What services do you provide? Q. What services do you provide? A. Visiting Nurse Plus provides a complete array of in-home services,
including the Philips Lifeline medical alert system, companion
care, personal care assistance, respite relief for family caregivers,
physician-ordered nursing services, nationally-certified geriatric care consulting
and more. A. VNP offers services that are paid for privately and services that are covered by some state and federal assistance programs. VNP services are generally not eligible for coverage by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance; the exception is that some long term care insurance polices may pay for non-medical home care services. VNP staff is available to talk with you regarding private pay services; for questions about government funded programs, please call the Southwestern Indiana Regional Council on Aging (SWIRCA) at (812) 462-7800 or toll free (800) 253-2188 or visit the Links section of this website. Q. What if I have a long-term care insurance policy? A. Some long-term care insurance policies provide coverage for home care and home health services. However, every policy is different and must be closely scrutinized to determine what services are eligible, the type of caregiver that must provide them, the elimination period for coverage and more. VNP staff can assist you in reviewing your policy and helping you submit claims to your insurance provider. Regardless of the type of policy you have and its provisions for payment, you will be expected to pay all charges billed to you by Visiting Nurse Plus, then submit these bills to your insurance company for appropriate reimbursement. A. Rates vary depending on the type and length of service needed; we will be happy to share these rates with you via a telephone conversation, in-home consultation or through mailed materials. It’s important to remember that VNP rates are inclusive for the type and length of service provided; there are no hidden costs or extra charges beyond the rate communicated to you. Also, in order to make our services as affordable as possible, we provide care for as briefly as two consecutive hours; most home care agencies require a minimum of four consecutive hours. Q. Can you help me determine what kind of care is needed? A. With more than a quarter-century of experience in this field, we completely understand that home care is not an issue people generally think about until they must find resources for themselves or a family member. In our 25-plus years in business, we have worked with thousands of individuals and their families—many with similar, and some with unique needs and wishes—to offer the exact type of care that the customer and family are looking for. We welcome the chance to learn more about your particular home care needs; call us anytime, or extend us the privilege of visiting your or your loved one’s home for a one-on-one, no-obligation consultation. Q. How quickly can you provide services? A. We begin to schedule a request for service immediately following your call to us, and we make every possible effort to have a caregiver in place as soon as you need one. Of course, advance notice is always appreciated! Q. When are caregivers available? A. VNP caregivers serve customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year, including holidays. Some services are provided for a minimum of two hours up to 24 hours daily; others are provided on an occasional (intermittent) basis during visits lasting 60 minutes or less. Q. Can I change the schedule of care? A. VNP’s primary goal is to make home health care work for you and your loved one, not for the convenience of the agency. We recognize your situation may change over time, and we pride ourselves on our ability to adapt to these changes as quickly as possible. Of course, we appreciate as much advance notice you can give us, and will work with you to make sure your or your family member’s needs are met in the manner that is best for you. Q. Will I have the same caregiver every time? A. We understand that it may seem easier and more comfortable for the customer when the same person visits the home every time. However, in our experience we have found that a “team approach” works best. That is why we rely on a consistent core group of caregivers who are oriented to the customer and his or her home. The team members are able to cover shifts for each other in the event of illness, vacation or unexpected absence. We also complete and maintain a “Customer Preferences” guide for each of our customers to help caregivers familiarize themselves with the individual’s likes, dislikes and other vital information. Q. What if I have an emergency at night or on the weekend? A. VNP phones are answered 24 hours a day, every day of the year. After daytime business hours, calls will be accepted by our after-hours personnel or our answering service. If you have a medical emergency, you are advised to dial 911.
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Frequently Asked Questions