Home care questions, answered

How are you different from the other home care agencies in Berks County?

We're locally owned, based in Reading since 2003, and not a franchise. If you call the office, you get the office. Every caregiver is our employee, and the person on call at 2:00 a.m. works in the same room as the person who scheduled the shift.

How do I pay, and do you take Medicare?

Assured Assistance accepts private pay, many long-term care insurance plans, and eligible Veterans' benefits. We do not participate in waiver programs. Standard health insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid do not cover non-medical home care services at this time.

For your convenience, our online client portal allows you to make payments by credit card, debit card, or ACH bank transfer, with automatic payment options available. Invoices can be delivered by email or traditional mail, whichever works best for you.

Do you provide live-in caregivers?

No. We believe the best care comes from caregivers who stay rested and refreshed, so we schedule shifts. A 24-hour day is scheduled in shifts, all awake, ready to help.

How are caregivers chosen?

Every caregiver goes through a face-to-face interview, professional and personal references, and a Pennsylvania criminal background check, without exception. We look for people who love this work rather than people looking for a job, and we bond and insure every one of them.

How are caregivers trained?

In our office and then hands-on, on the job, alongside an experienced caregiver. Yearly competency testing continues alongside training in the field. It covers showering, bathing, dressing, memory care, and emotional support. The long and short of it, if we do not want this person in our home, we will not be sending them to yours.

Will it be the same caregiver every time?

Whenever we can manage it, yes. You'll see the same caregiver on the same schedule so there isn't a new face every day. We also cross-train a second caregiver on your routine, so if life happens and someone is out, the substitute already knows your home.

What happens if I need to change the schedule?

Call the office. An office staff member is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We don't outsource to an answering service, and you won't wait until business hours for a response. Whoever is on call knows the clients, their needs, and the caregivers.

Can a caregiver come to a nursing home or personal care facility?

Yes. Our caregivers work in facilities as well as private homes, and right now they're in most of the larger long-term care communities in the area. They provide the companionship and the one-on-one hands-on help that facility staff often don't have time for.

Why work with an agency instead of the individual in the newspaper ad?

You're Hiring a Team, Not Just a Caregiver

Every Assured Assistance caregiver is our employee. That means we handle payroll, taxes, workers' compensation, and insurance—not you. Our caregivers are background-checked, bonded, insured, trained when hired and in the field, and evaluated for competency.

Hiring privately may seem simple, but it can leave families responsible for things they never expected to manage. When you work with Assured Assistance, we take responsibility for the employment details and the protections that come with them. You can focus on your loved one, knowing the business side of care is in our hands.

What does light housekeeping mean?

Our caregivers help keep the home comfortable and manageable as part of caring for the person who lives there. From vacuuming and laundry to tidying up, organizing everyday items, and taking out the trash, they lend a hand with routine household tasks that make daily life easier. Their focus is always on supporting your loved one.

Where do you provide services?

All of Berks County, from Lenhartsville in the north to Birdsboro in the south, plus six Lancaster County towns near the line and, to the east, the Pottstown and Sanatoga area. The areas page lists every town and tells you whether we come to yours.

How soon can care start?

Once your care plan is in place and we've matched the right caregiver to your needs, we'll confirm your start date with you. Here's how it works: We respond to your inquiry, arrange a free in-home visit with a Client Relations Manager, develop a personalized care plan, and find a caregiver whose skills and availability fit your needs. Once everything is in place, we'll confirm the start date and get care underway.