FAQs
What is home health care?
Home health care includes personal support and nursing services provided in a person’s home to help them remain safe, comfortable, and as independent as possible.
Certified nursing assistants and home health aides may assist with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transfers, and mobility. They may also provide homemaker and companion services, including meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, transportation, errands, prescription pickup, and grocery shopping. Depending on their qualifications and the client’s needs, they may also measure vital signs such as temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure.
Collier Home Care can also refer registered nurses and licensed practical nurses for skilled services such as medication setup and management, wound care, injections, blood sugar testing, nursing oversight, and other clinical tasks ordered or authorized as appropriate.
What home care services do you provide?
Collier Home Care provides companion care, personal care and skilled nursing care services through its network of independent caregivers.
What is a Nurse Registry?
A Nurse Registry is a Florida-licensed organization that connects individuals and families with qualified, independent care providers who can assist them in their homes. These care providers may include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, home health aides, homemakers, and companions.
Unlike a traditional home health agency, a Nurse Registry refers independent care providers rather than employing them. This arrangement gives clients and care providers greater flexibility to mutually choose one another and agree upon the schedule, services, and terms of care.
What's the difference between a nurse registry and a home care agency in Florida?
In Florida, both nurse registries and home health agencies can help families obtain in-home care, but they operate under different models.
A nurse registry refers qualified care providers—such as registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, home health aides, homemakers, and companions—to clients. The referred care providers work as independent contractors rather than employees of the nurse registry. Families typically have greater involvement in selecting a care provider and arranging the schedule and services that best fit their needs.
A home health agency, by comparison, provides and manages home health services through personnel working for or under contract with the agency. Depending on its license and services offered, a home health agency may provide both skilled services, such as nursing and therapy, and non-skilled services, such as personal care, homemaking, and companionship.
Both nurse registries and home health agencies are licensed and regulated by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). The primary difference for many families is the care model: a nurse registry connects clients with independent care providers, while a home health agency assumes a more direct role in providing and managing the care.
Can I choose my caregiver?
Yes! Collier Home Care will recommend an independent care provider whom we believe is a good match for your needs, preferences, and schedule. The final decision is always yours. If the care provider is not the right fit for any reason, please let us know, and we will promptly recommend another option.
Is my caregiver an employee of Collier Home Care or an independent contractor?
Care providers referred by Collier Home Care are independent contractors, not employees of Collier Home Care. Each care provider must complete our screening and registration process before being eligible for referral to clients.
Will my caregiver have insurance?
Independent care providers referred by Collier Home Care are required to maintain individual professional liability insurance that meets our registration requirements. Coverage amounts and policy terms may vary by care provider. Upon request, we can help you obtain information about a referred care provider’s coverage, including a certificate of insurance (COI).
Is there a minimum number of hours?
No. Collier Home Care offers one to 24 hours of service, with no hourly minimums and no weekly minimums.
We believe in being radically flexible because care needs can change quickly. A family may need just a few hours of help one day and more extensive support another. Our goal is to make it easier to adjust care as those needs evolve.
We also offer a 24-hour cancellation policy, giving clients and families greater flexibility when schedules or circumstances change.
Whether you need a short visit, overnight support, or around-the-clock care, we can help arrange a schedule that fits your needs.
Are caregivers background-screened and insured?
Yes. Care providers referred through Collier Home Care must have an eligible Level 2 background screening result through the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).
In addition, every care provider is required to maintain Professional Liability Insurance (PLI).
These requirements help ensure that care providers meet important screening and insurance standards before being referred to clients and families.
Can a caregiver help in an assisted living facility, or only at home?
Yes. Care providers referred through Collier Home Care can assist clients in assisted living facilities as well as private homes, subject to the policies and requirements of the individual facility.
Families sometimes choose additional one-on-one support when a resident needs more personalized attention, companionship, assistance with personal care, mobility support, meal assistance, or other help beyond what the facility routinely provides.
The type and amount of assistance can be tailored to the client’s needs and schedule. Before services begin, Collier Home Care can also coordinate with the family and facility to help ensure the arrangement works smoothly.
What happens if our caregiver is sick or unavailable?
If a care provider becomes sick or unavailable, Collier Home Care can help identify and refer another qualified care provider who may be available to assist.
Whenever practical, we generally recommend having at least two care providers involved in a client’s care. This helps create a built-in backup if one person becomes ill, takes time off, has an emergency, or is otherwise unavailable.
Because care providers referred through Collier Home Care are independent contractors, availability can vary. Having more than one familiar care provider can help reduce disruptions and provide greater continuity and flexibility for clients and families.
Can I meet my caregiver before services begin?
Yes. We strongly encourage you to meet a referred care provider before services begin. Because this person may spend many hours with you or your loved one, it is important that you feel comfortable and confident in your choice.
Collier Home Care can arrange a meet-and-greet before you make a final decision. You may also learn about select care providers through First Looks, our caregiver introduction program featuring a brief biography and photos. You can sign up to receive new First Looks at the bottom of this page.
Will I get the same caregiver or different ones all the time?
Our goal is to provide consistency of care by referring a care provider who can build a dependable, long-term relationship with you or your loved one. Whenever possible, you will receive care from the same care provider or a small, consistent team.
Occasionally, a different care provider may be needed because of illness, time off, scheduling changes, or changes in your care needs. When that happens, Collier Home Care will work to recommend a qualified replacement and make the transition as smooth as possible.
What if we don't like the caregiver we were matched with?
Finding the right fit is an important part of successful in-home care. If a caregiver does not feel like the right match for you or your family, let us know.
