees. At year’s end clients may submit all payment information for caregivers and agency to their accountant who will generate a 1099 for all the parties involved in providing services.
Q. What are the advantages of working with a homecare registry?
A. The client or the family can choose who will be providing care.
The caregiver and client have the opportunity to establish a close relationship because registries are not affected by overtime laws; therefore clients are not exposed to different caregiver on a weekly basis. This also promotes continuity that results in friendship and close relationship between client and caregiver.
Q. Are your rates competitive with other registries?
A. Yes. We have some of the lowest rates in the state of Connecticut.
Q. How do you keep your rates so low?
A. Friends for Friends is a registry, which means caregivers work as independent contractors and are paid directly by the client. The agency receives a nominal fee which covers administrative expenses necessary to efficiently provide appropriate services and oversight.
Q. Can your staff care for people with a variety of conditions?
A. Our staff has a variety of experiences caring for clients with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and other chronic illness. We also provide short-term care for individuals who have come home to recuperate from joint replacement or other surgeries.
Q. Do you offer care just in the home?
A. When you need extra support, we can provide care to clients in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities and assisted living facilities.
Q. Can you accommodate my schedule?
A. We offer care from as little as 2 hrs, as well as 12 hour and live-in, coordinated to suit your schedule.
Q. What if care is needed right away?
A. In an emergency, we are able to provide care within a few hours!
Friends for Friends stands by their reputation of providing services within a few hours of your request.
Q. When can I contact Friends for Friends?
A. Friends for Friends is available to current and prospective clients and caregivers 24 hrs. per day/7 days per week.
Q. Do long-term care insurance companies reimburse for services through a registry?
A. Yes, the majority of insurance companies do reimburse clients for services through a registry. Friends for Friends will assist with the billing process by providing the company with bills and care notes.
Q. In what areas do you provide services?
A. We provide services in Hartford, Tolland, Middlesex and New Haven, New London, Tolland and Windham counties.