Become A Caregiver
Woman and senior lady in conversation.

Our services.

A First Name Basis provides in-home care for older adults and those with disabilities. Our well-trained caregivers assist clients with daily activities, medication management, and more.

We take pride in care that’s professional, comprehensive, and affordable.

Senior home care.

Meaningful days,
beautiful moments.

With our help, your elderly loved one can maintain more independence at home, and enjoy days to the fullest.

Socially connected, cognitively engaged.

Our caregivers provide much-needed companionship, and facilitate other social connection (phone calls, outings).

Medication management & delegation.

Caregivers can offer medication reminders and help taking pills. We can even create pre-allotted packs of each day’s prescribed meds.

Many forms of payment accepted.

We accept Medicaid waivers, veteran benefits, long-term care insurance, worker’s comp, and private pay.

Disability home care.

Togetherness and genuine connection.

We offer compassionate in-home for children or adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, making the most of each day.

Many forms of payment accepted.

We accept Medicaid waivers, as well as SSDI, OCDD (Louisiana), E&D (Mississippi), and ARChoices or PASSE (Arkansas) benefits. We also accept long-term care insurance and private pay.

Medication management & delegation.

Caregivers can offer medication reminders and help taking pills. We can even create pre-allotted packs of each day’s prescribed meds.

Get in touch

A range of in-home care.

Our breadth of care, companionship, and medication management can be tailored to fit your loved one’s needs.

Caregiver brushing childs teeth

Personal Care

  • Bathing assistance (shower, bath, sponge bath)
  • Toileting assistance (incontinence, urgency, accidents)
  • Personal hygiene (hair, skin, & nail care; oral hygiene)
  • Dressing/grooming (assistance with both)
  • Mobility assistance (help with walking, light exercise)
Caregiver making a bed

Light housekeeping

  • Overall home cleanliness (dusting, vacuuming, mopping)
  • Bathroom (maintaining a sanitary environment)
  • Bedroom (changing linens, making the bed)
  • Kitchen (wiping countertops, washing dishes, cleaning out fridge)
  • Trash (collecting, taking to curb)
  • Laundry (washing clothes and linens)
Caregiver making a sandwich for an elderly woman

Meals

  • Meal prep (nutritious options for breakfast, lunch, dinner)
  • Assistance with eating
  • Clearing meal space (saving unused food, washing dishes)
Caregiver preparing medication

Medication Management*

  • Reminders and administering the proper dosage at the right time
  • Medication delegation (easy-to-track blister packs of each day’s meds delivered to home)
  • Logging medication intake daily (so every caregiver can reference it)
Nurses's assessment

Nurse’s Assessment

  • Assessing a client’s comprehensive medical history and current health status 
  • Identifying a client’s clinical needs and concerns 
  • Establishing baseline data for monitoring a client’s health
Caregiver playing checkers with an older man.

Companionship

  • Fostering mental acuity (playing board or card games, doing puzzles)
  • Facilitating social activities (planning, helping to visit neighbors and friends)
  • Outings (transportation to/from the coffee shop, going to the movies)

Medicaid accepted.

We accept Medicaid for in-home care in Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Arkansas.
Look by state below for the kind of waiver you may need.

Louisiana Medicaid information.

Use the contact info below to inquire about the state’s Waiver Programs (previously known as “Home and Community Based Services”).

If you have general questions about Waiver programs and services, contact Medicaid at 1-888-342-6207. These two sites detail two of the most common kinds of waivers:

For a Medicaid long-term care application, call 877-456-1146 for all locations in Louisiana.

Mississippi Medicaid information.

For general information about the Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Waiver in Mississippi, contact the state Medicaid office at 800-421-2408. These two sites also provide more information: 

Arkansas Medicaid information.

For general information about state Medicaid benefits, call 501-682-8933. These two sites detail two common types of Medicaid waivers:

South Carolina Medicaid information.

