While most would prefer a family member or someone they know take care of them, this may not always be the best thing. While promises are made, commitments can be difficult to keep. If caregiving is absolutely necessary, many find that hiring outside assistance with a regular schedule is the most reliable solution. That way, family members can remain as family, and others can be counted on to do the work.
There are many choices in hiring help at home. Many will hire privately, that is, pay out-of-pocket for help on an “as-needed” basis. There are many different ways to find caregivers. Some senior centers maintain lists, there are other sources from discharge planners, physicians offices and hospice agencies. Remember, too, that if you hire privately, you work out the hours, rate of pay, etc…. and, you’re also an employer and must abide by IRS rulings for tax purposes.
Here’s a brief rundown on the types of agencies in Sonoma and Marin Counties.
HOME HEALTH CARE AGENCIES
These agencies provides services that are 100% covered by Medicare and Medi-Cal. The service must be ordered by a physician. However, clients still have a personal choice of any agency. There are certain requirements for care, for one, you must be homebound and in need of skilled care. This would translate to a nurse or physical, occupational or speech therapy. This is also a time and visit limited service. Some aide service can be available, if there’s a skilled need. This is a service NOT covered by long term care insurance. Born To Age does not list the prices these agencies charge because the costs are directly reimbursed by Medicare. Client is not billed for services.
Accentcare
800-834-8059
Professional Health Care At Home
185 N. Redwood Dr., Ste. 150
San Rafael, CA 94903
415-492-8400
PRIVATE DUTY HOME CARE AGENCIES
These agencies can provide both skilled and non-skilled medical care. The services might be covered by long term care, or other insurances, and private pay. The agency is the employer. Caregivers are hired, screened and paid for by the agency. If the caregiver is ill or unable to work, a substitute caregiver is available. The agency pays payroll taxes, worker’s compensation and maintains liability coverage. The agency also determines what the caregiver can and can’t do. There is over a minimum number of hours for service.
Care provided by these agencies can include: skilled care, personal care, transportation/errands, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, laundry, etc. Shifts can be hourly, live-in or sleepover.
Accentcare
1301 Redwood Way, Suite 240
Petaluma, CA 94954
800-834-8059
AccentCare is a non-medical home care company that provides professional, care to individuals while maintaining their independence and quality of life in their home and community settings. National leader in homecare and home health with 11 years of experience in the Sonoma and Marin counties. Caregivers assist with activities of daily living, medication reminders, light housekeeping and outdoor activities. Also assist the senior in getting into the community and transporting to medical appointments, grocery shopping and social functions. Caregiver rates range from $21 to $26 an hour depending on the level of care needed. Live-in care ranges from $250 to $280 per day. A FREE in-home assessment is offered prior to beginning care and there is no contract or long term commitment.
Caregivers go through a rigorous hiring process including a thorough interview, reference check and 7 year criminal background check. All caregivers receive a complete training and have a live 24/7 on-call team for any urgent needs.
At Home Nursing
1378 A Corporate Center Parkway
Santa Rosa, Ca. 95407
(707) 546-8773
athome@sonic.net
www.athomenursing.com
At Home Nursing provides Personal Care Attendants (PCA’s), licensed shift care, skilled nursing visits & Nurse Case Management. The agency has been in business since 1998 & is locally nurse owned & managed. Certified by CAHSAH (California Association for Health Services at Home) for PCA services, State licensed Home Health Agency providing skilled nursing services, filling Medi-Sets & providing Geriatric Case Management services. All staff are hired as employees & are bonded, insured, background checked, reference checked & tested. Agency matches personalities and skill level need of clients to caregivers. Free in-home assessment by a nurse. Nurse Care manager maintains the client & supervises the caregivers on an ongoing basis. 24-hour Nurse Manager On Call for management and support of all cases and caregivers. Rates start at $24.95 per hour. Also provide Sleep Shifts, 12 hour shifts (at no overtime) & Live-Ins. No minimum hours for care. Private duty sitter (one on one) services also provided in facilities for peace of mind. The Agency works with MSSP, Linkages, IHSS, Redwood Caregivers, APS, the VA, Council On Aging & the various Hospices. It is also contracted with numerous private insurances.
