In Depth, Home Care Agency Review

Every care agency is different and offers different types of care.

Here is our review of Carelinx Home Care.

Carelinx Home Care Review

“The Right Caregiver is Like Family. Empowering Individuals to Age With Grace, Dignity, and a Purpose.”

Overall Rating – 9.9/10

Company Details

Summary

Carelinx is a national in-home care company, employing over 300,000 caregivers around the country. The staff at Carelinx aim to empower each individual who requires in-home assistance, offering them the grace and dignity they deserve. Through a unique app, CareLinx has successfully been able to improve Star scores and rise to the top of the in-home care industry.

Name: Carelinx
Website: https://www.carelinx.com/
Address: 1350 Old Bayshore Highway, Ste 850, Burlingame, CA 94010
Phone #: (800)-494-3106

Customer Ratings

Level of Skilled Services Available – 10/10
Care Agency Customer Service – 9/10 90
Quality of Services – 9.5/10 95
Pricing/Cost – 9.5/10 95
Overall – 9.5/10 95

Care Intended For:

Carelinx offers affordable, in-home care services to disabled individuals and seniors, which allows them to maintain their independent lifestyle, in their own homes. They specialize in tech-enabled, non-medical home care services. Qualified and caring caregivers are trained to provide assistance with chronic care and transition management, working to improve Star scores.

About Carelinx Home Care

Carelinx was founded in 2011 by Sherwin Sheik, after recognizing the need for in-home care when dealing with family members with ongoing needs. He experienced first-hand the difficulties that come with caring for a family member with special needs, whether they were a younger adult with chronic medical conditions or an aging senior with an increasing need for home care assistance.

Carelinx focuses on offering affordable in-home care services. In-home care, especially individuals who require around-the-clock care, is not often affordable. This organization is committed to giving families’ trustworthy, quality in-home care that they can also afford. CareLinx is a leader in implementing technology into in-home care.

 

Services Offered

In-Home Care

  • Mobility assistance
  • Meal preparation
  • Daily exercise
  • Light housekeeping
  • Medication reminder
  • Bathing assistance
  • Companionship
  • Transportation

Senior Care: 

  • Physical exercise
  • Puzzle assistance
  • Mental acuity
  • Caregiver companionship

No matter where you’re located, we are here to assist you.

We simplify the process of finding affordable, quality non-medical caregiver agencies anywhere and provide reliable information about in-home care services and helpful resources for elderly seniors wanting to live at home but needing assistance to do so safely.

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What is Home Care?

Home care offers seniors and disabled individuals the care they need where they are the most comfortable, in their own homes. Home care focuses on more than the health of the patient. In-home care providers work closely with your loved one’s medical team to provide them with assistance with things like cooking, cleaning, transportation to and from medical appointments, and companionship. In-home caregivers can offer a more affordable option than when compared to nursing home care, while still providing the senior with the personal care they require.

There are many benefits to considering in-home care in addition to the actual personal care assistance that your senior receives. Research has shown that in-home care services can improve patient satisfaction and encourage healthier lifestyles while leading to optimal aging. In-home care solutions can also eliminate social isolation and reduce the remittance rates of hospitalization or mental health clinics. CareLinx is especially dedicated to improving the overall lifestyle and age longevity of older adults. The HEDIS & Star Improvement Program aims to boost scores by intervening in seniors’ activities of daily life (ADL).

Customized Services at Carelinx Home Care

No two in-home care agencies are the same. One of the things that set CareLinx apart from other caregiving businesses is their dedication to staying connected. CareLinx understands how difficult it can be to have an aging or disabled loved one far away from home. With an intuitive, proprietary app that allows you to be completely involved in your loved one’s caregiving, you can develop the trust and peace of mind that you deserve. This app also allows you to personalize your loved one’s profile, including important details to ensure that every aspect of their care is considered.

CareLinx also offers its customers extras that make a difference. With a reliable partnership with Lyft, your loved one can maintain their independence while visiting doctor’s appointments, friends, and completing errands such as entertainment or grocery shopping, on their own. Each ride is scheduled through the CareLinx app, so you can even schedule transportation for your loved one and track their location. Family members can even customize their service by using the app to assign tasks to caregivers.

The program is also HIPPA compliant, meaning all information uploaded and recorded is entirely confidential. The in-home care at CareLinx is technologically backed, making it a preferable choice among busy family members. You will be notified when your caregiver arrives and leaves, based on geo-location distancing. Your caregiver will also draft digital care plans based on the individual needs of the client, and even upload data to the shareable board, as needed.

CareLinx also understands the need for affordable in-home care and will easily work around your family caregiving schedules, filling in the gaps, as needed. Many families will take on the primary caregiving duties, taking advantage of the time they get to enjoy with their loved one, but it is also important to be aware of caregiving stress. Caregiving stress can lead to chronic fatigue, frustration, anger, and even feelings of resentment. It is important to take care of yourself as a caregiver and CareLinx is here for that.

