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Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is Parentis Health?
Parentis Health is a growing healthcare company headquartered in Orange County, California. We provide compassionate, coordinated care, with ongoing support for families through the entire care process.
What services do you provide?
Our core services include Home Health, Residential Care, Hospice, Home Care, Transportation, Care Management and Health and Wellness.
How do you help families?
We provide an extensive range of services to benefit patients and their families, from a variety of health services at the patients home, to non-emergency medical transportation, to our residential home facilities, to hospice services and everything in-between.
To ensure patients and families can focus on spending time together without worry, we shoulder the burdens families typically face alone, whether it’s working with Medicare and health insurance providers or helping patients with ongoing medical appointments.
To ensure patients and families can focus on spending time together without worry, we shoulder the burdens families typically face alone, whether it’s working with Medicare and health insurance providers or helping patients with ongoing medical appointments.
How do your transportation services work?
We feature a fleet of specialized vehicles that can accommodate all patients, including those with ambulatory issues.
Our vehicles can easily accommodate walkers, wheelchairs and gurneys, and, like all of our services, our pricing is flat, transparent and always reasonable.
Our vehicles can easily accommodate walkers, wheelchairs and gurneys, and, like all of our services, our pricing is flat, transparent and always reasonable.
Do you have any special programs to help military families?
Yes! Our We Honor Veterans program, part of our Volunteer services, works with veterans and their families to help them maximize their VA benefits.
Home Health
What is home health?
Home health offers patients quality healthcare in the comfort of their homes, from a diverse team of professionals —RNs/LPNs, MSWs, home health aides, physical, occupational and speech therapists—available and on-call 24/7/365.
Home health services cover a wide range of conditions, including:
Home health services cover a wide range of conditions, including:
- Wound care
- IV therapy
- Injections
- Chronic disease management, including
- CHF, COPD, diabetes and hypertension
- Pain management
- Post-surgical care
- Post-stroke care
What’s the difference between Home Health and Home Care?
To help keep seniors independent and preserve their quality of life, we offer multiple services they can utilize from the comfort of their own homes.
Home Health provides patients with skilled nurses, LVNs, counselors, occupational and physical therapists, empowering post-surgery, wound care and rehabilitation at home, helping patients recover without the need for extended hospital stays.
Home Care provides caretakers to help patients with every aspect of everyday life, from personal care, feeding and medication administration to housekeeping and running errands.
Home Health provides patients with skilled nurses, LVNs, counselors, occupational and physical therapists, empowering post-surgery, wound care and rehabilitation at home, helping patients recover without the need for extended hospital stays.
Home Care provides caretakers to help patients with every aspect of everyday life, from personal care, feeding and medication administration to housekeeping and running errands.
What kinds of services does Home Health provide?
Our Home Health services include:
- Medical equipment, medication, and therapeutic diet training
- Injections
- IV therapy
- Wound Care
- Chronic disease management
- Post-surgical care
- Occupational, physical and speech therapy
- Nutrition counseling
- Assistance with living with disabilities
- Supplemental health education pursuant to doctor’s orders
Who can get Home Health services?
To qualify for Home Health services, patients must have a medical need for skilled nursing or therapy and meet Medicare’s definition of “homebound”.
Patients who leave their home infrequently because it requires taxing effort fall within Medicare’s guidelines. Parentis Health also requires that requests for Home Health services come directly from patients’ physicians.
Do you have to be permanently homebound to qualify for Home Health services?
No; patients can be temporarily homebound due to illness or injury to qualify.
Does Medicare cover Home Health services?
We accept both private insurance coverage and medicare. Medicare covers 100% of Home Health services for qualified patients.
Residential Care
What is residential care?
Residential care is a unique treatment and housing arrangement where caregivers live alongside residents, empowering them to extensively monitor and respond quickly to their needs.
