Getting help at home is usually thefirst thing that people think about when chores and/or personal care is becoming difficult or impossible. Housekeepers, gardeners and occasional handymen are the easiest for most of us to consider because they don’t carry the psychological burden of no longer being able to do for ourselves. Caregivers can be resisted because of cost, fear of loss of independence, autonomy and privacy, or just due to stubbornness and personal will.

While most prefer a family member or prior knowledge of the caregiver, this may not always be possible. Family members might have good intentions, and while promises are made, commitments may be more difficult to keep. It’s may not be the best thing to have a family member, friend or neighbor as a caregiver. The most reliable solution is hiring outside assistance with a regular schedule. This way, family members remain as family and others can be counted on to do the hands-on work.
There are many choices in help at home. If looking to hire privately, there’s a caregiver referral service out of the Area Agency on Aging’s office in Vallejo. Discharge planners, hospices, social workers also know of people who might want to work privately. If hired privately, the hours worked and wages paid are between you and the employee. You are also liable for worker’s compensation and IRS withholding.

Here’s a brief rundown on the types of agencies in Solano County.

HOME HEALTH AGENCIES
These agencies provide services that are 100% covered by Medicare, Med-Cal or private health insurance. This service must be ordered by a doctor. However,you still have a personal choice of agency. Requirements to qualify for care are:

1: Homebound

2. Need for skilled care. Skilled care means that you need a nurse, a physical, speech or occupational therapist. This is also a time and visit limited services. 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 doesn’t list these prices because the costs are directly reimbursed by Medicare. You are not billed for services.

North Bay Home Health & Hospice
429-7759
Professional Healthcare at Home
190 S. Orchard Ave., Suite B-117
Vacaville, CA 95688
707-556-2200, 800-654-5677

PRIVATE DUTY HOME CARE AGENCIES
These agencies provide both skilled and non-skilled care. The services might be covered by long term care insurance, 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 often a minimum number of
hours for services. 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.

Advantage Home Healthcare and Placement Services
1652 W. Texas St. Suite 271
Fairfield, CA 94553
426-6381
Contact: Patricia Hansen
Provides service in Napa, Solano and Yolo Counties
This is a non-medical home care and placement agent. Their home care services range from $20-26 an hour with a two hour minimum. Live-ins are $250- 325 per 24 hr period, and sleep-overs are $200-250 per 12-hour period. Bath services range from $40-60 per bath. They also provide services for bill paying, errands. and placement to residential care and assisted living facilities (at NO CHARGE for placement to the client) when staying at home is no longer an option. Their employees are Certified
Nurse Assistants and Home Health Aides and they are all bonded, insured and undergo a thorough pre-employment screening that includes a criminal background check, drug screen, credit and motor vehicle reports. All employees are CPR and First Aid certified.

Home Instead Senior Care
33433 Broadway, Suite B-1
American Canyon, CA 94563
552-2266
Provides service in Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties.
This is a private duty home care agency that provides services such as personal care and grooming, errands, medication reminders, incidental transportation, light housekeeping and companionship. Accepts Long term care insurance. Care givers are employees of the company, so complete supervision and management is provided and all taxes and insurance is included. All employees are screened for criminal and driving records, as well as TB tested. Ongoing training is provided to all employees. They provide 24 hour phone support for after hour emergencies. Rates range from $20 – $25 per hour, $330 per day for live in.

Love & Joy Senior Care Services
Solano and Napa: 342-5613
Provides service in Napa and Solano This is a private duty home care agency. Rates start at $18 an hour, and $200 per day for a live-in. Caregivers are CNA’s, experienced, bonded, reference and background checked. All are fingerprinted and have TB clearance. Accept long term care insuance.

Professional Healthcare at Home
190 S. Orchard Ave., Suite B-117
Vacaville, CA 95688
707-556-2200, 800-654-5677
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 $23 an hour. The company is CHAP accredited and Medicare-certified, 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.

Your Home….Nursing Services
3158 Jefferson St.
Napa, CA 94558
224-7780
This agency is local, state licensed and private duty.Offering basic care-giving to skilled nursing care. Rate range: nurses aides $24.50 to $26.50 per hour with live-ins
at $300.00 per day. Special 2/3 hour service $50.00 Skilled nursing services are $55/$65 per hour. Complementary skilled assessment to determine home care needs. Along with full range of services, offer “custom Services”… caregivers for traveling, pet services, weddings and vacations. Caregivers are bonded, insured, fingerprinted, and have backgroud checks. Most caregivers (124) have been with agency 5 years or more. This agency has been providing home care for 24 years.

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 home care agencies, however, the caregiver is not an employee of the agency…the caregiver is an independent contractor.

There are two types of referral agencies:

1. The agency finds and screens the caregiver, but the client interviews and chooses the caregiver. The client and caregiver negotiate the rat. The client also pays the caregiver directly and pays a referral fee to the agency. No substitutes are available.

2. 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.

Caregiver Referral Service Area Agency on Aging
Serving Napa and Solano
Vallejo: 643-1798
Vacaville: 469-6679
This agency maintains a list of people who work as companions, housekeepers, gardeners, handymen and odd jobbers. You’ll be given several names to call, and you make a choice and do the hiring. It’s a free service, but each individual charges their own rates and terms. All is to be negotiated with the person to be hired. Rates range from $12-15 an hour.

Faith in Action
Serving people throughout Solano County
469-6675
This is a volunteer program. Will provide respite care, grocery shopping, light household and yard chores, errands
and visitation, non-medical, in-home assistance.

Visiting Angels
346 Cernon St. Suite B
Vacaville, CA 95688
453-0240
www.visitingangels.com
Serving Solano County, this referral agency’s caregivers are screened, background checked, experienced, insured and bonded. Hourly rates start at $22, Minimum three
hours. Live in rate is $250 a day.

The Home Aid and Attendance benefit is offered by the Veteran’s Administration to pay for assisted living, board and care and In Home Care if a person is a veteran or a
surviving spouse of a veteran who served at least 90 days of active duty with one day during war-time. If a person qualifies, a veteran with spouse can receive a maximum of $1,842 a month, a single veteran can receive up to $1,554 a month, and a surviving spouse up to $998 a month.

Veteran’s Benefits to Pay for Long Term Care The person must also have a medical diagnosis requiring daily
assistance with two or more activities of daily living. Application forms for the Aid and Attendance Benefit are available through the Solano County V.A office.
Fairfield: 784-6590
Vallejo: 553-5261.