How to Get Started with In-Home Care

Schedule a free in-home assessment · Call (760) 720-7740, available 24/7

Step 1: Call us or send a request

Call (760) 720-7740, which is answered 24/7, or request a free assessment online. You can also send us a note if you just have questions. It's fine to call before you're sure you need care. Many families call to talk through options after a fall, a hospital stay or a change in memory.

Step 2: A short conversation about what's changed

We'll ask about your parent or loved one, what a normal day looks like right now, what's become hard, and what worries you most. We'll also ask what days and hours you're thinking about. If memory changes, wandering or hard nights are part of the picture, tell us. Dementia and overnight care are a big part of what we do.

Step 3: The free in-home assessment

We meet you and your loved one at home. We walk through the house, including stairs, bathrooms, entry doors and the yard, and talk about daily routines, safety concerns, and how many hours of help make sense. Family members who live away are welcome to join by phone.

The assessment is also your chance to ask us questions. If you're comparing agencies, see our list of questions to ask a home care agency.

Step 4: Your written care plan

After the assessment we put together a written care plan built around your loved one's routines, habits and what comforts them. Every caregiver on the schedule follows the same plan, so care stays steady from one shift to the next.

Step 5: Choosing a schedule

Visits have a 4-hour minimum. Families choose what fits:

• A few visits a week for help with bathing, meals, errands and company

• Longer daily shifts of 8 to 12 hours

• Overnight shifts when nights are the problem

• 24-hour care for someone who can't be left alone

• Respite care so a family caregiver can take a break

There are no long-term contracts. You can add hours, cut back or pause care as needs change.

Step 6: Matching a caregiver

Our caregivers are W-2 employees of Heritage Senior Care, Inc. We hire, train, schedule and supervise them ourselves. We match available caregivers to your loved one's needs, personality and the shift length you need, and we go over entry, parking and household routines with you before the first visit.

Step 7: The first visit and after

On the first visit, the caregiver follows the care plan and gets to know your loved one's routine. As things change, we update the plan and the schedule. We ask families to choose one family point person for updates and decisions, so nothing gets lost between siblings or relatives.

All scheduling is handled from our one office at 2111 Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad, and our caregivers work in homes across North County San Diego.

What to have ready

You don't need all of this before you call, but it helps at the assessment:

• A list of your loved one's medications and their doctors' names and phone numbers

• A rough picture of a typical day: wake-up time, meals, naps, bedtime

• What's become hard, such as bathing, getting dressed, cooking, driving or nights

• Any memory changes, falls or recent hospital stays

• The days and hours you're hoping to cover

• Who the family point person will be

• Entry details for the home, such as keys, gate codes and parking

Questions about getting started with home care

How do I start in-home care for a parent?

Call (760) 720-7740, available 24/7, or request a free assessment. We'll talk about what's changed, meet you and your parent at home, and put together a written care plan before care starts.

What happens at a home care assessment?

We meet you and your loved one at home, walk through the house, and talk about daily routines, safety concerns and how many hours of help you need. Family members who live away can join by phone. Then we put together a written care plan.

Is the assessment free?

Yes. The in-home assessment is free.

What should I have ready before the assessment?

A list of medications and doctors, a sense of a typical day, what's become hard, any memory changes or recent falls, and the days and hours you'd like covered. You don't need all of it to call.

What is the minimum visit length?

Visits have a 4-hour minimum. Families can choose a few visits a week, longer daily shifts, overnight shifts or 24-hour care.

Do I have to sign a long-term contract?

No. There are no long-term contracts. You can add hours, cut back or pause care as needs change.

Are your caregivers employees?

Yes. Our caregivers are W-2 employees of Heritage Senior Care, Inc. We hire, train, schedule and supervise them ourselves.

Can family who live far away be involved?

Yes. Family members who live away can join the assessment by phone. We ask families to choose one point person for updates and decisions. See our guide to caring for a parent from out of state.

What if my parent has dementia?

Dementia care is one of our main focuses. Tell us about memory changes, wandering or hard nights when you call, and we'll plan the care and schedule around them. Learn more about Alzheimer's and dementia care and 24-hour dementia care at home.

Not sure yet if it's time?

Start with our list of signs your parent needs help at home.

Talk with us about care at home. Free assessment · (760) 720-7740 (24/7) · Office Mon–Fri 9 am–4 pm · 2111 Palomar Airport Rd Ste 120, Carlsbad, CA 92011