Residential care facilities are smaller environments with fewer residents than traditional assisted living facilities, allowing for more personalized care. Parentis Health’s Verona Court homes feature no more than six residents, with two full-time caregivers who live on site; ensuring residents experience a continuous care ratio of 1:3.
Residential care facilities are smaller environments with fewer residents than traditional assisted living facilities, allowing for more personalized care. Parentis Health’s Verona Court homes feature no more than six residents, with two full-time caregivers who live on site; ensuring residents experience a continuous care ratio of 1:3.
How are Verona Court residences different from other long-term residential care facilities?
Verona Court Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) are different from most long-term care facilities because they’re real homes, with all of the comfort and warmth you and your loved ones expect.
Each Verona Court home is located in an upscale neighborhood, comfortable, secure, and beautifully appointed with all of the comforts of home. Ample communal spaces foster meaningful relationships between fellow residents and caregivers.
Each Verona Court home is located in an upscale neighborhood, comfortable, secure, and beautifully appointed with all of the comforts of home. Ample communal spaces foster meaningful relationships between fellow residents and caregivers.
How is Verona Court related to Parentis Health?
Verona Court residential facilities company is a subsidiary of Parentis Health. Residents of Verona Court greatly benefit from Parentis Health continuity of care model.
How much does residential care cost?
We provide lifetime all-inclusive, flat rates, regardless of care level - for the lifetime of the patient in our care. Our exceptional care and better-than-industry-standard pricing sets us apart from any other care provider in Southern California.
How many residents live in Verona Court homes? Are caretakers onsite 24/7?
Occupancy at Verona Court homes is capped at a maximum occupancy of 6 residents and a 3:1 provider ratio.
Each facility has a minimum of two caregivers and a dedicated night-shift caregiver (as needed), plus LVNs and RNs onsite every day, ensuring that your loved ones are always safe and secure and help is always on-hand.
Each facility has a minimum of two caregivers and a dedicated night-shift caregiver (as needed), plus LVNs and RNs onsite every day, ensuring that your loved ones are always safe and secure and help is always on-hand.
Do you have anyone on staff who can help patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s?
At Parentis Health, we completely understand how complex and common memory loss issues are. Our staff is extensively trained to assist all memory loss concerns, as well as those with advanced memory issues like Alzheimer’s and dementia,
To ensure that patients receive specialized care, Verona Court is staffed with specially-trained caregivers, on-hand at all times to assist with everything from daily routines to cognitive behavioral therapy.
Can my loved one have personal items as a Verona Court resident?
Absolutely! We encourage families to bring personal items, including small furnishings, family photos, collectibles and other favorite possessions to help personalize their space.
Does Verona Court offer residents any special activities or fun things to do?
Yes! Verona Court residents enjoy activities throughout the week, from pet therapy, music and arts and crafts with our volunteers to bingo and karaoke.
We also offer the same kinds of activities residents enjoyed in their own homes, like cooking, gardening, and socializing, as well as resident-centric therapeutic activities that promote independence, personal identity and self-esteem.
And when it’s a holiday or a birthday celebration, everyone gets to join in the fun!
What if we only need residential care for a short period of time?
Verona Court facilities welcome short-term residents. Residents of any length receive the same round-the-clock care, including home-cooked meals, activities with our volunteers, transportation services and more.
To learn more about Verona Court residences, please visit us at www.veronacourt.com.
Hospice
What is hospice?
Hospice also aims to provide comfort to those with life-limiting illness and addresses the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of not only the patient but also the patient’s family caregivers. Typically, hospice care is offered when a person’s prognosis is six months or less and curative measures have been exhausted or are no longer desired.
Hospice covers treatments for symptom control or pain relief, durable medical equipment, medical supplies, and a variety of services covered by Medicare necessary to manage the person’s pain and other symptoms related to the terminal illness. This may include physical, speech, and occupational therapy, short-term inpatient and respite care, regular visits and oversight from a care team including a nurse, home health aides, a social worker, the hospice chaplain, and the hospice physician.