At Home Caregivers Of the North Bay
7665 Redwood Blvd. #200
Novato,CA 94945
415-898-HOME(4663)
1405 Marina Place
Rohnert Park, CA
707-575-HOME (4663)
At Home Caregivers is a locally owned and operated, full service, employee model agency. This means At Home Caregivers is the employer of record and we pay all taxes, insurance and worker’s compensation insurance for our carefully selected, and compassionate caregivers. Rates range from $20- $25 an hour depending on the needs of the client. “Live-in” 24-hour care ranges from $275-$325. RN case manager rate is $90 an hour. Transportation is available at $24 an hour (using your car, otherwise, add $.75/mi), with a three hour minimum. Caregivers are triplescreened, experienced, insured, bonded and supervised. Discounts given in long-term cases. Free assessments, care plans, home safety inspections and monthly quality assurance evaluations! Tell us you found us in Born to Age and receive a free client book!
Hired Hands Home Care
10 Commercial Blvd., Suite 102
Novato, CA 94949
415-884-4343
2901 Cleveland Ave., Suite 203
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-575-4700
www.hiredhandshomecare.com
Hired Hands Homecare is a family owned and operated, full service homecare company, providing a wide range of caregiving services for over 17 years. All Caregivers are our employees, and are thoroughly screened, insured, and bonded. Caregivers available on a flexible hourly, overnight, and live-in basis. Hourly care starts @ $24.00 per hour, and 24 hour care starts at $310. Serving the entire North Bay, with office in Marin, Sonoma, & Napa counties. Complimentary case management, needs assessment, and home safety evaluation provided at no cost. Members of the National Private Duty Association (NPDA), the California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Home Well Senior Care
200 Professional Center Dr., Suite 216
Novato, CA 94947
415-599-4333
707-931-4280
HomeWell Senior Care provides quality and compassionate hourly or live-in care for seniors and others looking for care at home. HomeWell Personal Assistants are comprehensively screened, including multiple reference checks, criminal and driving records checks, have at least 1,000 hours of professional caregiving experience. (All payroll and insurance matters.) Rates from $21.95/hr to $26.95/hr for hourly care, and $11.50-$12.50/hr for live-in/24 hour care. Caregivers are Alzheimer’s and Dementia trained, and many are CNAs and HomeHealth Aides. Bonded and insured Free consultations, assessments, comprehensive care plans and supervisor visits.
Interim Healthcare
1717 N California Blvd, Suite 3A
Walnut Creek CA 94596
925.944.5779
jbettencourt@interimhealthcare.com
Interim HealthCare understands the importance of enabling people to stay safe and comfortable in their homes. Interim has over 40 years of home care experience and strives to understand find the fit for the each of client. Provides non-medical services including companionship, transportation, light housekeeping, personal care, meal preparation, and medication reminders. Cregivers are screened with a thorough background check and physical wellness exam, and each employee has a clean driving record with a current DMV driver’s license, in addition to being bonded and insured. Service rates start at $25 per hour for a 3 hour minimum and $350 for a live-in shift. Also assist with billing your long term care insurance. Interim strives to help you live comfortably and happily.
Professional Healthcare at Home
185 N. Redwood Drive, Suite 150
San Rafael, CA 94903
415-492-8400
Fax: 415-492-8401
www.professionalhc.com
Professional Healthcare at Home is a full service home health agency, offering both medical and non-medical home care to Bay Area families for over 20 years. Services range from skilled nursing and rehabilitative therapy to private duty personal care and household assistance, with non-medical rates starting at $24 an hour. The company is CHAP accredited and Medicarecertified, and all employees are highly trained, screened, bonded, and insured. Clinicians are licensed, and professional case managers coordinate care with physicians and other healthcare providers. Services include nursing care, physical and occupational therapy, extended care, home health aides, medication management, and the full range of personal care assistance, transportation and companionship.
