Choosing care for yourself or someone you love can feel overwhelming. These frequently asked questions explain how professional home care works, what services are available, how caregivers are selected, and how Home Helpers Home Care of St. Louis supports older adults and families who want to remain safe, independent, and comfortable at home.

Getting Started with Home Care

What is home care?

Home care is non-medical support we provide wherever you or your loved one calls home. We can help with bathing, dressing, grooming, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, medication reminders, companionship, dementia care, respite care, and safety supervision. At Home Helpers Home Care of St. Louis, we create a personalized plan based on your routines, preferences, goals, and level of support needed.

I have never had a caregiver. How does home care work?

We begin with a complimentary consultation to learn about your needs, schedule, health concerns, daily routines, personality, and preferences. Together, we create a personalized care plan that explains what your caregiver should do during each visit. The plan may include preparing meals, helping with personal care, providing transportation, completing light housekeeping, offering companionship, or supporting a person living with dementia. We can adjust the care plan whenever your needs change.

How do I know when it is time to consider in-home care?

You may want to consider home care if you are noticing missed medications, falls or near falls, difficulty preparing meals, weight loss, poor hygiene, memory changes, missed appointments, unsafe driving, social isolation, a decline in housekeeping, or exhaustion among family caregivers. You do not have to wait for a crisis to call us. Starting with the right amount of support early can help you or your loved one remain independent at home longer.

How quickly can home care begin?

How quickly we can begin depends on your needs, requested schedule, location, and caregiver availability. In urgent situations, such as a hospital discharge, a sudden change in health, or an exhausted family caregiver, our team works as quickly as possible to assess the situation, develop a care plan, and arrange appropriate coverage.

Is there a charge for an introductory meeting or in-home assessment?

No, Home Helpers does not charge you for an introductory conversation or in-home assessment. We happily provide this as part of our service to you. Meeting face-to-face gives you an opportunity to ask questions, understand your options, and decide whether Home Helpers Home Care of St. Louis is the right fit for your family.

Do I have to sign a long-term contract?

No, we do not require you to commit to a rigid, long-term care schedule. We believe home care should be flexible, so we can adjust your schedule and care plan as your needs change. Before care begins, our team will explain the service agreement, scheduling expectations, and any notice requirements so you understand exactly how the relationship works.

Is there a minimum number of hours of care?

We build your home care schedule around your assessed needs and the amount of time required to provide safe, meaningful care without rushing. During your complimentary consultation, we will recommend a schedule that allows your caregiver to complete the care plan effectively and consistently.

Caregivers and Continuity of Care

Are your caregivers employees of Home Helpers Home Care?

Yes. Our caregivers are employees of Home Helpers Home Care of St. Louis. We are responsible for caregiver payroll, payroll taxes, workers’ compensation coverage, scheduling, supervision, and other employer responsibilities. You do not have to hire, pay, or manage a caregiver as a household employee.

Are caregivers screened and trained?

Yes. We carefully screen caregivers before they join our team, and we provide training appropriate to the services they perform. Our goal is to send you dependable, compassionate caregivers who understand your care plan, communicate well, and treat you or your loved one with dignity and respect.

Will I have the same caregiver each time?

We make continuity of care a priority because familiar caregivers help you feel more comfortable and allow them to learn your routines and preferences. The number of regular caregivers assigned to you will depend on your schedule. If you receive a few visits each week, you may have one or two regular caregivers. If you receive daily or around-the-clock care, you will need a larger care team.

What happens if I do not feel comfortable with a caregiver?

A strong client-caregiver relationship matters to us. Although we work carefully to create a good match, not every personality fit is perfect. You may request a different caregiver at any time, and our team will work with you to find a better match.

Who supervises the caregivers?

Our local care team supervises and supports your caregivers by coordinating schedules, communicating with you and your family, and helping ensure your care plan is being followed. We encourage you to contact us whenever your needs change, a concern arises, or your care plan should be updated.

Will caregivers eat the client’s food?

No. Our caregivers bring their own meals and snacks unless a specific arrangement has been discussed in advance. When meal preparation is part of your care plan, your caregiver prepares food for you according to your preferences and dietary instructions.

Home Care Services

What services can a home caregiver provide?

We can provide assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, mobility, meal preparation, laundry, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, errands, transportation, appointment escorts, medication reminders, companionship, respite care, dementia support, fall-risk supervision, overnight care, and 24-hour care. We document the exact services you need in your personalized care plan.

Can caregivers help with bathing, dressing, and other personal care?

Yes. We can help with bathing, showering, dressing, grooming, toileting, incontinence care, mobility, and other activities of daily living. We base the level of assistance on your abilities, comfort, preferences, and safety needs.

Can caregivers prepare meals and help with housekeeping?

Yes. Our caregivers can prepare meals, clean the kitchen after meals, assist with grocery shopping, do laundry, change bed linens, and complete light housekeeping related to your daily living needs. We are not a substitute for a deep-cleaning or professional housekeeping service, but we can help keep your home comfortable, organized, and safer.

Can caregivers provide transportation?

Yes. Depending on your care plan and transportation arrangements, our caregivers may accompany you to medical appointments, therapy, grocery stores, pharmacies, church, social activities, family events, or errands. Our appointment escort services can be especially helpful when a family member cannot attend or when you need support understanding instructions and returning home safely.

Can home care help after a hospital stay or surgery?

Yes. We provide hospital-to-home care to help you or your loved one transition home after surgery, illness, rehabilitation, or hospitalization. Our caregivers may assist with meals, mobility, bathing, medication reminders, transportation to follow-up appointments, light housekeeping, and the daily routines that can be difficult during recovery.

Do you provide respite care for family caregivers?

