Common Questions about Home Care Services in and Near Santa Cruz, CA
Have you been looking into options for elderly home care services in the Central Coast region of California? If so, you probably have a lot of questions. Fortunately, Visiting Angels Central Coast has been working with seniors and families in Scotts Valley, Watsonville, Marina, Carmel, Santa Cruz, Aptos, Salinas and surrounding areas in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties for many years, so you can count on us to give you peace of mind.
Here are some of the most common questions we've received about professional in-home senior care:
Getting Started
- What services does Visiting Angels Central Coast provide?
- How long will it take to establish services?
- What hours can the caregiver work?
- What happens if I don’t like my caregiver?
About Visiting Angels Central Coast
- Is Visiting Angels Central Coast licensed?
- Where is Visiting Angels Central Coast located?
- What areas do you serve?
- What does “Care Management” mean?
Our Caregivers
- Are the caregivers employees of Visiting Angels?
- How are the caregivers screened for employment?
- Do you provide training for Visiting Angels caregivers?
Costs
- How much do your services cost?
- Are there a minimum number of hours required for elderly home care services?
- How often do I get billed for services?
- Does insurance pay for your services?
Additional Information
Getting Started with Elderly Home Care Services in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties
What elderly home care services does Visiting Angels Central Coast provide?
At Visiting Angels Central Coast, we specialize in assisting with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Our elderly home care services include:
- Companionship
- Personal hygiene assistance (bathing, grooming, getting dressed, toileting, etc.)
- Meal preparation
- Light housekeeping
- Medication reminders
- Incontinence care
- Mobility and ambulation assistance
- Transportation
- Help with running errands
- Overnight monitoring
- Pet care
We also offer memory care for seniors with Alzheimer's disease and other form of dementia, palliative care for seniors who are trying to find comfort and relief in their lives, respite care to help family caregivers take time for themselves and many other services included in Senior Life Care Navigation. Our goal is to give seniors in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties the support they need to stay safe and comfortable at home for as long as they wish.
How long will it take to establish services?
In most cases, Visiting Angels Central Coast can conduct assessments the same day or the day following an inquiry. After the initial consultation the Care Advisor will have enough information to establish a schedule and assign an appropriate caregiver. This allows a Visiting Angels caregiver to begin elderly home care services 1-2 days after receiving the initial request. In emergency situations this time period can be expedited.
What hours can the caregiver work?
Visiting Angels Central Coast has caregivers that are available 24 hours a day 7 days week. During your initial consultation we will evaluate your specific situation and provide recommendations on how to most effectively meet those needs, ensuring you, or your loved one, is safe and being cared for in the most efficient way possible.
What happens if I don’t like my caregiver?
Visiting Angels Central Coast makes every effort to ensure we match you with a compatible caregiver, taking into account not only skill level requirements for you or your family’s situation, but also personality attributes identified as important to providing effective elderly home care services. In the event this match is inappropriate Visiting Angels will make every effort to ensure the issue is resolved, or replace the caregiver if deemed necessary.
About Visiting Angels Central Coast
Is Visiting Angels Central Coast licensed?
While the state of California does not currently provide a licensure for home care agencies, Visiting Angels Central Coast has taken every step necessary to ensure we are above compliance if or when such a license is established. Visiting Angels has been accredited by the California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH), the states largest certificate program for agencies such as Visiting Angels. This certificate establishes guidelines in line with licensure stating that approved agencies must provide proof of; general and professional liability insurance ($1 million/3 million), workers compensation insurance, operate with employee based caregivers, give pre-employment background clearance, a crime/employee dishonest bond ($10,000), a tuberculosis screening, and provide a written client agreement including how fees are specified.
Where is Visiting Angels Central Coast located?
Visiting Angels has two offices: One in Scotts Valley and one in Marina. This helps us better serve seniors throughout the Central Coast area of California.
What areas do you serve?
Visiting Angels Central Coast provides elderly home care services to seniors throughout Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties in California. Our Scotts Valley office serves seniors in Santa Cruz, Aptos, Capitola, Castroville, Felton, Freedom, Moss Landing, Scotts Valley, Soquel and Watsonville. Our Marina office serves seniors in Monterey, Salinas, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Marina, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach and Seaside.
