Why go through Cheerway Care? Can I hire my own caregiver without using an agency?

Yes you can, but there are risks to hiring your own caregiver. Typically, it is difficult to know the character, level of experience and full background on any potential caregiver. What if something is missing in your home? What if the caregiver injures him/herself? You maybe facing a lawsuit. Or what if the caregiver injures you or your family member, even by accident? What if there is a situation where the caregiver you have hired does not come in to work? There will most likely not be a procedure in place to have back-up caregiver services. Further, there are significant tax implications to consider by hiring your own caregiver.

Caregivers, employed by Cheerway Care are screened thoroughly with a criminal background check, a drug test, and careful reference checks. Cheerway Care is bonded in the event of theft and caregivers are protected by workers’ compensation in the event of work-related injuries. Cheerway Care will provide replacement caregivers around the clock. We answer to you 24 hours, 7 days a week.  In emergencies, you can contact a staffing manager to assist you in your time of need. Finally, Cheerway Care offers continual educational training for our caregivers, supervision from our licensed nurses, as well as disciplinary processes to ensure the best quality care for our clients. When you hire a caregiver directly, you do not have the total peace of mind that working with a home-care agency can bring you.

Regarding tax implications, if you hire your own caregiver, and you have authority over their tasks and schedules, they are legally employees  (not “independent contractors”as some caregivers may classify themselves). That means, you will be responsible to pay for income, Social Security and Medicare taxes as their employer. Cheerway Care covers all of this and also offers our employees benefits so they can have peace of mind as a valued employee.  For more information on the risk of hiring your own caregiver, see NPDA position paper on the Resources page.

What exactly is Cheerway Care?

Cheerway Care, Inc. provides assistance for seniors or others, who have a short-term or long-term disability, in their homes or health care facilities. We help you or your loved ones by arranging for competent caregivers to assist you for as little as a few hours or as much as 24 hours a day. If you do not desire to live in a nursing care facility and want to stay home, we will provide a caregiver to assist you with daily living tasks so that you can remain in the comforts of your own home. If you are in a nursing care facility and need extra companionship and care, we are committed to providing the best services that you need. If you have a short-term disability, or need help with post-operative functioning, we will send caregivers to help with your care and household duties. There are many situations that may warrant home-care services and we will tailor our services based on what you specifically request. 

Our services are non-medical services, including assistance with personal hygiene, activities of daily living, medication reminders, as well as providing transportation, light housekeeping, laundry, shopping/ errands, meal preparation and more. Our company is licensed, bonded and insured. Moreover, we are trusted. We have been a family-owned and operated company for almost 20 years. We know what it means to be dedicated to and take care of family. Be rest-assured that we would provide you with the caregivers that we would provide for our very own family. 

Are services covered by insurance or Medicare/ Medicaid?

Medicare or Medicaid does not pay for private duty home care services; our services are non-medical and therefore, they are private-pay services. However, some long-term care policies will reimburse for these kinds of services. You will need to check with your insurance policy if home care is covered. If so, it is your responsibility to be reimbursed from your insurance company. We can gladly assist with any documentation you need but you are the responsible party to contact your own insurance company for the coverage they may provide.

How fast can I have someone come to my home from Cheerway Care?

We do the best we can to find you the best-matched caregiver for your situation as soon as it is needed. Usually, care can begin within a few days. If it is an emergency situation, we can send a Cheerway Caregiver on the same day. Any services requested will begin upon receipt of a signed service agreement form, which can be faxed or emailed to the office, along with a security deposit.  Please call the office at 301-294-7555 if you are in need of immediate care for you or your loved one.

What are the fees?

The costs of services vary based upon the nature of care needed. It is also dependent on the number of hours per shift needed. The best way to find out the specific costs involved is to contact the office. You can get an estimate over the phone; however, the exact costs of care cannot be determined until your situation has been personally assessed by one of our Client Services Coordinators. The assessment is free so there is no obligation involved.  We encourage you to schedule a free assessment and meet our management staff to personally discuss all the care options for your situation. We want you to be comfortable deciding whether Cheerway Care’s home care services are right for you.

Is there someone available to assist me 24 hours/ 7 days a week?

Yes. We do have caregivers available for around-the-clock service hourly shifts. Please contact the Cheerway Care office for more information about these options. 

Yes, in regard to management staff availability, if you have an emergency or if on a rare occasion, your caregiver does not show up, our Staffing Co-ordinator is available 24 hours/ 7 days a week to help you in the event of an emergency or to find a replacement caregiver. Our home care company prides itself on being available to our clients day and night.

