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July 9, 2024
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Home Care Assistance is a good place to start if you are looking for reliable caregivers for yourself or a loved one. Like most agencies, Home Care Assistance offers custodial home care services and specialized care for people with dementia or returning from a hospital stay.
What separates Home Care Assistance is its option for live-in caregivers. For people with chronic conditions looking to avoid nursing home care, a live-in caregiver could be a helpful option.
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Home Care Assistance Pros and Cons
Home Care Assistance Pros
- Live-in care: Home Care Assistance offers a unique opportunity for its caregivers to live onsite at a client’s home. Clients can book live-in caregivers for either short- or long-term periods for palliative care or assistance while living with a chronic condition.
- Highly qualified caregivers: Caregivers at Home Care Assistance are highly qualified professionals, many of whom are experienced CNAs, LPNs, LVNs, and RNs.
- Health and safety COVID-19 procedures: Home Care Assistance follows strict COVID-19 safety procedures to keep caregivers and clients safe and healthy. All caregivers have received information about effective cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces, as well as symptoms and other safety protocols.
- Specialized care: Home Care Assistance offers specialized care services for individuals recovering from strokes or living with cancer or Parkinson’s disease. The individualized in-home care plans help clients feel comfortable and receive the help they need.
- Balanced Care method: Home Care Assistance caregivers are trained in Balanced Care, a method that takes a holistic approach to cognitive health, nutrition, physical activity, and social engagement.
Home Care Assistance Cons
- Services limited by state: Home Care Assistance’s live-in care is not offered in California, and services such as palliative care are not offered in every state.
- Visit minimums: Most Home Care Assistance locations require visits of at least four hours.
Home Care Assistance Review
Background
Founded 15 years ago in Palo Alto, California, Home Care Assistance is one of the largest premium home care providers, with a vast network of caregivers and client care managers. The company’s mission is to be the agency of choice for families looking for customized, dignified care for their loved ones.
Services
Home Care Assistance offers a variety of hourly at-home services, including personal care assistance and specialized care for older adults with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or Parkinson’s. Here’s an overview of the company’s services.
- Live-in care: For aging adults who need constant support, Home Care Assistance offers live-in caregivers for short- or long-term needs. Live-in caregivers provide constant assistance during waking hours, but this service is not the same as 24/7 care, which requires several shifts from multiple caregivers.
- Personal care: Home Care Assistance offers a variety of personal care services, such as medication reminders, bathing, dressing, grooming assistance, and toileting. In addition to personal care, caregivers can help with lifestyle support, including light housekeeping and grocery shopping.
- Hospital-to-home care: Transitioning from the hospital to the home can be challenging for many older adults. Home Care Assistance offers continued care in the comfort of your home for a safe and successful recovery.
- Parkinson’s care: In addition to Alzheimer’s and dementia specialized care, Home Care Assistance provides caregivers for people with Parkinson’s. The company has partnered with the Parkinson’s Foundation to further help its clients with customized care plans and treatment.
Customer Experience
Home Care Assistance operates in many locations, so your experience may vary slightly. Here’s what we found when contacting several offices near us:
- Home Care Assistance caregivers cost between $33 and $39 per hour, depending on the level of care.
- Home Care Assistance generally requires a four-hour minimum visit time, although shorter visits are sometimes available.
- Care is arranged through an intake form followed by an in-person assessment.
- The agency tries to provide the same caregivers each time, but can’t guarantee it.
The company’s customer service was prompt and helpful, but we felt a bit rushed to make a decision compared to other home care agencies.
Third-Party Reviews
Based on online reviews, a majority of people seem to have had a pleasant experience with the company. Many clients mentioned the prompt service on short notice, compassionate caregivers, and a high level of dignified care for their loved ones. Here is a selection of reviews:
“We have had nothing but very positive experiences with Home Care Assistance! They are organized and professional and have a very helpful staff. I would absolutely recommend Sue and the team at Home Care Assistance to any person looking for care for a loved one!” —Pleasanton, California
“Home Care Assistance stepped up when my parents had a need for emergency 24-hour care. I appreciate their attention to detail and their caring attitude. They went above and beyond what we were expecting in-home care to be. It was a very good experience and I definitely recommend them!” —Lehigh, Pennsylvania
“Thank you to Christina and Maria for helping to arrange a caregiver for my mother-in-law on short notice. My mother-in-law was hesitant because she had a bad experience with another agency. Thankfully, Maribel has been wonderful. She is kind and soft-spoken with a great sense of humor. My mother-in-law enjoyed the company and assistance she provided.” —Houston
With Care.com, you can find trusted, local caregivers.
Cost and Pricing
The cost for Home Care Assistance is between $33 and $39 per hour in California, and you’ll likely need to book four-hour blocks of caregiving service. According to Genworth, the average hourly rate for home care in California is $29, so Home Care Assistance is slightly higher.
Home Care Assistance Areas Served
Home Care Assistance provides services throughout the U.S., with headquarters in San Francisco and offices in over 200 locations, including Alaska, Texas, and New Hampshire. To find a Home Care Assistance office near you, use the Find Your Local Team feature on the company’s website. From there, you can get the process started.
To learn more about home care agencies and ways to age safely in place, check out our other guides.
Home Care Assistance Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Home Care Assistance?
Home Care Assistance is a caregiver agency that provides in-home care to older adults and people with disabilities.
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How much does Home Care Assistance cost?
Home Care Assistance costs $33 to $39 per hour, but these costs vary by location.
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Which states have Home Care Assistance?
Currently, 40 U.S. states have Home Care Assistance. The company has continued to expand its services in in-demand areas such as Boise, Idaho; Nassau County, New York; Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and Tacoma, Washington.
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How much does Home Care Assistance pay caregivers?
According to Indeed.com, Home Care Assistance pays caregivers $14.98 an hour.
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What makes Home Care Assistance different?
Along with personal care and assistance with daily living, Home Care Assistance also offers the option of live-in care for seniors who are recovering from injury or need specialized attention for chronic and degenerative conditions.