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