Getting help at home isn’t as easy
as it sound. For many, bringing a
stranger into their home to take
care of them in a very vulnerable
time can seem overwhelming.
There are worries about who that
person might be, how much to pay
them, how many hours they should
work and the most prevalent:
Can this person be trusted?
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
County.
HOME HEALTH CARE AGENCIES
These agencies provide services
that are 100% covered by
Medicare and Medi-Cal. The
service must be ordered by a
physician. However, you still have
personal choice over the agency.
There are certain requirement for
this type of home care; 1. 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. But this service is NOT
covered by long term care
insurance. Born ToAgedoesn’t
list the prices these agencies
charge because they are
reimbursed by Medicare. You are
not billed for services.
In Sonoma County, home
health agencies include:
Arcadia Health Care
101 Brookwood Ave.
Suite 204
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
707.541.3600
4340 Redwood Hwy,Suite F123
San Rafael,CA 94903
415-472-2273
St.Joseph Home Care Network
170 B Professional Center Dr.
Rohnert Park,CA 94923
707-547-5460
Sutter VNA & Hospice
1110 North Dutton Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
707-535-5700
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
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.
Arcadia Health Care
101 Brookwood Ave.,
Suite 204
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
707-541-3600
4340 Redwood Hwy,Suite F123
San Rafael,CA 94903
415-472-2273
This is a full service agency, providing both Medicare-certi?ed skilled home health care and custodial caregivers. They provide skilled nursing, therapies and services for people of all ages. In Marin, personal care rates are $24.50 a hour, with a four-hour minimum. Under four hours, $27/hour. A rise and shine tuck-in is $50 and sleepover is $190 for a 12-hour shift. Live-ins are $290/24 hours. Transportation escorts are available at 45 cents a mile, if the employee vehicle is used. In Sonoma, rates are $23 an hour for a four-hour shift, sleep over is $200, live-ins are $295 and a rise and shine/tuckin is $55.
Skilled care is also available, a home visit by a nurse is $170 a visit, and hourly rates range from $55-65 an hour. Caregivers are bonded, insured, criminal background checked, ?nger-printed and drug screened. Arcadia also offers complimentary,on-going care management services by geriatric care managers. Accept private pay, most insurances, Medi-Cal and Medicare.
Care at Home
5555 Montgomery St.
Santa Rosa, CA
707-579-6822
This is a private duty, nonmedical home care agency. They are part of the Episcopal Community Foundation, a non-pro?t organization. All caregivers receive 16 hours of initial training. They provide services to assist with activities of daily living, and also have specialized training in Alzheimer ’s, Hospice and Geriatric Sensistivity. There is two hour minimum. Rates are $22.00 an hour. There is also a variable travel charge for shifts less than eight hours. They used training and backup support from Spring Lake Village. Transportation with caregiver escort is 50 cents a mile. All caregivers are bonded, ?ngerprinted, criminal background checked,drug screened and have a current driver ’s license and insurance. The agency carried liability insurance. Billing is done weekly from a central of?ce.
Choices For Seniors
1347 Shady Oak Place
Santa Rosa,CA 95409
707-483-8864
800-864-3544
This is a non-medical home care agency. Charges are $21 an hour, minimum four-hour shift. 24-hours, live-ins:$300. 12-hour,overnight shift, $180. Employees are bonded, insured and background checked.
Health Care Connection
1363 Lincoln Ave.,#4
San Rafael,CA 94901
415-457-2256
Health Care Connection is a locally owned home health care agency established in Marin County in 1998. HCC provides assistance with bathing, personal care, meal preparation, safety supervision, medication reminders, transportation, shopping,and light housekeeping. The rate with a 4 hour minimum is $22.50/hr. 2-3 hour shifts are $25/hr. A 24 hour live is $275/day and a sleepover is $175/night. The caregivers are employed by HCC and are supervised by an RN. Criminal background checks, workers compensation, and liability insurance are provided.
Hired Hands, Inc.
84 Galli Drive
Novato, CA 94949
707-765-1313
6640 Redwood Rd., Suite 204
Rohnert Park,CA
707-584-5400
This is a private duty, nonmedical home care agency. They are family-owned, providing care for over 13 years. They provide services to assist with activities of daily living. Rates start at $24 an hour, with a three hour minimum.24-hour shifts start t $300. Free in-home assessments and safety evaluations. Caregivers are experiences, screened, background checked, insured and bonded.
Home Care Advantage,LLC
1400 Guerneville Rd.,#10
Santa Rosa,CA 95403
707-523-2218
Home Care Advantage,LLC is a home care agency with employees. Employees are bonded, insured and have extensive background checks. All employees have to have at least 2 years work related experience and be able to pass a skills test. Care is from three hours a visit up to 24 hour care. Assist in all activites of daily living, companionship, etc. Home Care Advantage works with clients from IHSS, Redwood Caregivers, MSSP, Linkages, Face to Face and Hospice. The rates for hourly care starts at $23.00 hour, 24 hour rate is $285.00 per day.
