Frequently Asked Questions

The decisions you make now about what you want for your future are important. So, if you are like most people, you want to understand all your options and choices.

Please review the FAQs below for answers. In this section we answer commonly asked questions about membership plans, care coordination, and options for care in the future.

If you have other questions or would like a free phone consultation, please call today to talk to a Plan Counselor about turning your dreams for your future into a real plan.

Questions about Membership

• What does Friends Life Care offer?

  Friends Life Care offers a unique combination of benefits and a wide range of customizable and flexible plans and choices. Membership in Friends Life Care enables people to age in place, independently—the way they prefer.
  
  For some 40 years, Friends Life Care has been dedicated to helping people like you ensure they have financial security and the care needed to remain living independently at home. Over that time, we have grown to be the largest and strongest program of its kind in the country.

• Who is eligible to apply for membership?

  Application for Friends Life Care membership is open to individuals aged 40 to 85 years old in reasonably good health who are living independently in southeastern Pennsylvania or Delaware.

• What does the application process include?

  Your plan counselor is available to help you to complete the application. Each application is reviewed and processed by an outside company, Illumifin, that specializes in underwriting. This helps to ensure that everyone's membership is protected into the future.
  As part of this process, you can expect a call within the next week from a field nurse to schedule a cognitive assessment and review of your health and medical history. The call will come from the nurse’s cell phone number, and they’ll work with you to find a convenient time to come to your home. This will typically take between 30 minutes to an hour for each person.  The field nurse will not have access to the application which you initially submitted. They are required to do an independent review and send information they collect back to Illumifin to also use in their decisioning.

• Can you explain the membership plan options?

  Friends Life Care membership offers you the opportunity to customize a plan to fit your preference. For instance, in standard membership, you may choose a benefit period of two, three, four, five or seven years of care. And you can select a different daily dollar benefit starting at $100 and increasing at increments of $50 up to $350. It is best to connect with a knowledgeable Plan Counselor to tailor a plan to meet your needs. There are discounts available for more than one person living in the same household or for long-term care insurance policyholders.

• Do all memberships include access to a Care Coordinator?

  Yes. All Friends Life Care members have a professional Care Coordinator who oversees your care at every phase of your life. Care Coordinators are trained and skilled care professionals that can serve as an advocate for members through all the seasons of aging.

• Can you help if I need care now?

  Yes – we can refer you to services that can help you if you need care now. If you or a loved one needs in-home care in eastern Pennsylvania, call our trusted partner, Caring Friends Home Care, at 484-206-7657. If you need care in Adams, Cumberland, or York counties, we encourage you to call SpiriTrust Lutheran at 717-854-3971. If you need care in Lehigh or Northampton counties, we encourage you to call Morningstar Living at 610-746-1000. If you need care in Lancaster or Lebanon counties, we encourage you to call Landis Communities at 717-381-3500. If you or a loved one may need care management services, please call our trusted partner, Intervention Associates at 610-254-9001. The application process for Friends Life Care membership requires that people are in reasonably good health and includes a thorough medical assessment to determine present health status. If you have questions about eligibility, please call 800-496-1985 today.

• What if I live to be 110 years old...or older?

  No matter at what age you enroll, your membership does not automatically expire. If you live to be 80 or 90 or 110 years old, you are still covered under the plan options you select just as long as your membership is maintained.

• Can I pay for my membership directly from a checking or savings account via ACH?

  Yes, you can with the security of DocuSign. Copy and paste this link into your Internet browser to get started: bit.ly/flcachdocusign

• What if I already have long-term care insurance?

  If you already have long-term care insurance, Friends Life Care could be the missing piece to your retirement plan. While long-term care insurance provides financial coverage, it does not include the hands-on level of support Friends Life Care's Wellness Coordination team does. In fact, about a third of Friends Life Care members also have a long-term care insurance policy. Learn more in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpM_x220w1k&list=PLkXUSD3jJC9FjRFslcY5xq4Q2iWOKG_n9&index=2

• Are there health conditions or diagnoses that may make someone ineligible for joining Friends Life Care?

  Several conditions or diagnosis can make someone ineligible to join Friends Life Care including a diagnoses of dementia or Parkinson's, use of a walker or multiprong cane, organ transplants, and other conditions that may put you at risk for needing care in the shorter term. You are invited to have a free consultation with a Friends Life Care Plan Counselor to get answers to questions about your own eligibility.

• What Continuing Care at Home programs are available in Pennsylvania?