Seniors At Home
600 Fifth Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
415-507-0564
Info@SeniorsAtHome.org
www.SeniorsAtHome.org
Seniors At Home offers a comprehensive range of services to help seniors live safer, healthier, more independent lives in their own homes. Caregivers are available 2 to 24 hours a day to assist with personal care, homemaking, and companionship. Caregivers are bonded and insured, and background screenings are performed. Home care rates are $60 for two-hour express care, $24-46 for hourly care (4-24 hours/day), and $320 per live-in shift. Skilled nursing visits are $150. With one call, clients have access to all services, including Care Management, Palliative and End-of-Life Care, Counseling, Money Management, Spiritual Care, Volunteer Services, JFCS Rides, Transportation Services, and more.
Senior Helpers
802 B St.
San Rafael, CA 94901
707-251-1540
415-460-9967
Provides services in Napa, Marin, Sonoma and Solano Counties.
www.seniorhelpers.com
Senior Helpers North Bay is a Care Management company providing services in Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo Counties. Offer case management, in-home non-medical home care, placement services and transitional care from care facilities. Staff and specifically trained in dementia, hospice care, companion and personal care services. Also provides transitional care (moving from one care facility to another) using Care Team Connect. All services start with a no chrage assessment. 3 hour minimum. Fees are $24.00 per hour or $350 per 24 hour stay.
Sequoia Senior Solutions
191 Lynch Creek Way, Suite 102
Petaluma, CA 94954
Sonoma and Mendocino Counties (707) 763-6600
Napa and Lake Counties (707) 254-7660
Marin County (415) 259-0331
A private duty, non-medical home care agency. Provides in-home care at $24.50 an hour. Evening Rate, $27.00 an hour from 8 pm to 8am. Minimum 2-hour shift. Live in care, $345/day. In-home free assessments and safety checks. Accepts checks, cash, major credit cards and insurance. Employees are bonded, insured, drug tested and criminal background checked. All are monitored and supervised. Transportation at IRS rate if caregiver’s car is used.
Sonoma Homecare
19201 Sonoma Hwy, #116
Sonoma, CA 95476
707-938-7371
707-762-7371
sonomahomecare.com
Sonoma Homecare is a locally owned, CAHSAH-certified non-medical homecare agency with offices in the Sonoma Valley and Oakmont. In home care rates begin at $24 an hour, and live-in rates starting at $295. offers flexible scheduling, no minimums and personalized care. Caregivers are screened, nationwide background checked, 10 panel drug tested, DMV checked, insured and bonded. Employees are provided ongoing training and are fully supervised. Free in home assessment and safety checks.
Visiting Angels
1120 Montgomery Drive
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
(707) 528-0222 PH (
707) 528-2388 FX
www.visitingangels.com/santarosa
adesilver@visitingangels.com
Visiting Angels provides personalized non-medical services, and only hires professionally experienced caregivers. Visiting Angels is a fully bonded and insured agency, directed by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Case Managed by a Licensed Vocational Nurse. All caregivers are thoroughly background checked and drug screened. Agency conducts caregiver supervisory visits and regular client check-ins. Available 24/7. Free in-home assessments and safety checks. No Minimum. 2011 rates: Live in/24-hour, $14.50 per hour, Overnight (sleep) $17.50 per hour. Hourly 4-12 hours, $24-$25 per hour. “Angel Visit”: 2 hour $30 per hour, 3 hours $27 per hour.
DOMESTIC REFERRAL AGENCIES
These agencies provide nonmedical caregivers/companions to help with personal care, transportation, meals, baths, light housekeeping, etc. They provide many of the same services as private duty home care agencies, however, the caregiver’s are not employees of the agency.
The agency finds and screens the caregiver. The client has the option of interviewing or letting the agency match the appropriate caregiver. The agency assists in negotiating the rate between the client and caregiver, including agency fee. Caregiver earnings are reported to the IRS. Substitute caregivers are available.
