What coverage is available?
How are household expenses handled?
How is transportation handled?
What if I need help on a holiday?
Are companions allowed to make personal phone calls?
What arrangements are needed for sleeping?
How is food handled?
What if there are problems with a companion?
How do we pay for this service?
What are Elderlink's office hours?
What coverage is available?
Elderlink provides both hourly and 24-hour live-in companions. Coverage can be provided in two ways. The first is with two care providers, each covering one 12-hour shift per day. The second is with one care provider working a 24-hour shift. It is important to understand the dynamics of the later arrangement. In order to staff this way, the client must be sleeping fairly well through the night and not requiring assistance more than twice, or staying up for extended periods of time during the night. In this arrangement the care provider is available to the client 24 hours per day, but this does not mean that they are working 24 hours per day. The companion can be expected to work the equivalent of eight hours per day and to be on call the remaining 16 hours of each day.
How are household expenses handled?
In most instances, when the companion is expected to do the grocery shopping, a cash advance is left in the home for this purpose and the companion submits receipts for purchases. Other arrangements can be made at the discretion of the client or responsible party.
How is transportation handled?
Driving is part of the companions' duties and they are not paid extra for driving. However, if a companion uses their vehicle, they will most likely request to be reimbursed for gas and the use of their car. We suggest they are reimbursed at the mileage rate currently allowed by the IRS. When the companion transports the client, we recommend that the companion obtain a written release of liability from the client or responsible party.
If a client's car is used by the companion, we suggest that the client discuss driving arrangements with his or her automobile insurer to be sure the vehicle is properly insured.
What if I need help on a holiday?
The standard set by similar home health agencies in the Denver metro area is that the following days are paid holidays for the companions. Normally, the payment for the following worked holidays is one and one-half the regular rate of pay.
New Year's Day ~ Easter ~ Memorial Day ~ Independence Day ~ Labor Day ~ Thanksgiving ~ Christmas
Are companions allowed to make personal phone calls?
On 24-hour shifts, a companion cannot avoid the need to make or receive some personal calls. Companions have been asked to limit personal calls.
What arrangements are needed for sleeping?
On shifts when the companion is sleeping at the client's home there must be a separate, appropriate sleeping area provided.
How is food handled?
It is an expectation that adequate food will be provided by the client or family if a companion is on duty for 24 hours. It is usual that the companion eat the same meals that are prepared for the client. When this is not reasonable due to the client's food preferences or dietary restrictions, companions may expect that additional food will be purchased. The companion is expected to prepare meals for the client and for themselves. When there are guests in the home, companions should not be expected to prepare additional meals unless they have been consulted and agreed to do so.
What if there are problems with a companion?
If a companion is not meeting the expectations of the client or client's family, we would expect that the situation be discussed with the companion at the first opportunity. If no satisfactory resolution is found, Elderlink will act as a mediator for the companion and the client. At the client's or responsible party's request, we will promptly replace a companion if the client is not satisfied.
How do we pay for this service?
Companions typically expect to be paid at the end of their consecutive days of service. Other payment arrangements may be made by mutual agreement between both parties. Elderlink bills once a month for our services, with the bills going out at the beginning of each month.
What are Elderlink's office hours?
Elderlink's office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Mountain Time. For non-emergency situations, please call the office during these hours. Elderlink's phones are monitored on nights and weekends. In the event of a staffing emergency, you may call the office and leave a message. Your call will be returned quickly.
Help is just a phone call away.
Return to Top
E-mail Us
