Private Duty Care & Nursing Services

Private duty nursing is the care of clients by nurses, whether an RN (Registered Nurse) or LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse).

Private duty nursing is the care of clients by nurses, whether an RN (Registered Nurse) or LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse).

Registered Nurse (RN)
Home care Registered Nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.
RNs help individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease. They care for the sick and injured in hospitals and other health care facilities, physicians' offices, private homes, public health agencies, schools, camps, and industry.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Licensed Practical Nurses perform a variety of tasks under the supervision of a registered nurse. They administer medicine and injections and take vital signs. LPNs provide basic bedside care, measure, and record patients' vital signs such as weight, height, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate. They also prepare and give injections and enemas, monitor catheters, dress wounds, and give alcohol rubs and massages.

To help keep patients comfortable, they assist with bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene, moving in bed, standing, and walking. They might also feed patients who need help eating. Experienced LPNs may supervise nursing assistants and aides, and other LPNs.

As part of their work, LPNs collect samples for testing, perform routine laboratory tests, and record food and fluid intake and output. They clean and monitor medical equipment. Sometimes, they help physicians and registered nurses perform tests and procedures. Some LPNs help to deliver, care for, and feed infants. LPNs also monitor their patients and report adverse reactions to medications or treatments. LPNs gather information from patients, including their health history and how they are currently feeling.
They may use this information to complete insurance forms, pre-authorizations, and referrals, and they share information with registered nurses and doctors to help determine the best course of care for a patient. LPNs often teach family members how to care for a relative or teach patients about good health habits.

Pediatric Nurse (Baby Nurse)
A baby nurse is an experienced nanny with very extensive training in newborn care skills; has knowledge of how and when to put the babies on a schedule - usually by 6 to 8 weeks babies start sleeping better and your Baby Nurse will know when to start baby(ies) on a bedtime routine so he/she can sleep 10-12 hours a night.
Your Baby Nurse will organize the nursery; she is familiar with an apnea monitor, feeding systems and other medical equipment. She can discern problems in like jaundice and reflux and bring them to your attention. If the baby has problems with colic and has fussy periods, she knows the techniques for reducing baby discomfort and getting her/him calm; she supports breastfeeding and bottle-feeding
She will get up for nighttime feedings while the new mother gets her much needed rest. If the baby is breast-feeding, the nurse will get up with the new mother, help position the baby and carry him back and forth.
A Baby Nurse will do the baby's laundry every day and help with light housekeeping and snacks. She will teach you to change diapers, bathe and feed the baby, or she will do it all for you. She will hold the baby throughout the day, providing security and affection when you need a break

Companions and Sitters
Sometimes being admitted to hospital eaves the client vulnerable and nervous. Maybe there are no family or friends around to look out for their best interests. Sometimes they cannot care for themselves, and, left unattended can be a safety risk to themselves or others. At these times, they need compassionate, one-on-one observation to remain calm, safe, and secure, and ensure they receive the highest standard of care possible. They are dedicated and focused on 100% visual and audible observation of patients to ensure each patient is safe and cared for, and to help meet all compliance expectations. Or maybe your loved one is not in need of hands on care, but could use an extra set of eyes, or friendship throughout the day, someone to run errands with, play cards with, tag along to the doctor’s appointment to be an extra set of ears…. then a companion is what satisfies that need.

Post Op Caregivers
Are you or a loved one visiting South Florida for cosmetic surgery? Or having any other surgery? Allow Home Health Solutions Group to refer caregivers who have skills specifically related to post-operative care

