In Depth, Home Care Agency Review

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

Here is our review of Griswold Home Care.

Griswold Home Care Review

“Delivered With Heart”

Overall Rating – 9.9/10

Company Details

Summary

Griswold Home Care provides seniors and other homebound individuals with in-home care assistance. The Griswold Home care provider is available at more than 200 individual locations across 30 states. They offer a wide range of provider services including personal care and healthcare assistance.

Name: Griswold Home Care
Website: https://www.griswoldhomecare.com/
Address: 120 W. Germantown Pike, Suite 200, Plymouth, PA 19462
Phone #: (800) 474-7965

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:

Home Helpers is dedicated to providing care services to not only the elderly population, but also those with developmental and intellectual differences, and those who simply need the extra help – no matter the age. According to their website, Home Helpers provides in-home care to seniors, new & expectant mothers, working parents, those with developmental disabilities, and any individual in need of continuing and recuperative home care.

About Griswold Home Care

Griswold Home Care was initially founded in 1982, making it the first non-medical, in-home care agency. Griswold Home Care sets itself apart from its competitors by focusing on what makes them unique. In fact, they even have a term to describe this different type of mentality, their Griswoldness. 

Griswold Home Care business was first designed by Jean Griswold, upon hearing of a fellow senior church member who didn’t have the support and care assistance that she needed to live a happy and healthy life. In an attempt to prevent other homebound individuals from experiencing the same fate, she organized the first U.S. non-medical, in-home care franchise business.

Working out of her home initially, she dedicated her skills to the personal care industry, paving the way for other homecare businesses. Each of the staff at Griswold Home Care carries on Griswold’s mission to this day. Griswold Home Care has successfully expanded to over 200 locations, with services available in 30 states, and is constantly expanding.

 

Services Offered

Companion Care

  • Social events
  • Visits with friends
  • Medication reminders
  • Shopping and errand assistance
  • Home projects
  • Gardening assistance
  • Home safety and security
  • Writing and journaling
  • Scrapbooking assistance

Hospice and Palliative Care

  • Symptom relief
  • Compassionate care
  • Emotional support

Live-In Care

  • 24/7 care
  • Overnight care

Memory Care

  • Alzheimer’s care
  • Dementia care

Homemaking Care

  • Meal planning and preparation
  • Dish washing
  • Laundering assistance
  • Light housekeeping
  • Organizing and decluttering items
  • Running errands
  • Grocery shopping
  • Accompaniment to medical appointments
  • Plant care
  • Trip accompaniment

Personal Care

  • Bathing and grooming assistance
  • Dental care
  • Dressing assistance
  • Skin care
  • Perineal care
  • Incontinent care
  • Repositioning and mobility assistance
  • Range of motion rehabilitation

Respite Care

  • Short-term respite care
  • Companionship care

Specialized Care

  • Post-surgical and rehabilitative assistance
  • Neuromuscular care
  • Disability assistance
  • Fall prevention and recovery

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.

More Advice

What is Home Care?

The definition of a caregiver actually covers a lot of things. While on the surface, a caregiver is responsible for providing in-home care to homebound individuals and seniors, home care is about much more than that. It is also about providing companionship and resources in an attempt to maintain the patient’s independence. 

There are also multiple types of caregivers. Many family members could be considered a caregiver. Griswold refers to the population of adult children as the sandwich generation. This means that they are sandwiched between an elderly parent and young children in the household, forcing them to divide their caregiving responsibilities between the two generations.

A professional caregiver is a person that you pay, or your insurance company pays, to care for a loved one. There are both medical and non-medical caregivers. A medical caregiver assists seniors with medical care tasks like medication management or cleaning wounds. A non-medical caregiver offers services that are customized to the individual needs of the client and their family. This might include assistance with mobility or other non-medical home care tasks.

Non-medical home care services focus on helping seniors with their Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). This means tasks like meal planning and prepping, light housekeeping, assistance with mobility, and even transportation to and from events. Each care plan at Griswold Home Care is individually catered to the patient and their needs.

Customized Services at Griswold Home Care

Each senior’s needs are different and Griswold Home Care understands that. Whereas one individual might require just a few hours of care each week, another might require live-in, 24/7 care. Caregiving schedules are always flexible, meeting the needs of each client and their families.

Each caregiving client will begin their partnership with Griswold Home Care with an initial assessment. During this assessment, you and your caregiver will discuss the individual needs of your loved one. From here, you can work together to create a caregiving schedule that works for everyone involved. This includes the times, days, and location of care, as well as the individual services provided.

In addition to assistive tasks designed to encourage independent living, Griswold Home Care also follows a few, key values. Dignity is one of these important values. Dignity is important to the client, the caregiver, and the Griswold home care members. Compassion is another important value that you can expect from Griswold Home Care.