Acclaim Professional Healthcare
4340 Redwood Hwy, Suite A14
San Rafael, A 94903
Marin 415-479-5125
San Francisco 415-752-5246
A Subsidiary of Acclaim Homecare, Inc.
www.acclaimhomecare.com
Acclaim Professional Healthcare provides employee based private duty services which include assistance with all activities of daily living, medication reminders, meal planning and preparation, light housekeeping and laundry, companion care as well as respite care, transportation to medical appointments and therapies. Additionally provides medication programs and individualized care plans. Caregivers are monitored by experienced geriatric care manager.
Acclaim Professional Healthcare has hourly, live-in and sleepover services Rates are dependent on services required. Minimum of 2 hours@ $55.00. Hourly starts at 24.00 to 26.00 per hour. Live in rates start at $265.00.Overnites start at $175.00. Assessments are provided prior to start of cares. No agency fees, no charge for the initial consultation. 24 hour paging service to respond to critical situations.
Caregiver Referral
Sonoma Council on Aging
707-525-0143, ext. 113
707-539-5305
The Sonoma Council on Aging maintains a referral list of caregivers pre-screened with DMV and criminal background checks. Services offered include some light housework, driving, cooking and personal care. Rates are determined by individuals hired. Ranges $15-18/hour. The cost of the list is $100.
GuardianCaregivers.Net
GuardianCaregivers.Net is an online service where subscribers who are seeking care for a loved one can connect with qualified Independent Care Providers. Registered Caregivers provide services ranging from companionship, transportation, errands and household assistance to respite care, mobility transfers, bedside assistance, and hospice care. Depending on experience, the amount of time required and the level of care needed, Caregiver rates will range from $12.00 – $25.00 per hour and are negotiated between the Caregiver and Primary Representative of the Care Recipient.
By completing a simple, yet detailed form entitled “Determining Your Needs”, Care Seekers can easily find home care assistants who closely match the needs of Care Recipients based on skill sets, experience, education, demographics, and personal preferences. They can browse through, and even post job announcements for, special selection of Pre-Qualified Caregivers who we’ve already personally interviewed, reference verified, and background checked. It is Guardian’s mission to provide Care Seekers with easy and affordable access to Care Providers for the benefit of all aging seniors and dependent adults.
Marin Center for Independent Living
710 4th St.,
San Rafael, CA 94935
415.459.6245
Provides a list of experienced, screened home health aides.
Veteran’s Benefits to Pay for Long Term Care
Most veterans and surviving spouses who are in need of assisted living or inhome care, can qualify for the “Aid and Attendance” Benefit offered by the Veteran’s Administration. The benefit can pay up to $1,949 per month to a married veteran, and a single or widowed veteran can receive up to $1,644 per month. Unmarried surviving spouses can received up to $1,056 a month. All of these benefits are tax free.
Under this program, money is awarded based on need and there are certain income and asset requirements. The veteran or spouse applying must show that while assistance may not be needed with everything, there is help needed with bathing, dressing/undressing, medications, transferring or other care on a daily basis. This is the type of care provided in assisted living, or by an in-home care companion. To qualify, an applicant must have less than $80,000 in “countable” assets. There are several classes of assets that are exempt, such as a primary home and vehicle. Also, the veteran must have served one day during a period of war and had at least 90 days of active duty. Eligibility must be proven by filing the proper Veteran’s Application for Pension or Compensation (Form 21-534 for surviving spouse) (Form 21-526 veteran). This application will require a copy of the the DD-214 (discharge papers), a medical evaluation from the physician, current medical issues, net worth information, net income and out-ofpocket medical expenses.
Approval takes about six months, but the VA is supposed to give priority to any application for benefits by a veteran over age 70. If the benefit is approved, the money awarded is retroactive to date of application.
For more information, contact
Marin County Veteran’s Assistance
10 North San Pedro Road
San Rafael, CA 94903-4155.
(415) 499-6193.
Sonoma County: North Bay Veterans Center
6225 State Farm Dr., Suite 101
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Website information is available at: Department of Veteran’s Affairs Click: “What are Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits?”
There are several private services to help you qualify for the aid and Attendance Benefit. They are listed under Veterans Benefits in the Born To Age Sonoma Marin County Guide.