Patient, or the patient’s responsible party, always has the freedom to choose their Hospice, as well as revoke Hospice services at any time.
Hospice covers treatments for symptom control or pain relief, durable medical equipment, medical supplies, and a variety of services covered by Medicare necessary to manage the person’s pain and other symptoms related to the terminal illness. This may include physical, speech, and occupational therapy, short-term inpatient and respite care, regular visits and oversight from a care team including a nurse, home health aides, a social worker, the hospice chaplain, and the hospice physician.
Patient, or the patient’s responsible party, always has the freedom to choose their Hospice, as well as revoke Hospice services at any time.
What’s the difference between “comfort care”, “palliative care” and “hospice care”?
“Comfort care”, “palliative care” and “hospice care” are often used interchangeably because they generally refer to the same approach to patient care: focusing on symptom control, pain relief and quality of life.
While “comfort care” and “palliative care” are basically the same, hospice is a far more robust approach, engaging entire teams to help provide comfort and care to patients and families.
“Comfort care” and “palliative care” aren’t always afforded the same sense of expediency as hospice care. One of the advantages of hospice care is the speed at which healthcare is delivered. Medications, equipment, and treatment can be delivered anytime to wherever a patient is, without the need for physician appointments or authorizations.
While “comfort care” and “palliative care” are basically the same, hospice is a far more robust approach, engaging entire teams to help provide comfort and care to patients and families.
“Comfort care” and “palliative care” aren’t always afforded the same sense of expediency as hospice care. One of the advantages of hospice care is the speed at which healthcare is delivered. Medications, equipment, and treatment can be delivered anytime to wherever a patient is, without the need for physician appointments or authorizations.
Where do patients have to go to get hospice care?
With Parentis Health, patients can transition to hospice wherever they’re the most comfortable—including at home.
How does a patient qualify for hospice?
In any disease trajectory, there are three possible outcomes: stability, improvement, or decline. Patients in decline may qualify for hospice care.
To qualify for hospice, a patient’s prognosis is assessed according to five criteria:
- If the patient’s quality of life would not be improved by aggressive treatment such as hospitalization, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or hemodialysis
- A patient’s nutritional status, generally determined by poor appetite and weight loss
- How functional a patient is, and how much this has changed recently
- The normal progression of a specific disease
- Physicians make assessments based on a patient’s declining health during a 12 month period, as well as projections on disease progression six months out, using guidelines set forth by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- CMS has issued guidelines for specific diseases, including AIDS, cancer, dementia, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, MS, ALS, heart and liver failure
Patients meeting this criteria may receive hospice care with a referral from their attending physician.
Can patients or families change their minds about using hospice services?
Hospice does not have to be a permanent choice. It is an elective benefit that can be revoked at any time.
What does hospice care include?
Hospice assists patients and families alike, so we provide a full complement of services designed to support both, in-home or wherever needed, including:
- Observation and assessment
- Guidance on advance directives and other planning
- Caregiver education
- Skilled nursing care
- Pain and symptom management
- Daily living assistance
- Speech therapy services
- Emotional and spiritual support
- Bereavement support and grief counseling
Who provides hospice care to patients?
Parentis Health has a full team of experts to support patients and families, including:
- Doctors
- Nurse practitioners
- Nurses
- Nursing aids
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Speech therapists
- Social workers
- Spiritual advisors
Our hospice team is also on-call 24/7/365 whenever, and wherever we’re needed.
How much should families expect to have to pay for your services?
Often Hospice services are covered through Medicare. Call us to discuss your specific situation and we’ll be happy to help.
How do you support hospice patients and families?
We provide whatever support patients and families need, however they need it, from our skilled nurses to our volunteers.
We also have an in-house Chaplain and Bereavement Counselor on-call to offer comfort in all forms—from spiritual support and grief counseling to just being an extra pair of eyes and ears.
What happens if hospice patients recover?
