Free Home Care Assessment: Let's Talk About What Your Family Needs

A home care assessment is the first step with any home care provider. With us, it's a relaxed conversation, at your loved one's home or over Zoom, about how daily life is really going and what kind of help would make it safer and easier. It's how we evaluate your loved one's needs and create a personalized care plan that fits one person, instead of guessing over the phone. Most home care assessments take one to two hours. Here's what to expect from the assessment process, step by step:

1. 01A first call. Tell us what's been happening and any concerns you have. We'll ask a few questions and tell you honestly whether home care makes sense.
2. 02The home visit. We meet your loved one and the family members who want to be involved, in person or on Zoom if family is spread out.
3. 03A look at the day. We talk through routines, health, safety and what your loved one wants, and walk through the house together.
4. 04A written care plan and quote. We write a detailed care plan that lists the specific tasks for the caregiver and how often visits happen, plus a flat written rate. You read it, change what you like, and approve it before anyone starts.
5. 05Meet your caregiver. We introduce the caregiver we've matched before the first visit, and our team stays in touch as care begins.

Every home care assessment covers the whole person, not just a checklist: physical health, safety, emotional well-being and the support around them. We'll usually talk about:

• •Daily living: bathing, dressing, toileting, eating and transferring, and how much assistance each one takes now.
• •Household tasks: cooking and meal preparation, cleaning, laundry, and keeping up with bills and mail.
• •Mobility and falls: getting up from a chair or bed, walking, stairs, and any recent falls.
• •Health: current medications and medication management, chronic conditions, medical history, recent hospitalizations and the doctors and nurses involved.
• •Nutrition: appetite, weight changes, special diets and whether there's good food in the house.
• •Memory and mood: forgetfulness, confusion or signs of dementia, anxiety or depression, and how evenings and nights go.
• •The home environment: safety hazards like loose rugs, poor lighting, a slippery tub or a steep step, and simple fixes like grab bars.
• •What matters to them: their daily routines, preferences, interests and what independence means to them.
• •What the family needs: who's helping now, what's wearing you out, and what schedule would actually help.

From there we can determine the right level of home care services, from personal care to companionship, a few hours a week or up to 24 hour home care, and which specific tasks belong in the plan.

You don't need to prepare much, but a few things help:

• •A list of current medications, or just the bottles.
• •Names of doctors, a list of medical conditions, and any home health nurse or therapist.
• •Hospital discharge papers, if there's been a recent stay.
• •A long-term care insurance policy or VA paperwork, if you have one.
• •Your questions and concerns. Write them down, even the ones that feel small.

Be honest about what's hard, even if your loved one would rather not say it out loud. The more we know, the safer the plan. And think about what a good day looks like for your loved one. That tells us more than any form.

The person needing care, if they're able, because it's their home, their care and their plan. Any family members who share decisions are welcome too, in person or by Zoom, so everyone hears the same thing and can stay involved. If your parent is nervous about "a stranger coming to assess them," tell us. We'll keep it low-key and treat it as a friendly visit, because that's what it is. Many seniors relax once they see it's just a conversation about staying safe at home.

Usually within the week, depending on scheduling and the care plan. After a hospital discharge, often the same day or the next. Call us as soon as you have a discharge date. We arrange same-day and next-day starts all the time.

Yes. A free home care assessment is standard with us, and there's no catch. The call is free, the in-home assessment is free, and there's no contract until you've read a care plan you're happy with. You're under no obligation to use our care services afterward. We want the assessment to be useful on its own, so you leave with a clear picture of your loved one's care needs and your home care options.

Medicare doesn't pay for ongoing non-medical home care, so it doesn't cover a private home care assessment either. It can cover short-term home health visits a doctor orders, and those come with their own nurse evaluation. Long-term care insurance and VA benefits sometimes help with home care, and Medi-Cal's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program may cover some hours for people who meet its eligibility rules. We're happy to help you read a policy.

Yes. Hospital discharge planners, case managers, social workers and other health care providers can contact us directly with a family's permission. We'll coordinate with them and with the family so the transition home goes smoothly and the client has support from day one.

Our office is at 511 Ruby St, Redondo Beach, CA 90277. We serve all of Los Angeles County, with our deepest caregiver coverage in the South Bay: Torrance, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, the Palos Verdes Peninsula and El Segundo, plus Carson, Long Beach, Santa Monica, the Westside and Pasadena. Don't see your community? Call us anyway. We very likely cover it.