Paying for Home Care

Determining how you will cover the cost of in-home care is an important part of the planning process. You might consider the following options:

Medicare and In-Home Services at CareLinx

Traditionally, Medicare does not cover the cost of in-home care services. However, recent changes to the Supplemental Benefit expansion have led to new requirements, making some individuals eligible. In some cases, Medicare will cover services that improve the health and quality of life in order to compensate for impairments or when it is thought that in-home care will reduce emergency medical care. CareLinx has also been a necessary advocate for aiming to include home care in the traditional Medicare Advantage plans.

Private Insurance and In-Home Care Services at CareLinx

Seniors or family members with private insurance policies might have in-home care coverage included in their policy. However, each policy and its requirements vary, so you want to reach out to your insurance representative to learn more.

Medicaid and In-Home Care Services at CareLinx

Medicaid will often cover some of the costs of in-home care, as long as you qualify for Medicaid benefits. Medicaid has traditionally covered the cost of nursing home assistance and with a recent shift toward older adults wanting to retire at home, it has expanded its benefits to include in-home caregivers.

In addition to Medicaid allowing individuals to utilize in-home care providers, Medicaid also allows seniors’ to direct their own home care needs. This might include hiring their own professional caregiver or even paying a trusted family member to cover some of the personal care duties.

Veteran’s Insurance and In-Home Care Services at CareLinx

Qualifying veterans and their spouses may also receive in-home care benefits. The requirements vary and eligibility will depend on how many days served and if any of those days were during wartime. You can learn more about the in-home care benefits by visiting your nearest VA location.

Depending on your financial and insurance situation, there might be additional coverages options available. Some individuals might choose to pay out of pocket for in-home care services. Fortunately, CareLinx has eliminated high overhead costs and is one of the most affordable caregiving agencies available.

 

Choosing the Right Home Care Agency

Many factors go into choosing the right home care agency and there isn’t one good option for everyone. Choosing the right home care agency requires that you consider the needs of your loved one, as well as your family. Even when considering non-medical home care services, each client’s needs will differ. One family might prefer ongoing companionship for their aging parent, whereas another family just needs a little help with transporting their family member to medical appointments.

In addition to the training and experience of the caregiving staff, it is also helpful to request more information about the hiring process and whether or not the caregivers are insured. When you choose CareLinx, you get much more than professional in-home caregiving services. You will also get a dedicated care team that is there to support you and your family seven days a week. Each CareLinx caregiver is also carefully trained and backed by a $4 million liability insurance.

Unlike other traditional agencies, CareLinx works to improve seniors’ lives in a way that can be analytically measured. They work to improve seniors’ HEDIS & STAR scores by at least 50%. Many consider CareLinx as an extension of their care team. Once the need for home care has been identified and the patient has agreed to the benefits, CareLinx uses a careful matching process to find you the best caregiver. When needed, clinical teams can also coordinate services to ensure that each of your loved one’s needs is being taken care of. Both you and your care management team will routinely evaluate the updated records and data and make any changes needed.

How Much Does Carelinx Home Care Cost?

The cost of in-home care services varies, depending on the number of hours of care needed and the type of caregiving services. Fortunately, in-home care, especially from CareLinx, tends to be more affordable than other senior care options like an assisted living or nursing home setting. The in-home care services at CareLinx have made it a goal to help families in need by making non-medical care services more affordable. 

By cutting overhead and removing the need for physical storefronts, CareLinx has developed an affordable long-term care business model that does not reduce the quality of the caregivers. In fact, the services at CareLinx tend to be, on average, up to 25% more affordable than other agencies.

Reviews

Many families’ understand that the happiness and health of their loved one depends on the care they receive at home. In-home care has the capability to improve happiness, overall health, independence, and peace of mind. You will find that you have a lot of options when it comes to choosing in-home care services. While it can feel overwhelming to make this decision, researching each option and understanding the needs of your loved one can help you make a decision that you feel comfortable with.

Reviews can be an important resource when choosing the care that your loved one receives too. We often recommend that families’ evaluate the reviews when considering a potential in-home care company. You can learn a lot from reviews, including the quality of the office staff, the experience of the caregivers, the overall mood of the patient, and even the satisfaction of the family.

Reviews often come from other customers or employees who have either utilized the services of the in-home care company, or have worked for them as a caregiver. CareLinx has become a recognized name in the non-medical home care industry. With over 300,000 caregivers registered at CareLinx, you can expect to find one that meets your families’ needs.

“Great service all in all!! Helpful between me as a caregiver and for the families’ loved ones that needs the help assistance and care.”

“CareLinx has been a wonderful part of the team, caring for our elderly parents! Our caregiver Gail Bowles is absolutely the best fit and is so caring we could not have done it without her as we live in Texas and they live in Missouri.”