Because Collier Home Care operates as a nurse registry, clients are not required to continue with a care provider who is not a good fit. We can help identify and introduce another qualified care provider based on your needs, schedule, location, and preferences.
Sometimes a change is needed because of personality, communication style, availability, experience, or simply comfort level. Our goal is to help make the process of finding a more suitable care provider as smooth as possible.
Do I have to sign a contract?
You will be asked to sign an Agreement for Care Provider Referral Services, but you are not required to commit to a fixed length of service, a minimum number of weekly hours, or a minimum visit length. If your needs change or you decide to discontinue services for any reason, the Agreement may be canceled with 24 hours’ notice.
How do I pay for services?
Collier Home Care primarily provides private-pay services. Clients may also use long-term care insurance benefits when eligible. At intake, we will collect your insurance information, verify available benefits, and assist with submitting the required paperwork for reimbursement to the client.
A deposit equal to approximately one week of anticipated services is required before services begin.
Accepted payment methods include online bill pay, ACH debit, paper check, Zelle, Visa, and Mastercard.
How often do you bill?
Collier Home Care bills weekly. An invoice is emailed through QuickBooks Online to you or the person designated as financially responsible for your care.
You may review and pay the invoice using the secure payment link provided. Clients who prefer may authorize Collier Home Care to process payment using their selected payment method. After payment is processed, a paid receipt will be emailed for your records.
How does Collier Home Care work with long-term care insurance?
Collier Home Care works with long-term care insurance companies to provide the documentation needed to support eligible claims. In many cases, the client pays for services and the insurance company reimburses the client according to the terms of the policy.
In some situations, Collier Home Care may be able to bill the insurance company directly and accept an assignment of benefits. Direct billing arrangements are reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis, depending on the insurance company, the policy, and the client’s circumstances.
What is the difference between live-in care and 24-hour care?
Live-in care is typically provided by a care provider who stays in the client’s home for an extended period and is given at least eight hours for sleep and rest. Because live-in care includes a sleep period, it is best suited for clients who do not require continuous assistance throughout the night.
Twenty-four-hour care provides continuous support during both the day and night. Care providers generally work in rotating 8- or 12-hour shifts so that someone is available and awake at all times. If you or your loved one requires frequent nighttime assistance or constant supervision, 24-hour care may be the better option.
How will my caregiver be supervised?
Because care providers referred by Collier Home Care are independent contractors, they are not directly supervised as employees. Clients, family members, guardians, and other authorized representatives are encouraged to remain involved, communicate regularly, and let us know whether services are being provided as expected.
If you have any concern about the quality of care, reliability, communication, or the manner in which services are provided, please contact Collier Home Care promptly. We will review the concern, help address the issue, and, when appropriate, recommend another care provider.
What about any possible accidents in my home?
As with anyone entering your home, accidents are possible. We encourage clients to review their homeowners, condominium, or renters insurance with their insurance agent to confirm that they have appropriate personal liability and medical-payments coverage for individuals providing services in the home.
Coverage and exclusions vary by policy, so clients should not assume that every accident will automatically be covered. Depending on your circumstances, your insurance professional may also recommend an endorsement or personal umbrella policy.
What does in-home care cost in Naples / Collier County?
The cost of in-home care in Naples and Collier County varies based on several factors, including the client’s acuity level and care needs, the number and length of service hours requested, and the client’s location.
In general, total hourly client rates for private-pay in-home care in the Naples area may range from the mid-$30s to $40+ per hour. For a nurse registry, the total hourly client rate consists of the care provider’s rate plus the nurse registry’s referral fee.
Because every client’s situation is different, an appropriate rate is determined after considering the level of care required, the requested schedule, and where services will be provided. Longer shifts or more consistent schedules may also be priced differently than shorter or less frequent visits.
Collier Home Care provides families with clear information about anticipated rates and fees before services begin so they understand the total cost of arranging in-home care.
Does Medicare pay for in-home care in Florida?
Medicare may pay for certain home health services in Florida, but it generally does not pay for ongoing non-medical in-home care when that is the only care a person needs.
To qualify for Medicare-covered home health services, an individual generally must be under the care of a physician or other qualifying provider, need part-time or intermittent skilled services, and meet Medicare’s homebound requirements. Covered services may include skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and, in some circumstances, part-time home health aide services.
Medicare generally does not cover 24-hour care at home, meal delivery, homemaker services such as shopping or cleaning when they are unrelated to a Medicare plan of care, or custodial/personal care such as bathing, dressing, toileting, companionship, and supervision when those are the only services needed.
Families who need ongoing assistance with activities of daily living, companionship, meal preparation, transportation, supervision, or extended hours of care often arrange those services privately or use other available benefits, such as long-term care insurance.
Because Medicare coverage depends on an individual’s medical needs and eligibility, families should confirm benefits with Medicare, their Medicare Advantage plan, or a Medicare-certified home health agency.
How quickly can care start after a hospital or rehab discharge?
In-home care can often be arranged quickly after a hospital or rehabilitation discharge, sometimes within the same day or within 24 to 48 hours, depending on the client’s needs, requested schedule, location, and care provider availability.
The process usually begins with a discussion about the discharge plan, level of assistance needed, preferred schedule, and any special care requirements. From there, an appropriate care provider can be identified and introduced to the family.
Planning ahead whenever possible can help make the transition home smoother, especially when a client will need assistance with personal care, mobility, meal preparation, medication reminders, transportation, or overnight supervision.
Collier Home Care works with families to coordinate care as efficiently as possible so support can be in place when the client returns home.