How do I know I'll have the right caregiver?

Our commitment is to provide you with the best caregiver for your personal situation. We will listen to your needs and match a competent and trusted Cheerway Care caregiver to your situation. We realize that personalities must mesh in order to establish a comfortable and trusting environment. Clients have the option to interview caregivers directly and choose the best fitted caregiver for their situation. We welcome ongoing feedback from clients and want to be sure Cheerway Care is continuously providing you with the best care possible. If you would like to request a change in caregiver, we will do whatever it takes to provide you with best fitted caregiver for your situation. Our priority is that you are receiving quality home care services.

Will someone from the agency “check up” on me and the caregiver to see if things are going alright?

Yes! We have Registered Nurses that make phone calls and visits to clients. Our licensed nurses not only visit the clients, but also check up on caregivers on-site to ensure that quality service is being provided. If our clients or family members have concerns, feedback or suggestions, we welcome them.  Please voice them to our nurses or anyone on our management staff. Our commitment is to listen and make things right.  This is part of the personalized and compassionate care we provide. We want to make sure you or your family member is receiving the care they deserve and that everything is alright.

How am I billed for services?

You will be sent an invoice twice a month. Days 1-15 are billed in the first invoice and days 16 – last day of the month are billed in the second invoice. You can pay by check or credit card at the receipt of the invoice.  

What is the difference between Home Care vs. Senior Care vs. Private Duty Care?

These terms are used interchangeably to describe non-medical services that are mostly given to the aging population.  Although home care is not limited to only seniors, it can also include anyone in need of services whom are unable to perform functions for themselves and need assistance.  Other terms that you may find are respite care (planned or emergency temporary breaks for an adult caregiver) or end-of-life care/ hospice care (care and support for when someone is dying) or palliative care (broad term to include support and relief of pain and stress when someone has a chronic/terminal illness) or Dementia/ Alzheimer’s care (specialized care for someone who has this condition).  Cheerway Care can provide compassionate caregivers for all these scenarios.

What is the difference between Placement Agencies or registries and home care agencies?

A placement agency or registry is an intermediary agency that provides pre-screened caregivers to be placed in someone’s home.  A customer pays the placement agency to find caregivers but then the customer is responsible for paying the caregiver. Using a placement agency or registry costs less however the risks are much greater. 

There are also Home Care agencies that pose as legitimate licensed Home Care agencies, but they are placing caregivers in homes as “independent contractors” and not employees. There are risks in hiring caregivers through agencies as independent contractors.   They are not supervised, not protected with liability insurance and are not bonded in the event of theft. There are serious tax implications which could result in fines from the IRS should you hire caregivers as independent contractors or use a company that does. Be sure you do your homework and ask if a home care company’s caregivers are employees or independent contractors.  You are safe and protected if the caregiver is a company employee.  For more information, read  our NPDA Position Paper. 

Cheerway Care's caregivers are not independent contractors. They are valued company employees, bonded and insured.  

How do I start services?

Simply call our office or complete the form on the Contact Us or Schedule Appointment page.  

We will set up a time that is convenient for you and assess your personal situation. Our Client Services Coordinator will come and meet you personally, evaluate the care that is needed, discuss specific requests from you and answer any questions you have.  If you decide to use our services, a service agreement is signed and submitted, along with a security deposit. We initiate a care plan and then provide you with a suitable caregiver for your specific needs.

Why Cheerway Care?

We know there are many Home Care companies you can choose out there.  There are big corporate names with franchises located in many states.  Then there are the smaller, personal, local, family-owned and operated businesses. The former can be large and impersonal.  The latter is smaller, personal, thoughtful and attentive to individual needs. That is us.This company began over 20 years ago, with our mother, a Registered Nurse, who was passionate about caring for the elderly.  She passed that legacy on to her family and as a result, we have a team of caring professionals, committed to providing the best, compassionate, personalized care to the local community.  We know what it means to be committed to family; likewise, we are committed to providing the best compassionate care for your family. We are a reputable home-care company, known for providing quality care and meeting the needs of our clients personally and immediately. We are bonded, licensed, and insured. We are trusted. Caring. Personal. Cheerful. That is why!

If you would like to talk to a family that has used, or currently uses our services, we would be happy to provide you with that information.  

Set up a free consultation today and see for yourself why Cheerway Care stands out!