Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply for services?
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Our priority is senior individuals (age 60 or older) living alone on a fixed income in Will County, IL. We also prioritize veterans and seniors living in nursing homes. Families can apply for services for an elderly loved one who lives in Will County, regardless of where the family lives. A friend or neighbor can request services for someone. A wait list is maintained and it may be 2-3 weeks before we can make an initial visit, unless it is an emergency.
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What do services cost?
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Hyacinths makes services as affordable as possible for the elderly in Will County. Hyacinths staff and volunteers are not paid at this time. Our guidelines dictate that if a senior, or a senior's family requests services, and their income is no more than 60% of the median income for Will County, IL, services are provided at no cost. If total household income is more than 60%, we do ask that the family share costs determined on a sliding fee scale basis, which assigns fees from $5 an hour to a maximum of $20 an hour.
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What are the main problems Hyacinths solves for families?
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Hyacinths addresses a number of challenges experienced by seniors: loneliness through service and companionship; cognitive decline through mental stimulation; independence through safety monitoring; and sandwich-generation stress by providing reliable services when adult children are managing multiple responsibilities including careers, their own families, and aging parents.
Why is this important?
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Staying connected with your parent is important, but life gets busy. Hyacinths helps fill the gaps and ensure they have meaningful conversations and social engagement frequently, supporting their independence and your peace of mind. It is not our intention to take the place of family, but to supplement what the family is able to do. It’s not just for them. It’s for you, too.
What is Hyacinths and how does it work?
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Hyacinths is a system of services for seniors, especially those who are existing check to check and live alone or in a facility. An elderly person is not just a list of needs to be addressed, and we have a mission to provide the more intangible services also; services that all human beings need, but that often slowly diminish as you age: pleasant pastimes, satisfying connections with others, improved quality of life. We seek to keep them healthy in spirit. We try our best to help enhance their existence so that they have something in each day to look forward to.
Do you do home care or nursing services?
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Hyacinths is not licensed to provide that type of care. We can work with agencies that offer those services, in order to improve quality of life for the senior. Hyacinths combines the services of a caseworker and friendly companion to address typical issues of the elderly. We identify issues and then work to secure resources within the community that can work to resolve the issues.
Is Hyacinths covered by Medicare or insurance?
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Currently, Hyacinths is not covered by Medicare or most insurance plans as we're a casework and companionship service rather than medical care. However, many of our clients are charged nothing at all if they are without family or living on a fixed income. We do ask that involved families contribute to the cost of services, but do our best to work within the family's budget, and we cost significantly less than professional care.
How does Hyacinths help sandwich-generation families with the stress?
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Hyacinths can eliminate the need for the family to do daily welfare checks, in-person assessment of how their elderly relative is doing, and loneliness concerns. We share the responsibility that sandwich-generation adults must handle while juggling careers, children, and aging parents. By providing consistent quality interaction, and monitoring, Hyacinths reduces caregiver stress and allows families to focus on quality relationships rather than constant worry.
Does Hyacinths require senior consent before starting services?
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Yes! Hyacinths focuses on security and safety, so no Hyacinth services ever start without receiving the senior's explicit consent first. We ensure they understand the services, agree to participate, and feel comfortable before any conversations begin. This consent process protects seniors and builds trust from the very first interaction.
How does Hyacinths impact family relationships?
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Hyacinths strengthens family relationships by reducing caregiver stress and enabling more quality-focused family time. Our contact insights with the client provide talking points so families can have meaningful discussions during visits. Families can then focus on emotional connection rather than welfare checks, leading to deeper, more satisfying relationships with their loved ones.
How does Hyacinths support mental health for seniors?
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Hyacinths provides significant mental health benefits through consistent interaction, emotional validation, and companionship. WHO research and Harvard studies confirm that regular engagement reduces loneliness and depression while supporting overall mental wellbeing. While not therapy, our services offer patient listening and positive engagement that supports emotional health for seniors.
Can Hyacinths help monitor medication compliance?
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Hyacinths is a casework and companionship service focused on social interaction and conversation, not medical monitoring. We do not provide medication reminders or compliance monitoring, but will help them organize a system to make it easier to comply with medication schedules. Any health-related concerns noted during conversations are shared with families, but medical management remains the responsibility of healthcare providers and families.
Does Hyacinths share information with doctors?
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Hyacinths doesn't share information with healthcare providers, but families can share pertinent health observations with medical teams. These insights can be valuable for healthcare providers to understand daily wellbeing patterns and cognitive changes between medical appointments.
Is Hyacinths HIPAA compliant for medical information?
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Hyacinths follows strict privacy protocols for all conversations and personal information. While not a medical service requiring HIPAA compliance, we maintain enterprise-level security and privacy standards.
How does Hyacinths ensure my parent's privacy?
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The contact between your parent and Hyacinths is protected by our privacy policy. In short, we do not share data and access it only for quality assurance or analysis purposes. Hyacinths pays careful attention to our client's demeanor, tone of voice and affect and will share information with the client's family if there is a change in what we normally see. We do not share data with anyone other than the family, we do not sell it, and we ensure it is protected by high-standard security measures.
How does Hyacinths protect my family's privacy?
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Hyacinths takes privacy seriously with enterprise-grade security protecting all conversations and data. We never share or sell information to third parties. Conversations are encrypted and stored securely. Your privacy and trust are our top priorities.
What happens if my senior mentions feeling unwell?
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If your loved one mentions health concerns during contact with Hyacinths, we will respond with appropriate empathy and encouragement to contact healthcare providers. Family members receive notifications about health-related comments, enabling quick follow-up and care coordination when needed.
What medical research supports Hyacinths' approach to senior care?
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Hyacinths' range of services is supported by extensive medical research, including Harvard studies on social interaction benefits and WHO research on loneliness as a health crisis. These studies demonstrate that regular conversation and cognitive engagement significantly improve senior mental health, reduce depression, slow cognitive decline, and enhance overall wellbeing through consistent social connection.