  Friends Life Care is a nonprofit Continuing Care at Home (CCAH) program serving southeastern Pennsylvania, including Berks, Bucks, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, and Philadelphia counties. CCAH programs let adults stay in their own homes instead of moving to a retirement community, combining wellness and care coordination, long-term care planning, financial protection, and concierge services for home and life into one membership. Friends Life Care membership is open to Pennsylvania residents aged 40 to 85 who are in reasonably good health and living independently; members choose a benefit period of two to seven years and a daily benefit from $100 to $350.

• What aging-in-place programs are available in Delaware?

  Friends Life Care serves all three Delaware counties, New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, with a nonprofit Continuing Care at Home membership that helps older adults stay in their own homes. Members receive a dedicated Wellness & Care Coordinator, access to credentialed in-home care providers, and a daily benefit of $100 to $350 over a benefit period of two to seven years. Applicants must be aged 40 to 85, in reasonably good health, and living independently in Delaware.

• What is the difference between Continuing Care at Home and a Continuing Care Retirement Community?

  The difference is where you live. A continuing care retirement community (CCRC) requires you to move onto a campus and typically charges a large up-front entry fee. Continuing Care at Home (CCAH) delivers the same coordinated care and financial protection while you stay in your own home, which is why it is sometimes called a continuing care retirement community without walls. Friends Life Care folds the required entry fee into regular, more modest monthly or annual payments instead of a single large sum, and assigns every member a Wellness & Care Coordinator who arranges care at home as needs change.

• What are alternatives to a retirement community if I want to stay home?

  The main alternative is a Continuing Care at Home (CCAH) membership, which provides the coordinated care and financial protection of a retirement community without requiring you to move. Friends Life Care is a nonprofit CCAH program in southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware that pairs each member with a Wellness & Care Coordinator, provides access to a credentialed network of licensed in-home care providers, and covers a daily benefit of $100 to $350 for in-home care over a benefit period of two to seven years. Other options people compare include long-term care insurance, which pays for care but does not coordinate it, and paying privately for home care as needs arise.

• What aging-in-place programs are available in Pennsylvania?

  Friends Life Care is a nonprofit aging-in-place membership program serving Berks, Bucks, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania. Members get a dedicated Wellness & Care Coordinator, access to a Quality Credentialed network of licensed in-home care providers, and a daily benefit of $100 to $350 that pays for care at home. Membership is open to Pennsylvania residents aged 40 to 85 in reasonably good health who are living independently, and coverage becomes portable once you join.

• What companies help older adults stay in their homes in the Philadelphia area?

  Friends Life Care, a nonprofit based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, serves Philadelphia and the surrounding counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery with a Continuing Care at Home membership designed to keep older adults in their own homes. Rather than providing home care aides directly, Friends Life Care coordinates care: each member is assigned a Wellness & Care Coordinator who assesses needs, builds a care plan, and arranges services through a credentialed network of licensed in-home care agencies. The membership also includes a daily benefit of $100 to $350 that pays for that care, so individuals and loved ones are not funding it out of pocket.

• What are the best aging in place programs in Delaware?

  There is no single best program, the right one depends on whether you need care coordination, financial protection, or both. Delaware residents generally choose among three options: a Continuing Care at Home membership, long-term care insurance, and paying privately for home care. Friends Life Care is a nonprofit Continuing Care at Home program covering New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties that combines all of it into one membership: a Wellness & Care Coordinator who arranges the care, a credentialed provider network, and a daily benefit of $100 to $350 that pays for it. Unlike long-term care insurance, which reimburses cost but leaves the coordinating to loved ones, the coordination is part of Friends Life Care membership.

• How should I plan for long-term care?

  Plan while you are still healthy enough to qualify, because many options — including long-term care insurance, a Continuing Care at Home membership, and certain life insurance products with long-term care benefits — are medically underwritten. That means the time to arrange them is before you need care, not after. Start by putting some numbers behind your plan. Estimate what care could cost, how much you are comfortable paying out of pocket, and how much financial protection you may need. Then look beyond the dollars. Consider who will help you navigate care, coordinate services, and support your goal of staying at home. A strong long-term care plan addresses both how you will pay for care and how that care will be managed. Friends Life Care accepts applicants aged 40 to 85 in reasonably good health, which is why most members join well before they need care rather than at the point of crisis.

Questions about Friends Life Care Services

• How is the decision made about home-care services that I may need during membership?

