FAQs
The client/caregiver relationship is an important one, and it’s natural for everyone involved to have questions. Here are some answers to our most commonly asked questions.
about our company
We’ve been in business since 2004, but only recently began offering in-home caregiving services directly to families. Previously our services were provided to hospitals, schools, doctors’ offices, and government agencies under the name All Health Services.
A statewide employer, we provide services from Crescent City to San Diego, and everywhere in between. Caregiver To You has a headquarters in Modesto, where our highest concentration of caregivers can be found.
Caregiver To You takes your privacy seriously. We use a single platform for all personal data and information. This platform is cloud-based, password protected, and encrypted. In fact, the platform we use is the only one of its kind to have HITRUST CSF Certification, requiring a comprehensive list of more than 300 security controls in place to keep data safe. Furthermore, we will not sell your information to a third party under any circumstances.
The best place to start is with a personalized Care Plan. Call us at 800-869-4373 or fill out this (link) form today to schedule your assessment. Our goal is to have a caregiver selected for you within 48 hours.
Caregiving is a broad term, and our goal is to provide a comprehensive range of services to meet your needs. View our Services page for a description of standard services, which include personal care, household upkeep and more. Should your family need services outside of these categories, we can arrange for care to fit your specific situation—just ask!
Caregiver To You is a full-service agency that leverages community connections to provide the best possible care to our clients. Our decision to provide caregiving started with a desire to make a genuine improvement in the lives of those we serve—a commitment that extends not just to our clients, but to our caregivers.
At Caregiver To You, we carefully consider everyone’s needs. We continually improve our services by:
- Providing regular assessments and follow-ups to our clients.
- Connecting with our caregivers through regular meetings and support calls.
- Engaging with the community through volunteering, sponsorships and more.
- Listening to the opinions of thought leaders through an Advisory Committee full of experts from multiple disciplines.
Our Advisory Committee is a group of individuals who represent a wide range of voices across the care industry. From nurses and executives to paid and family caregivers, the committee is made up of people who want to improve our ability to provide the best value to our clients.
In addition to meetings, the Advisory Committee communicates frequently about innovative ideas and company plans. Because the committee role is to advise, its members do not have authority over company activity or access to information on individual clients.
In accordance with California Law, Caregiver To You is licensed by the California Department of Social Services (license number 504700031). The trustworthiness of our staff is backed by a $10,000 Employee Dishonesty Bond, and we carry multi-million-dollar liability insurance policies.
Absolutely! While most of the care we provide is similar across multiple circumstances, our caregivers are trained to provide care regardless of disease or condition. The primary focus of care is always to assist with activities of daily living or ADLs (like eating, bathing, grooming, toileting, and transferring), and instrumental activities of daily living or IADLs (like cooking, cleaning, laundry, and shopping). But when a disease or other condition requires special tasks or accommodations, our care team can create a custom plan to support your loved one.
This can include preparing meals according to a special diet, performing specific memory-care tasks, providing motivation to perform prescribed exercises, and documenting information for a family to provide to a healthcare provider.
Specific care plans can be developed for a variety of conditions, including: ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Alzheimer’s disease, amputations, cancer, CHF/heart disease, COPD, dementia, diabetes, high blood pressure, hip fractures, hospice, knee replacement, memory care, multiple sclerosis, obesity, Parkinson’s disease, pneumonia, stroke, and post-surgery needs.
about our caregivers
All of our caregivers are rigorously screened before being selected for employment, but we also match caregivers’ skills and traits with the needs of our clients. Whether you want a caregiver trained in diabetes care or just someone who knows how to knit, we consider all factors when we make a placement. And if the fit isn’t right, let us know and we’ll reassess your criteria and match you with another caregiver.
Not only is Caregiver To You Licensed by the California Department of Social Services, our caregivers also undergo background checks and are registered on the California Home Care Aide Registry. The trustworthiness of our staff is backed by a $10,000 Employee Dishonesty Bond, and we carry multi-million-dollar liability insurance policies.
We believe that our clients are best served when their caregivers feel like part of the family. As such, it’s in everyone’s interest for the caregiver not to change. While there may be extenuating circumstances at times, generally speaking, you’ll have one primary caregiver that visits you regularly.
There are several benefits to choosing a caregiver through an agency like ours. The California Department of Social Services requires not only that agencies meet strict standards to become licensed, but the department also sets standards and requirements for the caregivers we employ.
