"HomeSafe has a good reputation. Mom has been using them since the last week of December. They visit with her and try to stimulate her with conversation. Her vision is very poor, so it’s not like they can do a lot of crafty things with her, mostly jus..."

The world's oldest organization to provide non-medical home care services, Griswold Home Care has locations throughout the United States, helping over 80,000 clients since 1982. The Eastern Iowa office, owned by Brian Rummelhart, covers Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Johnson County, Linn County, and all of the numerous towns and rural areas among these regions. Individuals needing care for chronic conditions or anyone requiring help with daily tasks are possible beneficiaries of this outstanding service company. The success and longevity of Griswold Home Care can be attributed to their meticulous efforts to retain the most highly-qualified team members through their CareAssure Screening System. Aside from rigorous background checks and skill set screenings, the organization surpasses other in-home care companies by screening for CHARACTER. Integrity, compassion, honesty, and reliability are all essential. The CarePairing System developed by Griswold Home Care uses information like personal preferences, social history, communication style, and humor to create ideal matches between caregivers and clients. To that end, Brian Rummelhart personally interviews all clients and caregivers before sending an individual on a job. First, he spends 20-30 minutes on the phone to get an initial sense of the person. Then he conducts up to a two-hour, in-person interview. Finally, he administers a 50-item questionnaire. After all that, he asks himself the question "Do I want you taking care of MY parents in their home?" No one is engaged unless he can honestly answer "yes". Mr. Rummelhart initially became interested in working with senior citizens and others needing help when he ran a medical supply warehouse. The operation was rather out of the way and was not open to the public, but seniors would somehow make their way to the building looking for canes or walkers. Observing their plight, Rummelhart started supplying items just for them, such as the walkers, and also shower chairs, commodes, and raised toilet seats. Through word-of-mouth, more and more seniors visited the warehouse. Rummelhart truly developed a heart for senior citizens and others with disabilities, and gradually the idea formed to start an in-home service in his area. Griswold Home Care was an attractive option: of the home care organizations available, their screening process was the most rigorous, increasing his odds of effectively referring high-quality caregivers. "I like helping people. The elderly are very knowledgeable, caring, funny. I like being around them. Through our services, people get to sleep in their own bed, walk out their own front door, sit on their own porch." Caregiver Background Check/Training Telephone interview Written application In-person, behavioral interview Competency screening for over 44 skill sets and experiences Screening for: strengths, improvements, trustworthiness, reliability, honesty, suitability, and patience Verification of: identity, work eligibility, certificates, and additional training Information sharing: discussions regarding client privacy, ethics, and appropriate behavior Criminal background check Reference checks: personal and professional Training upon hire for basic services, as well as patient transfers, stress management, grief issues, family communication, ethics, validation therapy, first aid, and CPR Ongoing training Services Bathing, shampooing Perineal care Shaving Oral/mouth care, denture care, brush teeth Toileting Dressing Grooming Skin care Reposition bed-bound clients Medication reminders Meal preparation, planning, and serving Feeding Record food intake, urinary output, bowel function Shopping, grocery shopping Errands Light housekeeping: washing dishes, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning client's bathroom, kitchen maintenance, and more Gardening Personal laundry and linens Make/change bed Help with organization: clean closets, sort photos Assistance with physical activity and physical therapy exercises Incidental transportation: appointments, events, visit friends, outings Out-of-town travel assistance Transfers Ambulation Companionship: conversation, reading, games, projects, celebrating birthdays Record memoirs Correspondence Pet care Plant care Benefits Affordable rates for the industry allow more individuals to use needed services Earning rates exceeding the industry average for caregivers allows them to do work they love Services help every client maintain dignity, comfort, safety, independence, and happiness Vigilant caregiver interviewing, background checks, and training ensure top-quality help for clients Most caregivers are CNAs, or Certified Nursing Assistants Access to deeply discounted monitoring and personal alert systems enhances safety for clients CarePairing system creates optimum matches between caregivers and individuals for long-term, fulfilling relationships Agency Type: Referral Agency Language(s): English Types of Care: Light housekeeping Meal preparation Errands Grocery shopping Accompany clients to doctors' appointments Memory care Transfer assistance Managing finances/bookkeeping Home maintenance Companionship Exercise Walking Wheelchair Staff Includes: Personal Care Assistant, Care Companion Staff Screening: We interview every team member in person We check references We ensure that our team members are immunized for influenza, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, and other communicable illnesses We check driving records We confirm legal U.S. residency We check sexual offender databases Screenings for competency, strengths/improvements, trustworthiness/reliability, honesty,suitability/patience, criminal background Staff Training: Staff members are trained when they are hired Staff members receive ongoing/continuing training Patient transfers Stress management Grief issues Family communication Memory care Ethics Validation therapy First aid CPR Caregivers Bonded and Insured: Yes Care Can Be Provided In: We provide care in the client's home We provide care in assisted living facilities We provide overnight care We provide short-term or one-time care We provide live-in care We provide respite care We provide care in hospice We provide care in the hospital Payment Options: Credit card Check, Long-term care insurance