What is Home Health Care Home care (also referred to as domiciliary care, social care, or in-home care) is a wide range of health care services that can be given in your home for an illness or injury. It is usually less expensive, more convenient, than and just as effective as the care you would get in a hospital or skilled nursing facility (SNF). Home health care can help you get better, or possibly regain your independence, and maybe assist you to become as self-sufficient as possible.
Often, the term home health care is used to distinguish it from non-medical care, custodial care, or private-duty care, which is care that is provided by persons who are not nurses, doctors, or other licensed medical personnel. Home health services help adults and seniors who are recovering after a hospital or facility stay or need additional support to remain safely at home and avoid unnecessary hospitalization. These Medicare-certified services may include short-term nursing, rehabilitative, therapeutic, and assisted home health care.
The largest segment of home care consists of licensed and unlicensed non-medical personnel who assist the individual including caregivers and care assistants may help the individual with daily tasks such as bathing, eating, cleaning the home and preparing meals.
Caregivers work to support the needs individuals and this work helps them stay at home versus a facility. Often non-medical home care is paid for by the individual or family.
Who can benefit from home care assistance referred by Home Health Solutions Group? There are countless reasons for home care. Those who may need home care include the person recovering from an illness, accident or surgery; the disabled; the new mother and her infant; the elderly who may need nursing assistance with meal preparation, personal care and hygiene, or light housekeeping; someone needing a vision/companion; someone needing intravenous chemotherapy, antibiotic therapy or parental nutrition.
Our goal is to refer competent home health caregivers in Florida that enable the patient to maintain a way of life as close as possible to his/her daily normal routine with our in- home nursing assistance. The caregivers work hand in hand with the physician in the management of patient care and at the directions of the family and/or client.
Most nurses who provide private duty care are working one-on-one with individual clients. Sometimes such care is provided in the client's home, or an institution, such as nursing home or other such facility.
Some of the private duty nursing cases involve pediatric clients or elders that need Skilled Nursing, clients with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). Many of the clients have Gastrostomy Tube (G-Tube), Tracheostomy Care (Trach), or Ventilator (Vent). The private duty nurses are Registered Nurses (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN).
Many private duty nurses are self-employed work as contractors and much work in the ever-growing field of Home Care. Non-medical care could be provided by the nurse but is most often provided by licensed or registered personnel such as nursing assistants, home-health aides, sitters and professional homemakers. These caregivers often do minor housekeeping chores for their clients, but they cannot provide skilled nursing care.

Questions & Answers for Private Duty – Private Care

Question: What services will I need?
Answer: Please refer to our services page for more details on what is offered. For your convenience, at the start of your service a licensed nurse is available, for a fee, to provide an initial evaluation to ensure quality care. You can also speak with a Home Health Solutions Group’s representative, to consider various options.

Question: What is the screening process for the caregivers that are referred out?
Answer: The caregivers we refer are comprised of English speaking and also, we have caregivers that are fluent in other languages, experienced, licensed and insured individuals, all referred caregivers are screened according to Florida law requiring caregivers to submit to a Level II AHCA screening. We perform social security checks, drug screens and reference checks on all caregivers, prior to their first assignment with our clients.

Question: How many hours a week of service will, I need?
Answer: Referred caregivers can provide service for just a few hours each day or around the clock 24/7. Whatever your needs are, us for assistance with activities of daily living, caregivers can be there for whatever duration is needed. No minimum of hours is required.

Question: Can we use an insurance policy to pay for care?
Answer: We accept most Long-Term Care insurances directly on your behalf. In many instances you can start services right away, without any out of pocket payment, unless your policy has an elimination period. However, each Long-Term Care Policy is different and may have requirements that must be met before they approve and pay for care. We will assist in contacting your provider to review what your policy covers. Please be aware that you remain ultimately responsible for the payment of the services referred to you

Question: When can I/we start care?
Answer: The State and our company require certain forms to be filled out before care can be started. With technology today, forms can be emailed or faxed to the primary party that is responsible. Once our paperwork is received, care can start immediately. Upon an initial request for care, our staff will usually be able to have a caregiver referred to you within a matter of hours that day, depending upon the services requested.

Question: What are the rates charged for caregivers?
Answer: Rates are based on the type of services you require and the rate the caregiver is charging to provide those services to you. You may contact our office at 786-991-2300 for more information.

Question: What if I am not satisfied with my caregiver?
Answer: You control who comes to your home and who does not. Issues may arise that may cause you to want to change your caregiver. If this should occur, contact our office immediately and our staff will promptly find a better match for you, within hours in many cases.

Question: What is the difference between Medicare services and Private Duty Services?
Answer: Private duty services are paid out of pocket or from an insurance policy usually. They cover ADL assistance that can be from a few hours, u p to 24 hours a day. In most cases since the duration of such care can go on for weeks, months or years, the services are considered long-term care. The services Home Health Solutions Group refers are considered private duty and require a fee for such services.
Generally, Medicare does not pay for long-term care; however, Medicare may pay for a limited amount of home nursing care for seniors. Let us assist to see if both services are the right options for you. If so, we can also refer you to qualified providers of Medicare services that can complement the services you receive from caregivers referred by Home Health Solutions Group.
At Home Health Solutions Group, we provide the next level of care for your loved ones at home and reduce your daily worry.
In-home care allows your loved one to get the help he or she needs without giving up independence. If your loved one is healthy, you might be able to meet his or her needs on your own or hire someone for traditional in-home care. When having a family caregiver or home health aide is not enough, we can help. A private duty nurse from Home Health Solutions Group offers loved ones the level of care they need where they want it. Not in a nursing facility or hospital, but in the comfort and safety of home.

