Q: Our family needs help. I am feeling overwhelmed by caring for my parent in addition to juggling my family life, children and being a working professional. How can you help?

A: We are available to assist with everything from homemaking, meal preparation, companionship and transportation, to personal care and hygiene with skilled, compassionate caregivers. This will allow you to continue living your life as normally as possible and to spend quality time with your parent rather than feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. Should you have a last minute appointment, we can also accommodate short-notice requests for someone to stay there if your parent cannot be left unattended.

Q: How can I be sure my family member is in good, caring hands?

A: Considering the yearly abuses that take place with elderly care, this is a valid concern. Nashoba Homecare is unique because our caregivers reside within the Nashoba Valley Community and most have been referred to us with a known history or we have personally known for years. In addition, we carefully screen all applicants with criminal background checks, diligent reference checks, Social Security validation and Certified Nursing Registry checks. All of our caregivers are employees of the company, not independent contractors, which some agencies hire. All caregivers also undergo pre-employment health screening as well as annual health assessments to ensure good physical health.

We are licensed by the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety (License Number 7472) and we are fully insured and bonded. If you are looking for reliable, trustworthy short or long-term care, our company has an outstanding history of satisfied clients.

Q: What if my family member doesn't get along well with the caregiver?

A: Nashoba Homecare takes pride in providing the “personal touch” by becoming familiar with the care recipient, their interests, social requests, diagnosis and communication style. We are very adept at choosing the caregiver who would best suit their home. To ensure a good fit and prevent these kinds of problems, we come out and meet with the family and the individual if possible. Before any services begin, they can meet their caregiver before official assignments are made. If a patient has a specific request for a certain type of caregiver, we will fill that request. If at some point in time the patient comes to dislike his or her caregiver, our director after reviewing the situation can assign a different caregiver.

We only hire employees who have earnest desires to provide loving care, and we train them further to treat their patients just like they would treat a member of their own family. We understand how hard it is to invite someone into your home, which is why we hire from within the local area and seek individuals with the qualities we described.

Q: Is the home caregiver supervised by anyone?

A: Yes, home caregivers are under the supervision of our director, who oversees the entire Nashoba Homecare staff. She makes regular supervisory visits to evaluate clients' needs, notes any changes, and makes new recommendations if needs change. Other office staff will periodically call to ensure quality service to see if needs have changed.

Should an emergency arise, the director will take care of it. We are available for an unexpected emergency, and we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Q: What parts of Massachusetts do you cover?

A: We care for clients in all cities throughout Middlesex and Worcester counties. You do not need to live in Massachusetts to schedule care. In fact, many children of elderly parents who schedule elderly care with Nashoba Homecare live in other states.

Also, the place of care doesn't have to be a home, but can be anywhere the patient resides, be it a house, apartment, nursing home, assisted living facility, rehabilitation center or hospital. Our director will visit the patient and make an assessment as to the level of care needed.

Q: We have experienced several caregivers coming into the home and its upsetting to us to constantly have strangers who we are not familiar with, particularly with my parent who is experiencing dementia. What is your policy?

A: We believe it's critical to keep a consistent caregiver and schedule for anyone. We also realize the importance for those who have been diagnosed with Dementia or Alzheimer's and how easy their mood can be disrupted by inconsistency and meeting new faces to care for them. As we mentioned earlier, we are very selective who we hire and will keep a consistent caregiver for your situation.

Q: What if we just need short term assistance after having surgery or coming home from the hospital unexpectedly?

A: We are on call 24 hours a day in case of an unexpected discharge or emergency situation. We can assist you with either short or long term even if your needs change. We will monitor your care with our supervisory visits to ensure you are receiving the best service possible.

Q: What is the primary difference between your services and an institution’s services?

A: “Institutions” generally refer to Assisted Living Facilities or Nursing Homes. Agencies such as Nashoba Homecare offer “in-home” care to clients, which enable the senior or disabled individuals to stay in the comfort of their own homes. Even when individuals become totally bedridden and in need of 24-hour care, families have the choice of keeping them at home. Our services can provide the level of care necessary to sustain the individuals safely within their home environments.

Q: I would like to hire your services for my parents but I live in another state, how can I know what is going on with their care?

A: We maintain communication with the designated family members to keep you informed. There will be a book in the home where the caregiver will document the care and any notations of any information or concerns. In addition, there will be a care plan along with emergency contacts in the notebook. We are sensitive to the writings that are placed in the book for reading purposes and any concerns will be directly communicated to the office and we will contact you.

Q: How does the cost of Nashoba Homecare compare with Assisted Living Facilities or Nursing Homes…or other in-home care agencies?

A: Depending on the amount of hours of care needed each day, the average Nashoba Homecare service runs from 50% to 75% less than Assisted Living Facilities or Nursing Homes (costs will vary depending on the amount of hours being covered).

Our cost-per-hour charge is highly competitive when compared with other in-home care agencies throughout the area because we are not a franchise and do not have to pay the high fees that those agencies incur. Those savings translate into lower costs for you. We are answerable only to you and not to any corporation. We pride ourselves in keeping our costs to the clients and families as low and as cost effective as possible while still providing excellent service.

Q: Can I change my caregiver’s schedule to meet my needs?

A: Changes are easily accomplished with as little as 72 hours notice to our office staff. We make every effort to provide our clients with times that match their needs and wishes. We do everything possible to ensure you or your loved one gets the scheduled hours you request even when the regularly assigned caregiver calls in sick or unable to make the shift.

Q: How do I start services?

A: See the contact section, or call (978) 448-2113 to schedule a free in-home assessment or address any questions or concerns you may have. We will gladly identify caregivers who have the skills, personality and attitudes best suited for you or your loved one. You will then be able to meet the caregiver(s) and if you approve, we will set a mutually agreed upon date to begin services. Please give us a call to find out more about our services.