BrightStar FAQs: Health Care Staffing, Elderly, Newborn & Child Care

Q: How do I get started?
A: Call us toll free, (866) 618 - STAR (7827) or use our office locator. Let's talk to see how we may best be of service. Depending on what you feel is necessary, we can arrange a time to schedule a personal assessment so we can complete the picture.

We will work with you to ensure that everyone's needs are met. We can arrange for services ranging from a couple of hours a week to around the clock care. No need is too great. We match each client with a caregiver that best meets their needs. Health care staffing services can usually begin almost immediately.

Q: How do you select your caregivers?
A: All of our caregivers are rigorously screened. We interview everyone in person and then conduct a thorough reference, criminal background check, and drug screen test. Everyone that works with us, from home health aides to nurses, are bonded and insured.

Every one of our caregivers has at least one year of experience and most of our caregivers have advanced training. We match caregivers to you and your family based on the skills needed and personality traits necessary for a good relationship.

Q: Are your services available for the elderly in nursing homes or assisted living facilities?
A: Yes, we provide health care staffing services wherever clients reside.

Q: What makes BrightStar different from other companies?
A: What distinguishes BrightStar is that BrightStar revolves around you, our client. The services we provide are custom tailored to each client's individual needs.

Also, we offer the full continuum of newborn, child, and senior health care. In addition to providing companionship for the elderly, we provide "hands-on" care for the elderly in home as we are a medical company. This allows us to perform every service you might receive in a nursing facility in the comfort of your own home. From bathing services, to in-home blood draws, to Alzheimer's and dementia care, to high-tech pediatric and quadriplegic care, we can do it!

We are also available to all of our clients around the clock. There is never a time when our clients are unable to reach us! You will never reach an answering machine when calling! We will always treat your family as we would treat our own.

Q: What happens if my caregiver is sick?
A: It's not a problem. That's why we employ a team approach. If one home health aide, nurse, or caregiver is sick, another is normally available.

Q: Who pays the caregiver - me or you?
A: BrightStar handles all the payroll, taxes, insurance and administrative responsibilities for you. We will even bill your long-term care insurance company for you.

Q: Can I change the schedule if I have appointments?
A: Yes, changes are easily accommodated. Clients' needs always come first.

Q: Do I have to sign a contract to keep services for a specified period of time?
A: No. At BrightStar, we are flexible to your needs and recognize that due to changing circumstances, you may need to increase or decrease services. Unlike nursing homes or assisted living facilities, health care services can be cancelled at any time.

Q: Why should I use BrightStar rather than hire someone out of the newspaper myself?
A: There are several great reasons why BrightStar should be your choice for home care. All of our caregivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured. Our caregivers also undergo Bloodborne Pathogen and HIPAA training. Also, we test all of our medical personnel to assess their skills. We need to make sure our certified home health aides, nurse aides, or companions are the best in the business.

Every family needs to be aware that almost every Homeowner's insurance policy specifically excludes anyone working within your home. If the person you hire becomes injured while working for you, you will become personally responsible for all of their medical bills. This has left several families very vulnerable when their caregiver injured themselves at their home.

The potential to lose everything you have worked so hard to achieve seems an unnecessary risk. Every one of BrightStar's employees are completely covered by insurance so you and your loved ones can relax knowing that if something unforeseen happens to your caregiver, they are completely covered by insurance.

We also maintain a large staff of quality employees to ensure that the most compatible and reliable caregiver will be there to provide the best care for seniors, newborns, or children in their own home, for you, your family member, or friend.

We are here for you, 24 hours, seven days a week!

Q: Are services covered by Medicare or insurance?
A: Medicare does not pay for this type of care. Many long-term care policies will reimburse for these kinds of services. We are happy to work with your insurance company to make that determination. We will also assist you by billing the insurance company directly.

Q: What if service must be changed?
A: No problem. We are very flexible and understand that situations can quickly change. Our only concern is your well being and we respond accordingly.

Q: How much do the services cost?
A: BrightStar offers several levels of care. Costs are determined based on the client's needs. Call (866) 618-STAR(7827) to find the nearest BrightStar office and have an intake coordinator assess your situation. We will then be more than happy to provide you a quote on the price of services.

Q: Who can best be helped by BrightStar?
A: BrightStar is the perfect solution for anyone who needs supportive services in order to remain in their home. What makes BrightStar unique is that if a client's needs increase, BrightStar can be there every step of the way to meet those needs. This alleviates many seniors' worries about about their health care, and being forced to move. BrightStar is able to provide every service available in an institutional facility in the comfort of each client's own home.

BrightStar clients include those with diminished eyesight or hearing, arthritis, COPD, those recovering from severe medical problems such as cancer or heart disease, or those who are dealing with memory loss, Alzheimer's and dementia. Many of our clients have a number of conditions which make the everyday activities of life difficult.

Unlike other companies that offer similar services, BrightStar also provides health care staffing services to corporate clients such as hospitals and nursing homes. As a result we are able to offer everyone that works with us superior benefits, thereby attracting the best and brightest. Additionally, this gives us a much larger base of professional nurses, home health aides, nurse aides, and any other allied health professionals to draw from.

For example, because we recruit phlebotomists for various labs, we are able to offer in-home blood draws. We are also able to have nurses perform med set-ups, and even have nurses perform around-the-clock care depending on the need. While most of our clients do not require around the clock nursing care, it is a benefit that we are able to offer because we have a large pool of professionals to draw from.

Don't waste valuable time doing the laundry and other errands. Instead spend your time connecting with one another. Let us take on the daily tasks with Brightstar healthcare staff.

Q: Are your services only for seniors?
A: No, we also provide services to new mothers, individuals with disabilities, victims of accidents, people recovering from a recent illness or surgery, and anyone who just needs a little help getting around the house.

We specialize in providing care for high-tech pediatric and quadriplegic clients.

Are you asking yourself any one of the following questions?

• Does your loved one's family live far away?
• Does your loved one feel like a burden?
• Does your loved one have medical needs?
• Does your loved one require help with activities of daily living, i.e. dressing, bathing, hygiene, cooking, etc.?
• Have you noticed any changes in your loved one's memory?
• Do you spend more than 3 hours per week with your loved one doing household tasks?
• Do you argue with other family members about providing care to your loved one?
• Do you feel guilty, depressed, angry or resentful of your loved one?
• Are you more tired than usual from lack of sleep, anxiety and stress?
• Is your relationship with your spouse or children strained?

If you have answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may benefit from speaking with a caring professional from BrightStar. Call us to learn if we can assist you.

We have provided assistance to hundreds of families just like yours. You are not alone. Reach out and let's see how we can assist you.