Understanding Home Health Care and Private Duty Services

Navigating the world of “home care” can really be a challenge! How is one to know the difference between home care, home health care, private duty care, non- medical home care, medical home care, live-in care, companion care, etc.? All of this terminology can be so confusing! When seeking home care services in South Florida it is important to understand the options available.
The demand for care at home for our senior loved-ones has increased significantly over the years. Although most in-home care is still provided by family and friends, many families are challenged when their loved ones live a long distance away or when their work and life circumstances prevent them from being the full-time caregiver that their loved one needs. In those situations, many people turn to home care agencies to provide care.
In Miami-Dade and Broward area, several hundred agencies offer varying levels of in-home care. This care ranges from brief visits to the home a couple of times per week to assist with personal care, to complex care provided by Registered Nurses around the clock. In-home care can be customized to each individual. Whatever the home care needs your loved one may have competent home care agencies can provide caregivers with the appropriate skills, experience and training to help him or her continue to live at home safely and comfortably.

Home Health Care / Medical Home Care

The terms “Medical Home Care” and “Home Health Care” are used interchangeably. This type of care is given in the home under a doctor’s order. It is usually less expensive, more convenient than and just as effective as care given in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. The goal of home health care is to treat an illness or injury, helping an individual to get better, regain independence, and become as self-sufficient as possible.
In general, home health care includes intermittent home visits to provide nursing care or other skilled services like physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy services. Services may also include medical social services, dietician services or assistance from a home health aide. Home Health Solutions Group is a leading home health care agency serving South Florida.
Trained professionals only provide skilled care. For example, skilled nursing care is required for a complicated wound and skilled therapy care is required for the development of a home exercise program to recover from a hip replacement operation.
Companion care is care that can be given by a non- professional (i.e. nursing assistant or home health aide). Generally, it is the help given to an individual to complete daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, preparing meals, eating, using the toilet, walking, etc. This type of care is not provided with the goal of helping someone heal from an illness or injury, but to ensure daily activities are completed safely.

Non-Medical Home Care, Companion Care, Live-in Care

The terms “Non-Medical Home Care” and “Companion Care” are all used to describe care provided at home by a non-professional. Caregivers that provide these types of care are not required to have any specific medical training. At Home Health Solutions Group, all caregivers are required to have extensive experience providing care, including: measuring vital signs, bathing, transferring patients safely from bed to chair and back and reporting concerning symptoms or changes in behavior/function that may signal that the health condition of the patient has changed. “Non-medical” or “companion care” are usually needed when someone is requiring companionship, a minimal amount of help with managing daily activities and/or to assure safety, such as in the case of someone who might be forgetting to turn off the stove.
“Live-in” care is provided when someone needs care around the clock. For safety reasons, live-in care is not right for everyone. If a patient is not able to call for help during the night, a live-in caregiver will not be appropriate. This type of caregiver will be sleeping at night and may not hear the patient trying to get up. This can result in a fall or serious injury. The alternative to “live-in” care is when the agency provides caregivers that are required to remain awake at all times. In these cases, the same caregiver will not spend the night, but will be substituted for a caregiver that is rested and prepared to stay awake through the night to provide assistance when needed.

Private Duty

“Private Duty” is a broad term that encompasses all types of in-home care. It includes “custodial care”, “companion care”, and “live in care”. It also includes care provided by a nursing assistant, a nurse or another skilled professional, such as a physical therapist. Care is considered “private duty” when it is being paid for by a Long-Term care insurance policy or by the patient or his/her family. It can be short or long-term and is often requested by patients that prefer to stay in the comfort of their own homes, rather than in a nursing home. Private duty services range from companionship care to highly skilled nursing care, during periods ranging from a brief visit, to 24 hours a day.
Private Duty caregivers are often enlisted to perform light home management, errands, meal preparation, housekeeping, or transportation to the grocery store, pharmacy or doctor’s office. Medical or ‘skilled’ Private Duty offers care to those who require medically intensive care for long-term chronic conditions, or skilled nursing care following a hospital stay, or at the end of life.

Examples of Private Duty Home Care

- Nursing Care
- Long-term Care of Chronic Disease o Ventilator Care/ Trach Care
- IV Administration
- Tube-feeding administration
- Ostomy and Stoma Care
- Grooming and dressing
- Recreational activities
- Incontinent care
- Oral Care
- Medication reminders
- Bathing or showering
- Light housekeeping
- Meal preparation
- Respite for family caregivers
- Errands and shopping
- Companionship
- Reading email or letters
- Transportation
- Changing linens
- Laundry and ironing
- Organizing closets
- Care of house plants

Contact Home Health Solutions Group at 786-991-2300 for more information