We have heard the same scenario over and over. A family member is seeking an in-home care service in Fort Myers and is overwhelmed with the choices. It wasnt always this challenging. Back in 1996, when Abby Services started, there were only a handful of options when seeking a professional in-home care service. It made choosing a service much easier.With so many options in Fort Myers for in-home care we wanted to share what we have found over all the years we have been serving our area.All State-Licensed services operate by the same guidelines.The Agency for Healthcare Administration has guidelines to protect consumers of In-Home Care and also provides guidelines for services to follow. This creates a level and consistent playing field when choosing an In-Home Care service.Because of the high level of state oversight, we encourage those seeking In-Home Care in Fort Myers to call around and keep these 3 things in mind.Go with who you know: Having helped the Fort Myers area find the best in-home caregivers since 1996 we have had the opportunity to meet and get to know so many. Ask around, if you are seeking In-Home Care. Chances are anyone you ask in Fort Myers will know about Abby Services and our excellent reputation. Of course, you have to start somewhere. If you dont know us give us a call, we are sure you will find our staff, professional, friendly, and helpful.Go with who you trust: Yes, it can be a leap of faith to choose someone to assist a loved one with In-Home Care. Over the years we have helped Fort Myers residents secure over 1 million hours of In-Home Care. That kind of experience takes time and specialized local knowledge. You will know from your first phone call you can Trust Abby Services to help you meet your in-home caregiver needs.Go with who you like: Abby Services is truly a local family owned and operated business. It was started by Tom Strachan in 1996 and built from the ground up. Abby Services is currently owned and operated by Tom Strachans son and daughter Scott Strachan & Jaimee Thompson. Know that when you call Abby Services chances are that you will be speaking with the owner of the business. This is important because we are ultimately responsible for your satisfaction. Supporting a family-owned business helps support our area and many members of our community.Submitted By: Abby ServicesWritten By: Scott Strachan

Working With Independent ContractorsAbby Services is a Nurse Registry licensed and overseen by the Agency For Healthcare Administration (AHCA).We work together with 1099 Independent Contractors to offer private care opportunities to clients seeking their services. We also provide administrative services for private caregivers looking to market their services to prospective clients. We do not provide home healthcare, but are a source for prescreened individuals who do provide care.As any responsible business should operate, we comply with federal tax and Department of Labor requirements. Some unscrupulous or uneducated businesses attempt to mislead consumers and professionals by making deceiving generalized statements like Nurse Registries or Private Professional In-Home Caregivers do not pay Taxes.Statements like these are intentionally misleading and are meant to scare consumers and professionals into choosing one business over another. Abby Services does not engage in these dirty tactics to mislead consumers. Abby Services seeks instead to educate patients and their families about their options for In-Home Care as well as other options that may suit their needs. We are happy to discuss how our business operates with the intent to inform and educate.A 1099 is submitted for each caregiver we work with as a way to report caregiver earnings for the year. They are similar to a W-2 which is used for employees. A 1099 is required for any individual or business earning $600 or more in a tax year.Here are just a few of the ways Abby Services works to find consumers great caregivers so they can help you:Per The Agency for Health Care Administration Abby Services conducts a Level 2 background screening and verifies credentials of potential caregivers. We comply with a multitude of additional requirements to screen individuals who are suited to be safe and effective caregivers. We then assist clients by locating professional screened caregivers who may be able to meet a clients needs. Abby Services informs, potential caregivers, of the opportunity to work for a potential client. If the private caregiver is interested in the opportunity, they are provided general information on a clients requested schedule and services. The caregiver and client work together to fully develop; how a caregivers services will be provided, when caregiver services will be provided, and where caregiver services will be provided. Caregivers offered opportunities are not obligated to pursue and/or accept offered opportunities. Many caregivers working with Abby Services also work for other similar services and even choose to work privately. Abby Services does not provide any equipment to caregivers (If any specific materials or supplies are required, it is the clients/caregivers responsibility to provide them). Abby Services does not presume that we can effectively supervise a caregiver in your home and we do not try .In-home care is supervised by family, friends, guardians, etc. If a client has any issues Abby Services will take them very seriously and address them promptly as directed by a client. We do not attempt to insinuate that we could possibly supervise your private caregiver in an effective manner while they are in your home without being there .Clients wishing to receive professional supervision are encouraged to seek out a Certified Geriatric Care managers who can oversee and manage even the most involved cases. This may seem odd, but Abby Services will never terminate a caregiver a client is working with. It is always a consumers choice to use or not work with a private caregiver. Part of the services Abby Services provides is processing caregiver/client payments according to information provided by clients. Abby Services does not set the pay rate but facilitates client/caregiver negotiations by sharing with clients and caregivers current market rates and allowing them to independently adjust payment for services as they see fit.At its most basic, we are a matchmaking service. We work to match you or your loved ones with the perfect in-home caregiver. Submitting tax documents properly and responsibly is just one part of delivering a great service. To find out more click below!Written and Submitted By: Abby Services- click here for more information*

A key component in limiting the spread of COVID-19 (and a key component of the Abby Services COVID Care Package) is knowing if you are infected. As frontline healthcare providers, private in-home caregivers should be tested as directed by the Florida Department of Health and the CDC. In general, the clients Abby Services serves also represent a vulnerable population at risk for infection and should know their infection status as well.In addition to CDC COVID resources The Florida Department Of Health also has more regionally specific guidance and information. According to The CDC, there are two types of tests available to evaluate for COVID-19. These tests are available to the caregivers and residents we serve throughout Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and the greater Lee County area however they may require a physicians order depending on where you are being tested. It is recommended that you call your healthcare provider or the Lee County Department of Health for direction. Viral Tests Show if a client or in-home caregiver currently has a COVID infection In this video we show how easy it was to get tested for free right here in Fort Myers. These tests typically involve a swab of your nasal cavity/sinuses. Antibody tests Show if a client or in-home caregiver has had a previous infection. This type of test requires a blood sample be collected by a healthcare professional. May not show an active infection due to the fact that COVID antibodies will take 1-3 weeks to be produced. It is currently unknown if having antibodies will prevent reinfection or how long antibodies may provide protection from infection. Drive through testing sites are open throughout the state. In Lee County, the current testing location is the CenturyLink Sports Complex. This site is administering viral tests for free. They do not require an appointment or a physicians order. As noted above we have a video of the process with our very own Scott Strachan RN getting tested. If you have any questions please contact us! As Lee County's premier source for In-Home Caregivers, we have the knowledge and access to professional caregivers to help you and your family.Written & Submitted By: Abby Services- click for more information*