For general information about Healthy Connections Medicaid in South Carolina, contact the state Medicaid office at 1-888-549-0820. These two resources also provide helpful information:

  • In or near Columbia: South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) or visit scdhhs.gov.
  • Statewide (outside of Columbia): SC Thrive at 1-800-726-8774 or visit scthrive.org for application assistance.

For a Medicaid long-term care application or information about waiver programs, apply online at apply.scdhhs.gov or call 1-888-549-0820 for assistance across South Carolina.

Other questions? Call us at 877-557-5525.

Pink burst graphic

Benefits for veterans & spouses.

If you are a veteran (or a surviving spouse of a veteran) requiring in-home care, you may be eligible for benefits from the Veterans Administration (VA). Two of the most common benefits are highlighted below.

Aid & Attendance and
Respite Care.

The Aid & Attendance Allowance provides a monthly payment for qualified veterans and their spouses who are housebound or who need help with daily activities.

Respite Care pays for short-term care for a veteran providing a break (or “respite”) for family caregivers who might need to run errands, or even go out of town for a few days.

Find out if your loved one is eligible. Visit va.gov or call the VA Benefits Hotline (1-800-827-1000) to learn more.

We can help you with the paperwork necessary to apply for VA benefits. Fill out the fields here to reach us by email, or call us at A First Name Basis.

VA.gov
Call 1-800-827-1000

Frequently asked questions.

In-home care.

What services can caregivers from A First Name Basis provide?

We can tailor a care plan that lets your loved one maintain a level of independence in the comfort of home. Our caregivers can provide care, meal prep, light housekeeping, medication management, companionship, and transportation (to and from the grocery store, for example, or a doctor’s appointment). 

How do you select your caregivers at A First Name Basis?

Our caregivers span a range of ages, races, and ethnicities. We have female and male caregivers. Many have previous experience as a home health aide, certified nursing assistant (CNA), or a licensed vocational nurse (LVN). We seek out the very best caregiver candidates, hiring just the top 10% of applicants. As part of our in-depth interview process, we assess five dimensions of personality for each caregiver, to produce the best personality match with clients. 

Why not just have a friend or family member care for my loved one?

When it comes to identifying a resource for in-home care, it can be tempting to rely on friends and family. But few family members (or family friends) have the training to provide high-quality care. It’s also worth thinking through what happens if that friend or family member gets sick or is otherwise unable to help for a period of time. You may be left without a backup plan. At A First Name Basis, we have a deep bench of caregivers who can step in and care for your loved one when such circumstances arise. Finally, it’s important to use an agency such as A First Name Basis if you are filing claims for in-home care using long-term care insurance. 

Why do I need to hire an agency like A First Name Basis? Why not just hire a private caregiver on my own?

If you “work out a deal” to pay a private caregiver, you become the employer of that caregiver. The IRS requires that you file paperwork for that independent contractor. (You will need to pay Medicare and Social Security taxes for that individual too.) You also bear responsibility for ensuring that the caregiver is eligible to work in this country. Finally, a client and their family can be held liable if a private caregiver (working as an independent contractor) is injured on the job while in the client’s home. By contrast, when you enlist A First Name Basis, we handle employment paperwork and taxes for our caregivers. We carry liability insurance, and our caregivers are covered by Workers’ Compensation for injuries while on duty.

Is A First Name Basis licensed as an agency?

Yes. A First Name Basis is licensed, insured, and bonded. We have taken the necessary precautions to protect the liability of our clients. We want our clients and their families to have peace of mind.

Are the caregivers who are employed by A First Name Basis bonded and insured?

Yes. Keeping our caregivers fully bonded and insured protects our clients and their families against any potential loss or liability. When you turn to A First Name Basis for in-home care, you can have every confidence about inviting our caregivers into your loved one’s home.

Are your caregivers employees of A First Name Basis?

Yes. We hire our caregivers directly. All are full-time employees, not “gig” workers or independent contractors. A First Name Basis pays all required state and federal taxes for our caregivers, including Medicare and Social Security taxes. We provide our full-time caregivers with health and dental insurance as well as other employment benefits. 