Home Watch Caregivers of the North Bay
1300 Grant Ave.,#203
Novato, CA 94945
415-898-5768
707-996-5768
Homewatch Caregivers is the oldest privately owned Home Care Agency in America. They provide transportation, companion, personal and minor medical care to individuals and families wherever they call home. Companion care ranges from $24-$26 an hour. Personal care with trained caregivers ranges from $25-$27 an hour. Night shift (sleepless 12 hours)ranges from $240-$260. Live-in, 24-hour care starts at $275. RN nursing visit is $90 an hour. Transportation is available at $24 an hour (they use your car,otherwise add $.75/mi.), with a three hour minimum. Discounts apply for long-term cases. All Caregivers are employees; all taxes and workers compensation is paid by Homewatch, Caregivers are triple-screened, experienced, insured, bonded and supervised. Homewatch offers free assessments, free written care plans,free home safety inspections and monthly quality assurance evaluations. They also offer a Care Management tool, the ultimate client book.
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, nonmedical home care agency. Provides in-home care at $23 an hour, minimum 4-hour shift. Live-in Care, $300 for 24-hours. In home free assessments and safefty checks. Employees are bonded, insured and criminal background checked. All are monitored and supervised. Transportation is 48.5 cents a mile, if caregiver ’s car is used.
Visiting Angels--Marin
77 Mark Drive, Suite 12
San Rafael, CA 94903
415-499-1200
Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services is an employee-based, non-medical homecare company. Services include a free initial assessment, coordination of care, 24-hour on-call, and the ability to select your caregiver. Caregivers assist with activities of daily living including transportation, medication reminders, companionship, safety, and moral support. All caregivers are experienced, screened, bonded, insured, criminal background checked, and DMV record checked. Care is available 4 to 24 hours a day and typically costs between $22 to $24 hourly or $275 per day for live-in care. Provide short term, long term and respite care. There is no weekly minimum and the care schedule can be tailored to fit the specific needs of the client.
Visiting Angels--Santa Rosa
2245 Montgomery Street, Suite B-1
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
(707)528-0222 PH
(707)528-2388 FX
www.visitingangels.com
adesilver@visitingangels.com
Visiting Angels Santa Rosa provides personalized non-medical services to help seniors continue to live comforatbly and safely in their own homes. Visiting Angels is an employee-based agency and only hires experienced caregivers. Visiting Angels is fully licensed, bonded, and insured, conducting thorough criminal background checks and drug screens. Employees can provide assistance with personal care and hygiene, transportation, errands and shopping, meal preparation, medication and safety monitoring, light housekeeping,and companionship. FREE in-home assessments & safety checks. No minimums. 2008 Rates: 4 hours or less $75. 4-12 hours $23 per hour. Live-in/24hr,$295. Overnight sleep shift, $175. Transportation is 50 cents a mile using caregiver ’s vehicle.
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. There are two types of referral agencies:
1.The agency ?nds and screens the caregiver, but the client interviews and chooses the caregiver. The client and the caregiver negotiate the rate. The client pays the caregiver directly, and also pays a referral fee to the agency. No substitutes are available.
2.The agency ?nds 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.
Care Connections
707-823-2555
This is a domestic referral service that places only live-ins. All caregivers are self-employed, independent contractors. Criminal background checked.$150-$180 a day for a 24/7 live-in shift.
Caregiver Referral
Sonoma Council on Aging
707-525-0143,ext.113
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. The cost of the list is $50.
From The Heart Home Care
131 A Stony Circle, Suite 550
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
707-528-4663
4040 Civic Center Dr., Suite 200
San Rafael, CA 94903
415-444-0663
This is a nonmedical referral agency locally owned and operated since 2001. No minimums. Negotiated rates cover all services and fees. One hour visit, a ?at rate of $36. Two-three hours, $22 an hour. Overnight shifts start at $175, and 24-hour shifts start at $255. All services are private pay. Transportation, using a caregiver ’s car,is 75 cents a mile. Caregivers have at least three years experience, screened,criminal background checked, credit and social security checked. All are legal to work in the U.S. Each caregiver carries individual malpractice and liability insurance and are bonded.
Marin Community HealthCare
4340 Redwood Highway, A14
San Rafael, CA 94903
415-479-5125
888-499-7372
Marin Community Healthcare is a locally owned and operated agency providing non-medical services since 2002. All caregivers are licensed, insured, bonded and supervised by a LVN. Hourly rates starts from $18.75 to $25.00 per hour with a minimum of 4-hour shift. Live-in rates starts at $210.00 to $240.00 and overnight from $150.00 to $180.00. Medication set-up and care management by a Geriatric Care Manager is available free of charge. Transportation is provided at 48.5 cents per mile if caregiver ’s car is used. Provides free in-home assessment and quality assurance visits. Accepts private pay, credit cards and long term care insurances. There is an on-call person available after hours for any concerns.
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