Yes. We provide respite care so spouses, adult children, and other family caregivers can rest, work, attend appointments, travel, or spend time with other family members. You may schedule respite care occasionally or as part of an ongoing weekly plan.

Can you provide care in assisted living, retirement communities, or nursing facilities?

Yes. We can provide one-on-one support wherever you or your loved one lives, including a private home, apartment, independent living community, assisted living community, memory care setting, rehabilitation center, or nursing facility, subject to the policies of the community or facility.

Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Safety at Home

Can home care help someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia?

Yes. We provide dementia home care that can include structure, supervision, personal care, meal support, medication reminders, companionship, meaningful engagement, and respite for family caregivers. We work to create a familiar routine and consistent care team that may help reduce confusion and support your loved one’s ability to remain at home as safely as possible.

What does a dementia caregiver do?

Our dementia caregivers support the whole person rather than focusing only on tasks. We may help with cueing through daily routines, redirecting anxiety or repetitive behaviors, preparing familiar meals, assisting with personal care, encouraging safe movement, providing companionship, monitoring changes, reducing fall risks, and giving family caregivers needed relief.

Can home care help with wandering, sundowning, or unsafe behavior?

Yes. We may help reduce risk by providing supervision, maintaining predictable routines, supporting calming activities, monitoring exits, and identifying patterns that contribute to agitation or confusion. Because dementia care needs vary widely, we recommend a schedule based on when symptoms occur and whether your loved one can be left alone safely.

Can home care prevent falls?

No service can prevent every fall, but our caregivers can help reduce risk by providing standby assistance, encouraging the use of mobility devices, keeping walkways clear, helping with safe transfers, preparing meals and fluids, and noticing changes in strength, balance, or behavior that should be reported to you and your family.

Can someone with dementia remain at home instead of moving to memory care?

Yes, many people living with dementia can remain at home for a meaningful period when they have the right combination of family involvement, professional caregivers, a safe environment, and an appropriate care schedule. We will help you consider your loved one’s symptoms, mobility, medical needs, behavior, home environment, finances, and available support when discussing whether home care is appropriate.

Schedules, Overnight Care, and 24-Hour Care

Do you provide overnight or 24-hour home care?

Yes. We can arrange care for daytime shifts, evenings, overnight support, extended shifts, or around-the-clock coverage. You may want to consider 24-hour home care when your loved one cannot safely remain alone, needs frequent toileting or mobility assistance, is at high risk of falling, has advanced dementia, or requires continuous supervision.

Do you provide live-in care?

We will discuss whether live-in care or scheduled around-the-clock care is appropriate based on your loved one’s needs, the home environment, applicable employment requirements, and whether the caregiver can receive the required sleep and personal time. In many situations, we provide around-the-clock care through caregivers working scheduled shifts so your loved one has an awake, attentive caregiver available throughout the day and night.

How many caregivers will be assigned for 24-hour care?

We provide around-the-clock care through a team of caregivers working scheduled shifts. The exact number assigned to you depends on shift length, weekly hours, caregiver availability, and your preferences. We focus on creating a consistent core team while maintaining enough backup coverage to support reliable care.

Cost, Billing, and Payment

How much does home care cost in St. Louis?

The cost of our home care depends on the number of hours, schedule, level of care, location, and whether you need care on weekends, holidays, overnight, or around the clock. After we learn about your needs, we will clearly explain our current hourly rate, schedule requirements, and any applicable charges before services begin.

How often will I be billed?

We explain our billing arrangements before your care begins. You may pay through the approved payment methods offered by our office, and we provide clear invoices showing the dates and hours of service.

Does Medicare pay for non-medical home care?

While traditional Medicare generally does not pay for the ongoing non-medical home care we provide, the new GUIDE program does provide coverage for patients with an alzheimers diagnosis who meet their criteria. Home Helpers Home Care of St. Louis is an approved provider of caregiving services through the GUIDE program. Additionally, Medicare may cover certain short-term skilled home health services ordered by a physician, such as nursing or therapy, when eligibility requirements are met. Skilled home health and non-medical home care are different services, although you may use both at the same time.

Can long-term care insurance pay for home care?

Yes, many long-term care insurance policies include benefits for eligible in-home care, but every policy is different. Your coverage may depend on benefit triggers, elimination periods, daily or monthly limits, and the type of provider required by your policy. As a client of ours, we provide LTC submission services free of charge, so that you do not need to submit claims for reimbursement…we do this on your behalf to make life easier for you.

Do you work with Veterans?

Yes. We are honored to serve Veterans and their families. Some Veterans may qualify for authorized home care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, depending on clinical need, eligibility, and referral or authorization requirements. We recommend beginning by speaking with the Veteran’s VA care team or community care representative.

About Home Helpers Home Care of St. Louis

What areas do you serve?

We serve families throughout St. Louis and St. Charles County, including communities such as Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, Ballwin, Wildwood, Town and Country, Frontenac, Ladue, Clayton, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, St. Charles, St. Peters, O’Fallon, and surrounding areas. Contact our office and we will confirm service availability for your specific address.

What makes Home Helpers Home Care of St. Louis different?

Owned by a St. Louis family, our agency is mission-driven…we are locally owned and operated, and we understand the needs of St. Louis-area families. We focus on personalized care plans, thoughtful caregiver matching, consistent communication, dependable scheduling, and flexible support that can grow as your needs change. Our goal is not simply to complete tasks; it is to help you or your loved one live safely, independently, and with dignity in the place you call home.

How do I get started?

Call us at Home Helpers Home Care of St. Louis at 636-735-3536 or submit a request through our website to schedule a complimentary consultation. We will listen to your concerns, answer your questions, recommend an appropriate care schedule, create a personalized care plan, and begin working to match you or your loved one with the right caregiver or care team.