Does A First Name Basis maintain responsibility for paying the caregiver?

Yes. No money changes hands directly between the caregiver and the client. (The same goes for the client’s family.) A First Name Basis maintains responsibility for paying our caregivers.

Do you screen your caregivers?

Yes. All our caregivers go through a rigorous 21-point evaluation and training program, which includes background checks, drug screening, and a follow-up with references. If your loved one has transportation needs, the caregivers in that role must all pass a driver safety quiz. Caregivers who drive must also demonstrate that they have a valid state driver’s license, an up-to-date car registration, and personal auto insurance. 

Will I have a dependable point of contact at A First Name Basis?

Yes. At A First Name Basis, every client is assigned a dedicated Care Manager, who is based out of a local office. Your Care Manager will oversee your loved one’s care plan, arranging for regular home visits just to check in. Your Care Manager coordinates caregiver scheduling. Your Care Manager can be reached anytime, if the need arises. Our Care Managers are empowered to resolve any issues.

Can I be confident that our caregiver will arrive for each scheduled shift?

Yes. At A First Name Basis, our Real-Time Caregiver Monitoring System keeps us updated about every client’s care. Our caregivers are required to check in (using our mobile app) on arrival at a client’s home. Not only does this allow us to verify prompt arrival for each shift, but the same secure mobile app puts your loved one’s care plan, including necessary medications, at the caregiver’s fingertips. This keeps everyone on the same page, and lessens the chance of human error because caregivers don’t have to rely on handwritten notes. 

Can caregivers provide transportation for clients?

Yes, our caregivers can help your loved one with transportation needs (appointments, shopping, etc.). We require every caregiver in that role to pass our driver safety quiz. Caregivers who drive for clients will also have a valid state driver’s license, an up-to-date car registration, and personal auto insurance (minimum state-required liability coverage or greater). A First Name Basis provides a second layer of protection with our non-owned auto insurance coverage.

Do I have to sign a contract?

Yes, we will ask you to sign an agreement, but it does not obligate you to a service minimum, or even to continue doing business with A First Name Basis. It is merely a statement of agreement between both parties. Our agreement will outline your loved one’s care plan and pricing options.

Ways to pay.

Do you accept Medicaid?

Yes. We accept Medicaid benefits in Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Arkansas. We can connect you with your local Medicaid office to get the necessary waiver. Find the office nearest to your loved one here.  

Do you accept the Veterans Aid & Attendance benefit?

Yes. Veterans (or surviving spouses of a veteran) may be eligible for the Aid & Attendance benefit from the Veterans Administration (VA). We can even help you with the paperwork necessary to apply for VA benefits. To learn about eligibility requirements, visit va.gov or call the VA Benefits Hotline (1-800-827-1000).

Do you accept the Veterans Respite Care benefit?

Yes. Respite Care pays for short-term in-home care for a veteran providing a break (or “respite”) for family caregivers who might need to run errands, or even go out of town for a few days. Learn who is eligible: Visit va.gov or call the VA Benefits Hotline (1-800-827-1000). A First Name Basis can help you with the paperwork needed to apply.

Do you accept other Veterans Administration benefits, such as the Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Respite benefit?

Yes. In the case of the PCA Respite benefit, a VA physician must write the order, and the veteran must request A First Name Basis as the care provider. Visit va.gov or call the VA Benefits Hotline (1-800-827-1000) to learn more. (Here too, A First Name Basis can help you with the paperwork needed to apply.)

Does A First Name Basis accept long-term care insurance benefits?

Yes. Contact us to discuss your loved one’s policy and how it can apply to in-home care.

Other questions? Call us at 877-557-5525.

*Note: By law, our caregivers cannot administer medications through injections, IV therapy, suppositories, or force-feeding. Only a licensed nurse may perform these duties. Please reach out to A First Name Basis for more information.