Paying for Home Care

Paying for home care is an important factor to consider when researching the best in-home care options for your family member. Here are a few options that you might consider:

Medicare and In-Home Services at Griswold Home Care

Medicare is a federal type of health coverage. The Medicare program is made up of four separate parts, each of which covers different aspects of qualified individuals’ health care needs. Medicare does not usually cover the cost of in-home care unless you require skilled nursing and are homebound. Medicare also requires that individuals are under the direct care and instruction of their medical provider.

Private Insurance and In-Home Care Services Griswold Home Care

Some seniors might have their own form of private health insurance. Depending on the policy and your coverage, in-home care benefits might be included. It is best to discuss your home care needs with your health provider and determine what type of costs is included and which costs are not.

Medicaid and In-Home Care Services at Griswold Home Care

Medicaid, which different from Medicare, is state-driven. This means that regulations can vary from state to state. In some cases, Medicaid will cover the costs that are associated with home care. It is also possible for Medicaid to cover costs associated with a family caregiver. This means that some family members can spend their time providing senior care services to a loved one, while also receiving compensation.

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

Individuals who qualify for veteran’s affairs benefits might also have in-home care eligibility available. The Veteran’s Aid & Assistance Pensions Benefit does include in-home elder care. Additionally, many qualified veteran’s spouses will also be eligible for benefits through the program. 

With home care payment options varying from state to state, it is usually helpful to discuss your home care needs with a Griswold representative. They can help you evaluate your payment options and choose a plan that works for your budget needs.

 

Choosing the Right Home Care Agency

While you will find that many in-home care agencies offer many of the same services, you will find that the method in which they offer them differs. For example, Griswold Home Care looks at the task of meal planning and preparation as much more than a to-do task. They believe that many of the strongest relationships are formed around the preparation of healthy and flavorful meals. This same mentality and compassionate way of viewing senior care services is what sets Griswold Home Care apart from other in-home care agencies.

When looking at potential in-home caregiving providers, it can also be helpful to look at the things that the company does outside of its services offered. Griswold Home Care, for example, has also set up a charitable foundation to further assist supporting their founder in her guiding mission. The Jean Griswold Foundation continues to support seniors, allowing them to age with dignity, in the comfort of their own homes.

It can also be helpful to consider the entire families’ needs when choosing the right home care agency. Griswold Home Care understands how difficult caregiving can be on the family members and respite care is just as important. For this reason, they also offer caregiver support groups, to both professional and family member caregivers. The mission at Griswold Home Care is easy. By putting the client’s physical and mental health and wellbeing first, before focusing on profits, they are able to provide a service that is in demand.

It is also important to consider the screening and training of any in-home agencies that you are considering using. Griswold Home Care requires each potential candidate to go through a 15-step screening process and each caregiver is fully bonded and insured. This in-depth, rigorous, hiring process ensures that clients receive only the most trustworthy and caring of caregivers.

How Much Does Griswold Home Care Cost?

Professional home care service costs vary from location to location and from customer to customer. With one client needing around-the-clock care and another requiring respite care for just a few hours each week, it is difficult to give an overall home care cost estimation. Instead, it is helpful to discuss your families’ individual needs with the Griswold Home Care location nearest you.

Fortunately, in-home care services do tend to be more affordable than other assistive options like assisted senior living homes or nursing homes. These alternative living options can also make it more difficult for seniors to maintain their independence and receive a customized care plan. For this reason, more homebound adults are choosing in-home care services.

Reviews

Reviews give you the opportunity to learn more about an in-home care business before having to trust them with the care of your loved one. Reviews come from clients or families who have used their services before. When evaluating reviews, it is important to not only look at what services the agency offers, but also whether or not the client was satisfied with their care. If you have a loved one with unique care needs, like a memory care condition, it can also be helpful to look for reviews from others in a similar situation.

“I recently called the office and was impressed with the thoroughness of questions asked of me regarding potential services. They also sent a detailed email about the services I requested. They are #1 on my list to call if and when we determine we need care.”

“What I needed to see in a caregiver was someone who understood my Mom, someone who didn’t just say, “I do this as a job. I do this 100 times a day. One person’s like the next person.” We found the people who were such a wonderful match for Mom and I’ve been able to have them consistently.”

“We have been fortunate and gotten a very caring, flexible live-in caregiver for our mother, who is bed-bound and does not speak due to the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease. The aide has cared for mom for almost a year through Griswold Home Care and we’ve been happy.”

“I think the thing I valued the most about your services was that you recognize that both the client and the family are already stressed and you go out of your way not to add to that burden. I never had to worry that a referred caregiver would not show up or that you wouldn’t be able to find a replacement or that the copy of the bill I needed for insurance wouldn’t arrive.”