If your loved one lives outside of our service area, we may still be able to provide the care they need or refer them to a Visiting Angels office in their area.
What does “Care Management” mean?
“Case/Care Management” a general term referring to the facilitation and coordination of services that assure the appropriate care and support is provided to clients and their families. As part of Visiting Angels' ongoing care management we provide in-home assessments, re-assessments, drop-in visits, 24/7 availability, schedule changes/adjustments, community referrals and care coordination with other involved agencies such as visiting nurses, discharge planners or hospice services.
Our Caregivers in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties
Are the caregivers employees of Visiting Angels Central Coast?
All Visiting Angels Central Coast caregivers are bonded and insured employees of our agency. This means that Visiting Angels is responsible for such things as unemployment insurance, payroll taxes, and Workers Compensation Insurance.
How are the caregivers screened for employment?
All Visiting Angels Central Coast, caregivers have gone through a multi-interview process which includes; a personality/attitudes assessment, an E-Verify check through the Department of Homeland Security, a Social Security number trace, a 7-year county criminal search (multiple counties if applicable), a 7-year federal district criminal search, national crime database search (national sex offenders registry search & wants/warrants search), a driving record clearance, a tuberculosis screening, and a drug screening.
Do you provide training for Visiting Angels caregivers?
At Visiting Angels Central Coast, our caregivers are required to participate in proficiency building classes and lessons to remain on our caregiver registry and available for placement with your family. In addition to regular written testing, Visiting Angels routinely provides hands-on training sessions to its caregiver staff. Caregivers are required to attend a combination of tutorials, knowledge, and skill building classes in order to provide the best quality elderly home care services for our clients.
Costs of Elderly Home Care Services in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties
How much do your elderly home care services cost?
Visiting Angels does not have set pricing for our elderly home care services. Services are determined by the individualized need for each client and their family. To establish an individualized schedule and care plan, Visiting Angels offers a free consultation that allows us to evaluate you and/or your family’s needs, allows you to ask questions, and allows Visiting Angels to ensure the services are as affordable as possible.
Are there a minimum number of hours required for elderly home care services?
Our caregivers are available for as little as 15 minutes per day existing through an “Angel Visit”, a flat rate shift that can be as short as you want and as long as 3 hours in length. On a standard hourly basis, we require that shifts be at least 4 hours, in length and at least 3 times per week, allowing Visiting Angels to appropriately compensate the caregiver.
How often do I get billed for services?
Since Visiting Angels Central Coast is mandated to pay its caregivers weekly, we also bill our clients weekly. If there is a reason why you may need this done differently we may be able to customize a billing cycle for you as well. This may be necessary when you using such things as veteran benefits or a long-term care insurance policy that requires a monthly invoice to cover elderly home care services.
Does insurance pay for your elderly home care services?
Government insurance programs such as MediCal, Medicaid and Medicare do not cover the costs of our essential personal elderly home care services. However, most Long-Term Care Insurance policies do pay for services such as those provided by Visiting Angels Central Coast.
Click here to learn more about the payment methods we accept.
Additional Information About Elderly Home Care Services from Visiting Angels Central Coast
How do I contact Visiting Angels Central Coast after hours?
Visiting Angels provides around-the-clock access to its office staff through a live On-Call system. If for any reason you have a need that must be addressed immediately, even after hours, you may call the office at any time. You will be prompted to leave a message in the on-call voice mailbox, and will receive a call back within 15 minutes by one of our office staff, guaranteed. Please keep in mind that this is not an answering service- you are getting direct access to staff members who are familiar with your case. We are committed to serving your needs in a way that is most convenient for you.
If you have further questions about our elderly home care services, contact our Scotts Valley or Marina, CA office or call us at 831-430-0616 today!
Serving Scotts Valley, Watsonville, Marina, Carmel, Santa Cruz, Aptos, Salinas, and throughout Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties in California
Visiting Angels CENTRAL COAST IN CALIFORNIA
5274 Scotts Valley Dr #102Scotts Valley, CA 95066
Phone: 831-430-0616
Fax: 831-430-0612
HCO #444700002