  Your Care Coordinator will conduct a detailed functional assessment based on a discussion with you about your issues and needs. If you wish, you may select a family member or ask your power of attorney to participate. Based on your requirements for assistance with the activities of daily living, the quantity, frequency, duration and kinds of services you need will be established and recorded in your care plan. You sign the care plan and keep a copy.

• What should I do if I know I have a scheduled hospitalization?

  The more time we have to make arrangements for your care, the easier it is to select and assign a home care aide that can address your specific situation. If you are hospitalized or have a hospitalization scheduled, it is wise to let your Care Coordinator know as soon as possible so they may assess the potential need for care upon your discharge.

• Who decides if I need care in an assisted living facility or nursing home?

  A decision to move to an assisted living facility or nursing home typically involves your Care Coordinator and your personal physician, in addition to you, a family member(s) and/or your durable power of attorney. The decision is based on the conclusion that, given your current health condition, your home is no longer safe and manageable.

• I understand Friends Life Care helps me age in my own home, but what if there comes a time when I require care in an assisted living facility or a nursing home?

  Friends Life Care is knowledgeable about trusted assisted living facilities and nursing homes throughout the region. Your Care Coordinator can help you find a facility that meets your needs and will ensure that it meets our strict Quality Credentialing process.
  
  Your Care Coordinator can arrange for you or your family member to visit these facilities to determine whether one is right for you. Your benefits can continue if you have selected a plan that covers facility care.

• What if moving into an assisted living facility or nursing home means that I move out of the Pennsylvania or Delaware area?

  You have to be a resident of Pennsylvania or Delaware to enroll in Friends Life Care membership. However, your membership can continue if you move out of state. This holds true even when members who need care in an assisted living facility or a nursing home select a facility close to family members who may reside outside the Friends Life Care core coverage area. In this circumstance, the family typically takes responsibility for making the facility selection; however, the care coordinator is still available to help.

• What is VigR®?

  VigR® is Friends Life Care’s philosophy regarding prevention, health and wellness. It is centered on the important areas of vitality, independence, growth, and resilience. Through the year, Friends Life Care offers workshops, webinars, events, Meet a Member features and more – all part of how we deliver on VigR® for members and friends.

• Friends Life Care is a SAGECare Platinum credentialed provider. What does that mean?

  100% of Friends Life Care’s staff completed SAGECare’s training on how to best serve older adults who identify as LGBT. SAGECare is a division of SAGE, the country’s oldest and largest non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older adults.

• When a member qualifies for care, what sorts of help will they be offered by the Care Coordination team?

  - Design and oversee a personal care plan for a member
  - Dialogue with family, friends, or other support system that the member has identified to receive communication about their care
  - Review a member’s potential health risks and monitor health conditions as they may change
  - Arrange and supervise required care including scheduling non-medical home care services in your home as needed for a member
  - Keep track of a member’s medical conditions, advance directive, and other important aging in place information
  - Evaluate a member’s nutritional needs and make recommendations
  - Coordinate outside healthcare services such as physical therapy, palliative care or other if needed by a member
  - Evaluate and recommend home safety measures so a member can live independently in their home as long as possible

• What is Palliative Care for Friends Life Care members?

  Palliative Care is supportive medical care given to sustain the quality of life of people who have a serious or life-threatening disease or age-related decline. Palliative Care is specialized medical care that members may qualify for at some point and is covered by most insurance plans. The Care Coordination team at Friends Life Care embraces Palliative Care as it ensures a holistic view is involved for the individual and they are not seen as just their ailment. The objective of Palliative Care is to relieve the symptoms of a serious condition as effectively as possible. Symptom management and treatment of the condition may include addressing any related psychological, social, and spiritual concerns.

• How does Friends Life Care help members who have concerns about cognitive decline or who have been diagnosed with a cognitive impairment?

  If a Friends Life Care member has concerns about cognitive decline or has been diagnosed with a cognitive impairment, the team of Care Coordinators can help with access to educational resources, recommendations for further clinical review, or, if eligible, help to set up care in the member’s home that is a fit to their needs.

• Does Friends Life Care have resources for members concerned about cognitive decline or following a diagnosis of a cognitive impairment?

  Yes – the team of Care Coordinators at Friends Life Care stay up-to-date on important resources and are able to refer members to the resources for help, when appropriate. An example of resources include Keystone Clinical Studies , Abramson Healthy Brain and Memory Center and The Penn Memory Center.

• Does Friends Life Care membership help provide non-medical care to assist people with activities of daily living, if and when they qualify for it?