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 Griswold Home Care

How much does Griswold Home Care pay their caregivers?

Caregivers at Griswold Home Care can expect an average pay of $12.35 per hour. Hourly pay, however, may range between $7.25- $22.60 per hour, depending on location and experience level. Caregivers with certifications or specialized training, like in memory care, will usually earn more hourly than an entry-level caregiver.

How to apply to Griswold Home Care?

A career with Griswold Home Care Services can be fulfilling. Caregivers have mentioned previously that it gives them a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction to help seniors. However, there are a few things to consider to better evaluate if a career with Griswold Home Care is right for you.

Caregivers at Griswold Home Care Services will assist seniors with their Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). The expected tasks will vary from client to client and a caring and flexible mentality is often needed. Griswold Home Care caregivers will work with patients of all types, some with short-term care needs and others with long-term care needs.

If you are still interested in a caregiving position with Griswold Home Care, you can expect to complete the following steps:

  • In-person interview
  • Reference check
  • Background check
  • Be up-to-date on all immunizations
  • Drug and alcohol screening
  • Driving record
  • Residency confirmation
  • Sex offender check

The flexible work schedules available at Griswold Home Care Services as a caregiver are ideal for many types of employees. Whether you are a student, retired individual, veteran, or you want to make a full-time career out of caregiving, Griswold Home Care can usually work around your busy schedule. A diverse work team is important in order to meet the unique needs of patients.

Caregivers with night, overnight, weekend, and holiday availability are always in demand at your nearest Griswold Home Care Services location.

How do I open a Griswold Home Care Franchise?

If you have a business mentality and an interest in helping seniors in your local community, then you might consider a Griswold Home Care Services franchise. Griswold Home Care was not only the first non-medical in-home care agency in the U.S. but they are also currently one of the fastest-growing agencies. Griswold Home Care has over 35 years of experience and has created a successful training program that also encourages franchisees to succeed. By always putting the client first, they have developed an encouraging reputation in the in-home care industry.

The demand for in-home care needs is growing. With an increasingly aging population and the dedicated health and senior care services that Griswold Home Care offers, it is a great business model. Opening a Griswold Home Care agency does require an initial investment. This investment is between $107,350- $135,500 with franchise fees ranging between $49,500- $54,500. Many factors dictate the expected range, including territory size and location. The continuing royalty fee is 3.75-4.0%.

The first step toward opening a franchise with Griswold Home Care Services is to schedule a franchise consultation. During this consultation, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the tools and training provided, as well as the requirements of opening a franchise location. Throughout the learning process, you will also get the opportunity to meet and discuss franchising opportunities with current franchise owners. 

Opening a franchise location with Griswold Home Care will require the following steps:

  • Initial discussion: During the initial discussion, you can request more information and learn more about the training and marketing tools available.
  • Investigative process: During the investigative process, you can network with other franchisees and learn more about the industry.
  • Contract: Once you decide to become a franchisee with Griswold Home Care, you will sign a franchise agreement to finalize the decision.
  • Launch process: During the launch process, you can expect to prepare for your franchise location’s grand opening.
  • Education/training: Through attendance at the Home Care Academy, you will be provided with all the education/training that you need to succeed.
  • Opening day: Congrats, once you have reached this step, you are a franchise owner and you are ready to make a difference in your own community.

The team at Griswold Home Care also supports veterans and their route to business ownership. They offer discounts and help veterans who want to open their own in-home care business. 

What types of careers does Griswold Home Care offer?

In addition to open caregiving positions, the Griswold Home Care agency nearest you might have other open careers. Care coordinators and schedulers are also important to the Griswold team.  Schedulers are often the first point of contact with clients and their families. They are also responsible for ensuring that both clients’ and caregivers’ scheduling needs are met.

Experience requirements will depend on the state in which you want to work and the position in which you apply. Some states require caregivers to have previous experience or training whereas others do not. Professional caregivers who provide healthcare services will need to be licensed in their state of employment. Interested candidates can learn more about these state requirements by reaching out to the Griswold Home Care agency nearest you.

If your resume is selected, you can expect to complete the following:

  • Competency examination
  • Verification process which includes identity, work eligibility, and any required training or educational reference checks
  • Initial training
  • Ongoing training through the Relias Academy

Griswold Home Care Services is also dedicated to hiring a diverse staff. Not only does this follow federal hiring laws, but by choosing caregivers that come from different backgrounds and values, there is more opportunity to match them with Griswold’s diverse clients. Each client and their health and personal care needs differ and staying consistent with Jean Griswold’s mission, the Griswold Home Care team is made up of caregivers and health aides from all backgrounds.

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.