“I’ve received so much support and training at CareLinx. I’ve also been paired with an amazing family. I love that CareLinx handles all of the billing for me.”

“CareLinx was fantastic, the best out there. They helped me find a top rate professional home aide for my husband on very short notice. My husband has physical and mental limitations, and I told CareLinx this. The aide sent Ellen, was just super.”

No matter where you’re located, we are here to assist you.

We simplify the process of finding affordable, quality non-medical caregiver agencies anywhere and provide reliable information about in-home care services and helpful resources for elderly seniors wanting to live at home but needing assistance to do so safely.

Careers with Carelinx

How much does Carelinx pay their caregivers?

The caregivers at CareLinx make an average of $16.99 per hour, with hourly pay ranging between $7.25- $35.65 per hour, depending on location and experience. The employees at CareLinx tend to enjoy the competitive pay and flexible work schedule. This average hourly pay tends to be higher than when compared to other in-home care providers.

What types of careers does Carelinx offer?

CareLinx is always hiring experienced, compassionate professional caregivers. Just as the needs of the clients at CareLinx vary, so do the necessary skills of the professional caregivers. Professional caregivers of all skills and background experiences are needed to accommodate each client. Just a few in-demand skills include:

  • Personal care experience
  • Caregivers with dementia or Alzheimer’s experience
  • Overnight caregivers
  • Evening and weekend caregivers
  • Caregivers with mobility experience
  • Caregivers with post-acute care experience

It is also important for CareLinx caregivers to be good team members. While caregiving can be an independent position, caregivers will also often have to work with health or medical staff. Care coordination that meets each of the client’s needs ensures that they are well-taken care of, even after making the decision to age in place.

How to apply to Carelinx?

If you are a compassionate caregiver who feels fulfilled when helping others, then you might be a good fit for CareLinx. The CareLinx application is different than one you might experience with another in-home care business. Rather than applying for a specific job, you can submit your application online. Once you have been approved, you will join the nationwide network which allows you to view requested jobs.

The system will work to match you with the clients who most need your skills and experience. The caregiving pairing process ensures that both clients and caregivers are happy with their match. There are also many benefits to becoming a CareLinx caregiver, which include:

  • Competitive wages
  • Comprehensive benefits (SS, Medicare, and unemployment and disability benefits)
  • Competitive Care Perks including health and dental insurance.
  • Flexible schedules that allow you to be your own boss
  • World-class training through CareAcademy

CareLinx caregivers are a crucial role in the organization and will receive many additional benefits. Just a few of these discounts include FitBit and AT&T.

How do I open a Carelinx Franchise?

Demand for in-home care services is quickly increasing. In fact, according to the National Health and Aging Trends Study, an estimated 11 million older Americans have received help with activities of daily living (ADLs). Another estimate of 5.3 million older adults will require non-medical home care this year. With approximately 75% of seniors living with multiple chronic medical conditions and $17 billion Medicare dollars already spent on hospital readmissions that could have been prevented with in-home care, it is clear that in-home care is in demand. It is a good time to consider business ownership in the homecare agency industry.

CareLinx believes that the future of the healthcare industry is right at home. Get a jump start on that prediction and become a part of one of the fastest-growing industries. Unfortunately, CareLinx does not franchise at this time. Because their business model focuses on affordable home health care and competitive caregiving wages, CareLinx does not have physical offices. Instead, caregivers and clients are matched using the database.

More Advice

How Do We Determine Our “Top” Care Agencies?

According to a recent study, 90% or more seniors want to stay in their homes for as long as possible. We recognize the importance of honoring our senior loved ones wishes, while ensuring the peace of mind of their family members. We rate our top care agencies for their high level of professionalism and expertise in home care knowledge and services. These agencies are dedicated to providing an outstanding level of service in all home care solutions they offer. InHomeCare.com awards top home care agencies according to both client and caregiver satisfaction ratings. All of these home care agencies prove that they pride themselves on supplying quality care in every satisfaction category measured by InHomeCare’s rating system. We only recommend the absolute best home care agencies out there – so you can be confident that your loved one will receive nothing but the most exceptional care and service.

How To Find The Best Fit For Your Family

When it comes to in-home care agencies, there is not a “one-size fits all” solution. While reviewing our care agencies, try to keep the needs of your loved one in mind. Do they need memory assistance? Or, are they looking for temporary postoperative care after an injury? Each case is unique, and therefore will require a personalized care plan in order to meet all areas of need. Of course, there are great options out there for everyone, and we do our best at InHomeCare.com to cover all the important information family members and loved ones may need in order to make an educated decision regarding home care services. If you find yourself struggling to decide which home care agency would service your loved one best, make a list of your top choices and contact each of them. By inquiring about services offered, and by asking questions, you should be able to get a clear winner.