Brookside Home Care is licensed by the New York State Department of Health to provide home care services to the residents of Nassau, Queens and Suffolk Counties. We understand the prospect of hiring an agency can be scary. Most people don’t really think about home care for a loved one until they need it. Once they realize they need assistance, they are often overwhelmed by the amount of information out there and aren’t sure how to proceed. When you call Brookside, you will speak directly with the owner or the Director of Patient Services. They will educate you on the ins and outs of the care landscape, help determine the appropriate level of services you need and assist you in taking the next steps toward getting your loved one the care they require.
We offer two types of services - Personal Care and Companion Care.
Companion Care
On the Companion side, our process usually begins with a meeting between the owner, the person that needs care and any additional concerned family members. We want our clients and their families to feel comfortable with the supervision we provide to the staff. At this meeting, we collect a few types of information. Yes, the medical needs of the client are important, but we also collect some personal information as well (hobbies, favorite foods, prior occupation, etc.). This information is helpful in allowing our care providers to develop a personal relationship with our clients, which is essential in making this process work. After collecting this information, we begin working to find a match. Once we find a good candidate, we setup a second meeting to provide a caregiver introduction. If you are happy with our choice, we begin providing care. If not, we work on finding a new candidate. Our companions can assist with light housekeeping, meal preparation and most other tasks that will help an individual get through the day.
Personal Care
Our Personal Care services are a little more medical in nature and usually involve ADL assistance (Activities of Daily Living – showering, incontinence, transfers, etc.). The process begins with a visit by one of our Registered Nurses. The RN conducts a thorough assessment of the client’s physical and cognitive condition to determine the client’s needs. From the assessment, the RN develops a customized Plan of Care. The Plan of Care is then implemented by one of our state Certified Home Health Aides (HHAs) under the supervision of the RN. Throughout the process, the RN will provide supervisory visits and update the Plan of Care should there be any changes in the client’s condition. Should an unforeseen situation arise, an RN is on-call 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to assist both the client and HHA with any issues.
Our Aides
We realized early on that our care providers are the face of the company. That's why we spend the bulk of our time interviewing, screening and finding the right people. All of our aides are thoroughly screened. We look for the right combination of technical skills, experience and personal skills. Our process consists of a phone interview, a live interview, background checks and reference checks. We place a strong emphasis on communication skills. As we mentioned before, it’s very important for our care providers to develop a relationship with our clients. If they can’t communicate effectively, they have difficulty following instructions and developing that relationship. Certified HHA are required to complete 75 hours of training by the State of New York. Upon joining the Brookside team, each HHA is put through a rigorous orientation/training program to assess their competency level and correct any deficiencies before they are sent out into the field. Additionally, each HHA is required to complete 12 hours of in-services annually to keep their skills sharp.
We are licensed, bonded, insured and capable of handling just about any situation that may arise. If for some reason we aren't able to meet your care needs, we’re more than happy to help you find someone that can. Let us help you return safety and stability to your loved one’s life.
Care Services
• Meal Preparation
• Medication Reminders
• Respite Care
• Toileting
• Transferring
• Alzheimer's/Dementia Care
• Bathing/Dressing
• Companionship
• Errands/Shopping
• Feeding Assistance
• Housekeeping
• Incontinence Care