Plus, there are significant liabilities for those who choose private duty care. According to ElderLawAnswers.com, “When you hire a caregiver directly, you need to consider all the tax and liability issues. As an employer, you are responsible for filing payroll taxes, tax forms, and verifying that the employee can legally work in the United States. If you pay $2,300 or more in wages in 2021 to any one employee, you need to withhold and pay Social Security and Medicare taxes. If you pay more than $1,500 in wages in 2021, you need to pay unemployment taxes. In addition, a private caregiver may not carry his or her own liability insurance or workers’ compensation. If an accident occurs on the job, you could be responsible.”
Caregiver To You handles all of the employment logistics, such as paying taxes, maintaining insurance coverage, meeting training and registration requirements, and scheduling backup care, so you can focus on other priorities.
Upon hire, all caregivers are assessed for their training needs and provided paid training to build basic competency with state standards and our organizational practices. Initial orientation consists of a minimum of five hours learning how to provide care safely and in accordance with Caregiver To You practices. Caregivers are also offered access to our training room, where they can learn about and use common medical devices. Our training room includes a hospital bed, Hoyer lift, wheelchair and walker, commode, transfer and adjustment devices, and other common supplies and items they might encounter on the job.
In addition to initial training, and ongoing anytime access to our training room and equipment, Caregivers are also given access to specialized certification programs. The list of certification programs is continually growing, but currently includes:
- Alzheimer’s Disease Specialist Training (Alzheimer’s Association Approved)
- Basic Cooking Skills
- Behavioral Health
- Cooking for Chronic Conditions
- Diabetes Care
- Infection Control
- Palliative Care
- Preventing Readmissions
- Restorative Care
- And more!
our services
With a live-in caregiver, you have a single person who stays overnight, literally living in the home. This person sleeps at night (while also being ready for an emergency) and provides regular care during the day. In 24-hour caregiving, multiple caregivers provide always-awake, around-the-clock care, usually in 12-hour shifts.
No. Because our services are non-medical in nature, a doctor does not need to refer you to care. You can choose the caregiving services that are right for you, and get started whenever you’re ready. If you plan to bill your private insurance company (i.e., long-term care insurance), we can assist in the benefits coordination process and provide you with all necessary documentation for your insurance company.
Unfortunately, California law prohibits agencies like ours from administering medications, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help. Caregiver To You works with families to develop medication administration plans. These plans include activities like:
- Providing medication reminders
- Opening medication containers
- Helping with site selection
- Assembling, cleaning, and disassembling nebulizers
- Notifying the family of missed doses, medication refusal, or other incidents regarding medicines
Check here for more: https://www.cdss.ca.gov
The services provided by Caregiver To You allow our clients to age in place, which most people prefer over moving into an assisted-living facility. It’s time to start services when you or a loved one is struggling to live safely at home.
Some questions to consider when deciding if it’s time to start services:
- Has there been a decline in bathing, grooming, or hygiene activities?
- Have there been any falls, or is a fear of falling affecting the ability to accomplish basic tasks?
- Are nutritional needs being met, or are meals being missed or replaced with less-healthy options?
- Is it becoming difficult to keep up with general housework?
- Is there a loss of interest in hobbies and activities?
- Is there a lack of companionship that needs to be addressed? Would it be nice to have someone to play games, talk, walk, or just be with?
- Have there been missed doctor’s visits or other appointments?
- Have there been memory problems such as a stove left on, a garage door left open, or loss of frequently used items?
- Have there been hospital readmissions that could have been avoided with extra assistance?
- Has there been wandering from home or a failure to communicate whereabouts?
- Do you need more care than insurance will cover?
- Have you been considering institutional care like assisted living or nursing homes?
- Could a live-in or 24-hour caregiver allow your loved one to stay home?
Change is hard at any age. Especially when it involves something so personal. Our experienced caregivers and case managers will help your loved through this transition with a variety of strategies that embrace your loved one’s desire for independence. Often, starting with a risk-free, in-home consultation is a great way to break the ice and ease your loved one’s concerns.
Conversations regarding care for a parent can be incredibly tricky for families to navigate, and we’re here to support you. Our team can help you start the conversation with your family by providing tools and resources tailored to your situation. We’ve collected some tips from professionals and encourage you to read THIS blog post, summarized below.
- Here are some universally useful pieces of advice:
- To prevent defensiveness, don’t blindside your family with the conversation
- Have documentation ready, and present these issues in a matter of fact manner.
- Try not to make your siblings feel guilty or accused.
- Remember that it’s normal in every relationship to need help.
- Listen to your siblings with an open mind. Even if you know what they’re going to say, let them say it; don’t interrupt.
- Try to avoid falling into childhood roles and holding onto grudges.
The sooner you can start these conversations, the sooner you can decide and get the help you and your loved one deserve. Our team is ready to help you start the process however you feel comfortable.