We help ensure that patients can transition with ease back to however they were living before, whether in their own homes, Verona Court or another facility.
Home Care
How do your Home Care services work?
Our Home Care services are designed to make your life easier, which is why we have simplified the process into 3 easy steps:
Step 1: Schedule your Personalized Assessment
Assessments can be done in person or over the phone. During an in-home assessment, our care manager will assess your (or your loved one's) condition, overall safety, and make recommendations if needed.
Step 2: Sign Our Service Agreement
Once we have completed your assessment, we will create a client profile for you or
your loved one, a personalized care plan, and schedule of agreed upon visits.
Step 3: Match you with a Caregiver
We will match you with the best caregiver to meet you or your loved one's needs and
schedule your visit
What services are included in Home Care?
Home care services include:
- In-home assessments
- Daily check-ins
- Medication reminders
- Helping bathe, dress, or use the restroom
- Personal hygiene and grooming
- Meal planning, preparation and dining assistance
- Light housekeeping and laundry services
- Short daily exercise
- Companionship for outings and leisurely activities
If your loved one’s needs outgrow Home Care services, our Continuity of Care model gives you access to our Residential Care, Home Health, Hospice, Transportation, and Clinical Care Management services.
What does light housekeeping mean?
Our priority at Parentis Health is not only to provide personalized care, but to ensure that your loved one is in a safe and clean environment. We do this through light housekeeping.
Light housekeeping includes: sweeping, dusting, and vacuuming; wiping down counters, washing and putting away dishes, washing and putting away dishes, taking out the trash, laundry and bed linen change assistance, washing and putting away dishes.
Light housekeeping does not include: Deep cleaning and scrubbing floors, moving heavy furniture, cleaning large household appliances such as the refrigerator or stove, window cleaning, shampooing or steam cleaning carpets.
What are the payment options for Home Care services?
Our flexible payment options include:
- Private Pay
- Long-term care Insurance
- Qualified group health insurance
What is a Home Care Aid (HCA)?
A Home Care Aid (HCA), or personal caregiver, is an individual who helps clients in everyday tasks by monitoring their condition and helping them with daily living activities. They often assist older adults and people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or dementia who need assistance.
All of our personal caregivers are: Registered Home Care Aids (HCA), thoroughly screened and cleared through (CDSS) background checks, insured and bonded, required to undergo in-field training mandatory annual training.
All of our personal caregivers are: Registered Home Care Aids (HCA), thoroughly screened and cleared through (CDSS) background checks, insured and bonded, required to undergo in-field training mandatory annual training.
How many hours of caregiving services can I request?
Our home care services can range anywhere from 1-hour to 24-hours to fit your individual care needs. Weekly care schedules include day/evening care, overnight care, and access to care 24/7.
24/7 live-in caregiver available upon request.
24/7 live-in caregiver available upon request.
Is there a minimum number of caregiving service hours I need to commit to?
No, now through our acquired company Pop-in Care we no longer have a minimum hour requirement
Pop-in Care is a Home Care service catered to our clients who are primarily independent but can benefit from short (1-4 hour) caregiving shifts.
Visit: Popin Care for more information.
Volunteering
I’m interested in becoming one of your hospice volunteers. How does that work?
To become a Parentis Health volunteer, please reach out to us here.
Each volunteer goes through rigorous training to ensure they have the best understanding of hospice and all that it encompasses. We also discuss each volunteer’s unique talents, special skills, military history and other relevant information to best serve the needs of our patients and their families.
While the program is open to everyone—students, veterans, retirees, seniors—if you’ve recently lost a loved one, please give yourself the time to heal before considering joining our program.
Do you have any other volunteer opportunities?
Yes! Through the Parentis Foundation, we pair highly trained volunteer tutors, ages 50+, with children, aged from kindergarten through third-grade, offering both a unique opportunity to enrich their lives through literacy.
To learn more about how to become a Parentis Foundation volunteer, please visit www.parentisfoundation.com.