Frequently Asked Questions for Home Care

When families begin searching for in-home support for an aging loved one, one of the first questions is whether to hire a private caregiver directly or to work with a professional home care agency. While hiring independently may seem simple or less costly at first glance, choosing a reputable agency like Association Home Care provides unmatched security, reliability, and peace of mind.

A home care agency carefully screens, trains, and supervises caregivers. At Association Home Care, every team member undergoes background checks, reference verification, and ongoing education. This ensures you receive not only compassionate care but also staff who are qualified, dependable, and supported by experienced managers and licensed nurses. If a caregiver is unavailable due to illness or scheduling conflicts, an agency can provide immediate backup, preventing stressful gaps in coverage—something families cannot guarantee with private caregivers.

Agencies also handle the legal and administrative responsibilities that otherwise fall on families. Payroll taxes, liability insurance, and workers’ compensation coverage are all managed by the agency, protecting you from potential risks. With private caregivers, families become the employer and must navigate payroll, tax filing, and liability exposure on their own.

In addition, agencies provide clinical oversight and structured care planning. At Association Home Care, our team includes skilled nurses who develop and monitor care plans, ensuring that services adapt as health needs change. We also offer a wide range of options, from personal care and companionship to specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia support, respite care, wound care, and therapy coordination.

Most importantly, choosing an agency means choosing accountability. Families across Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Brandon, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg trust Association Home Care because we combine professionalism with compassion, giving loved ones the dignity and independence they deserve while offering families peace of mind.

In short, a professional home care agency doesn’t just provide a caregiver—it provides an entire support system dedicated to safety, quality, and respect.

We do regularly post positions on indeed.com and additionally send alerts via our database.  Additionally, please go under employment and complete the form, the link is here: Employment link

When choosing a home care agency for your loved one, it’s important to confirm the company is reputable, licensed, and trustworthy. Unfortunately, not every provider operates with integrity, so families should take a few careful steps to avoid fraud.

First, verify that the agency is licensed and registered in your state. In Florida, legitimate home health and home care agencies must be licensed through the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). You can search the state database to confirm licensing status and compliance history.

Second, ask if the agency conducts background checks, caregiver training, and ongoing supervision. Trusted providers like Association Home Care ensure every caregiver is screened, insured, and overseen by licensed professionals.

Third, look for reviews, references, and testimonials from other families in your community. A reliable agency serving Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Brandon, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg will have a strong local reputation and clear contact information.

Finally, avoid agencies that refuse contracts, or cannot provide proof of insurance.

By following these steps, you can ensure your loved one receives care from a professional, ethical, and dependable home care agency you can trust.

AHCA link: Go to for skilled https://quality.healthfinder.fl.gov/Facility-Provider/Profile/?LID=558277

or go to for non skilled: https://quality.healthfinder.fl.gov/Facility-Provider/Profile/?LID=541084

We recommend that you should conduct a thorough check using AHCA portal, google search including NPI to find the National Provider Index ID.

Caregiver

• A caregiver is a broad term that refers to anyone who provides non-medical assistance to someone in need of support at home.

• Caregivers may be agency-trained staff, companions, or personal care aides.

• They typically help with daily activities such as meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, mobility assistance, companionship, and basic personal care (bathing, dressing, grooming).

• Caregivers are not usually licensed, but reputable agencies provide training and supervision.

Home Health Aide (HHA)

• An HHA is a trained and certified professional who provides personal care and limited health-related services under the supervision of a nurse.

• Duties include bathing, dressing, vital signs monitoring, medication reminders, and support for clients with chronic conditions.

• HHAs complete state-approved training programs and are recognized as skilled non-licensed healthcare workers.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

• A CNA has more extensive training than an HHA and must pass a state certification exam.

• CNAs often work in hospitals, nursing homes, and home care settings.

• They provide hands-on clinical support, including vital signs, patient transfers, wound care assistance, and observing/reporting health changes.

• CNAs work under the direct supervision of licensed nurses (RNs or LPNs).

✅ Summary:

• Caregiver = general, non-medical support.

• HHA = certified aide for personal care + some health monitoring.

• CNA = state-certified nursing assistant with more clinical responsibilities.

Families often ask, “What does it cost to hire a CNA or Home Health Aide from a home care agency?” The truth is that pricing can vary based on several important factors, but understanding what goes into the cost helps you make an informed decision.

At Association Home Care, our goal is to provide transparent, fair pricing for high-quality services delivered by Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and Home Health Aides (HHAs). The cost of care depends on:

• Level of Care Needed: Basic personal care and companionship may cost less than specialized services such as dementia support, wound care oversight, or post-hospital recovery assistance.

• Hours of Service: Part-time help (a few hours a week) is more affordable than full-time or live-in care.

• Location: Rates can vary slightly across the Tampa Bay, Wesley Chapel, Brandon, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg areas.

Most families find that agency care is competitively priced, especially since our caregivers are screened, insured, supervised by licensed professionals, and backed by reliable scheduling—providing peace of mind that private caregivers cannot always offer.

To receive an accurate estimate tailored to your loved one’s needs, we offer free consultations. This allows us to design a personalized care plan and provide clear, upfront pricing with no hidden fees.

Choosing Association Home Care means choosing trusted, compassionate, and professional care—at a fair and transparent cost.

Our team consists of highly trained and experienced professionals who are passionate about providing personalized care to each of our patients. We also offer a range of specialized programs, including cardiac care, wound care, and more.  We use one of the leading EMR tools that is supports family and caregiver use enabling transparency.

The frequency of visits will depend on your individual needs and the care plan developed by our team. We offer flexible scheduling options to ensure that you receive the care you need, when you need it.

We accept Medicaid Aetna, United, Sunshine, CMS.

We accept LTC such as John Hancock and others.

We accept VA program and Federal Workers Comp.

We are licensed through AHCA, have general and professional liability.  We do have NPI and Tax ID,  further we provide level 2 to all staff.