  Yes – membership plans with a financial benefit pay towards hands-on assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as; Bathing, Dressing, Toileting and Transferring. Caregivers may also help with household tasks such as Meal Preparation, Light Housekeeping, and Laundry following the completion of ADL care. Transportation, Medication Management and other such support are fee-for-service options that members and their Care Coordinators review as needed. Members are encouraged to check the details of their individual plan and/or to speak with their Care Coordinator to understand the specifics of what is covered in their financial benefit and what referral services might include.

• Does Friends Life Care membership include opportunities for socialization?

  Friends Life Care recognizes the importance of social wellness for all our members. Socialization opportunities are offered through our VigR(R) Vitality Independence Growth Resilience (TM) programming. Care Coordinators are also skilled at pairing members with resources for socialization opportunities within their communities.

Questions About Home Care Providers

• How does Friends Life Care manage its trusted network of home care providers?

  Friends Life Care has an established, trusted network of contracted home care providers throughout the geographic area we serve. These agencies are experienced in hiring, training and monitoring home care aides and they have undergone our Quality Credentialing process. In the unusual circumstance that one of these contracted providers cannot serve your needs, the Care Coordinator will locate a qualified agency in the geographic area that can provide the required care. Some home care aides will be provided by SpiriTrust Lutheran, Morningstar Living, or Landis Communities through their trusted provider network which has coverage across central Pennsylvania.

• What is the Friends Life Care Quality Credentialing process?

  Friends Life Care is dedicated to providing members with the care they need. Our thorough Quality Credentialing approach to selecting, monitoring and evaluating caregivers is an important part of this. We insure in-home care providers – agencies and registries – hold licensure with the State of Pennsylvania Department of Health and Certificate of General Liability Insurance as well as that they have established procedures for caregiver background checks, tuberculosis screening, personal interview, reference review, competency testing, as well as ongoing supervision, training, and audits.

• What is the role of my personal Care Coordinator when I need a home care aide?

  Home care aides are there to assist you with tasks that you no longer can perform on your own, whether temporarily or permanently. This relationship is very personal; it is important that you get along well and communicate effectively. Friends Life Care is committed to finding the right match for you. If you live in Adams, Cumberland, Franklin or York counties, SpiriTrust Lutheran will also help. If you live in Berks, Lehigh, Northampton or Monroe counties, Morningstar Living will also help. If you live in Lancaster, Luzerne, Lebanon or Dauphin counties, Landis Communities will also help. Your Care Coordinator will contact you soon after service has been established to find out how things are working out and to make changes if necessary. Your Care Coordinator will also maintain ongoing oversight.
  
  Please feel free to contact your Care Coordinator to share feedback about your experience of care.

Questions about Relocating

• What happens if I move somewhere else after I become a member?

  If you relocate anywhere in the United States after you become a member, you carry your Friends Life Care plan with you. After your relocation, your Care Coordinator will keep in touch based on a schedule that the two of you agree upon.

• What happens if I need care while I'm traveling?

  If you require our services while traveling or visiting anywhere in the United States, you receive coverage under the Friends Life Care plan. We pay a flat rate for care if you travel outside the states of Pennsylvania and Delaware.
  
  Please feel free to contact your Care Coordinator for details on this.

Questions About Privacy and Confidentiality

• How do you make sure my personal information is secure?

  As a health care provider, Friends Life Care is in full compliance with the Health Insurance Privacy and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This Act requires us to develop policies and procedures for safeguarding your protected health information. We take your privacy seriously.

• Will I receive information about Friends Life Care privacy and confidentiality policies when I enroll?

  Yes. You will be given information regarding these policies when you enroll in the Friends Life Care Plan.

• Do you have a Mission Statement?

  Yes. Our mission statement is from Friends Life Care Partners, our parent company. It reads: Advancing long-term care and wellness through innovative solutions that anticipate and respond to lifelong health care needs. Ensuring service excellence and sustainability through our commitment to Quaker values.

Questions about my Financial Investment

• I understand Friends Life Care provides care across the full continuum as I age. I've heard continuing care providers charge large up-front entry fees. Is your plan different?

  Continuing care providers are legally required to charge an entry fee, but it does not have to be paid in a large up-front sum. Friends Life Care is considered a "continuing care retirement community without walls." As such, the organization meets all of the regulatory requirements of a continuing care provider, including reserves, disclosure, membership meetings, annual financial audits and more. To make the plan easier and more affordable, our "entry fees" are folded into the regular flat payments that members make annually or monthly, according to preference.
  
  For questions about Care Coordination, visit our Member FAQ.