FINANCIAL FAQs
Our caregiving services are customized to the needs of each client. The cost depends on several factors, including:
- The type of services needed
- The location where care will be given
- The number of hours per week that care is needed
To get a personalized estimate, call us at 800-869-4373 or fill out this FORM and we’ll reach out to you.
Caregiving services like those we provide are often a family’s first choice because it can be a cost-effective way for a loved one to age in place and an appealing alternative to nursing home care. We are committed to providing you the highest value possible.
We accept:
- Private pay (out-of-pocket)
- Payment through local agencies and nonprofits
- Long-term care insurance
- Workers’ compensation insurance
Generally, no. However, in addition to finding resources for those who qualify for government or nonprofit assistance, Caregiver To You will help you find trustworthy resources for other payment options, such as Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, and if the option is right for you, even reverse mortgages.
No. You never directly pay any individual we send to your home. Payments are always made to Caregiver To You, and you are never asked to pay an additional fee to any employee.
Yes! We understand that your circumstances can change at a moment’s notice, and you retain the flexibility to change your plan or schedule at any time. There are also no long-term contracts, so if you don’t feel we’re providing the best value to your family, you can discontinue service at any time. All we ask for is 48 hours’ notice.
COVID-19 concerns
On September 28, 2021, the California Department of Public Health issued an order requiring home care workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 30, 2021. The order leaves room for religious or medical exemptions, but we believe that every client has the right to require a vaccinated caregiver. We track the vaccination status of all our caregivers and will not assign unvaccinated caregivers to clients who require vaccination.
Clients are not required to wear a mask in their own home if they are not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Clients who are experiencing symptoms, may be asked to wear a mask if they can do so. Furthermore, a caregiver may request that a mask be worn during certain very close activities for their safety and the safety of other clients. Caregivers will remain masked while on the job or while in the client’s home. Caregivers may remove their masks if they are outdoors or on a break, provided they can maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing.
Caregivers are required to immediately report their own symptoms of COVID-19. They are also asked to check their symptoms before each shift, and a backup caregiver is provided if the primary caregiver is symptomatic. In addition, caregivers are trained to take specific hygiene precautions while working with patients, the most important of which are masking and frequent handwashing. Although COVID-19 is rarely spread through surface contamination, at a client’s request, caregivers are provided with disposable plastic gowns to wear during their visit.
becoming a caregiver
There is no minimum education requirement to become a caregiver. You will need to be able to read, write, speak and understand English well enough to perform your duties, which include reading prescription labels and medical information.
Special caregiver training will be provided by Caregiver To You during your initial orientation and ongoing continuing education.
Caregiver To You requires all Caregivers meet the following requirements:
- Compassion: A true caregiver is personally invested in the well-being of their clients.
- Reliability: Our clients value caregivers who provide consistent, punctual care.
- Communication: Caregivers must be able to read, write, speak and understand English well enough to perform their duties, which including reading prescription labels and other medical information.
- Transportation: Every caregiver must have reliable transportation to the client’s home. Some clients will need transportation in a Caregiver’s vehicle, but we’ll only match you with those clients if it works for you!
The following state requirements can be met after your initial interview:
- Registration: The State of California requires that all caregivers pay a fee and register on their Home Care Aide Registry
- Background Check: Passing a Live Scan Background Check (which requires fingerprinting) is required for registration on the state’s Home Care Aide Registry.
Caregivers must have reliable transportation to and from their shifts. Community transportation and ride sharing services may not be reliable enough to guarantee punctuality. It is up to the caregiver to ensure punctuality to every shift.
We’ll be honest: this job isn’t always glamorous. But it is always meaningful. Caregiving is one of the most effective ways to make a positive impact in someone’s’ life.
Caregiving is a profession. To keep up your skills and meet state requirements, continuing education is required. We’ll provide paid opportunities to make it happen.
If you’ve got what it takes personally, the rest is easy. We’ll provide you with the support you need to be confident in the care you provide. Apply today and we’ll be in touch.
Demand for Caregivers is very high. You should expect to have many opportunities to work shifts that vary in duration between 3 and 12 hours. We only require that caregivers keep a schedule of at least 20 hours per month.
One of the great things about being a caregiver is that it happens on YOUR schedule. While your schedule must be flexible enough to meet the needs of our clients, the demand for Caregivers is currently very high, so we hope to accommodate most caregivers’ schedules. Because we are required to maintain caregiver compliance with certain training requirements, we require that Caregivers provide a minimum of 20 hours of caregiving services each month to justify the cost of that training.