By Michael Lamb

For a growing number of San Diego’s elderly and those individuals requiring in-home care, feeling secure is more important now than ever before. One local agency, California Home Care (CHC) notes an increasing number of families are realizing that attempting to provide around-the-clock care and safety for their loved ones presents significant challenges. CHC president Margarette Borg counsels families faced with this dilemma. “Everyday I hear from people who are realizing they can no longer keep up the pace physically and emotionally. Yet, it is difficult for them to trust outsiders with their loved one’s safety and home care needs. A quality home care agency truly understands the family’s concerns and is fully qualified to provide professional caregiving services,” she says.

According to Borg, signs that a loved one’s family should consider the services of a home care agency include worrying about the health and welfare of an elderly family member; missing work to help with activities of daily living; noting signs of loneliness and depression; and suspicious bruising which may be caused by falling while alone.

California Home Care’s employees are thoroughly screened during a rigorous hiring process that includes interviews, skills assessments, written tests, references and certifications or licenses verifications. “Additionally,” says Borg, “we conduct an extensive three-point background check before applicants are employed.” The agency also continuously conducts random and mandatory drug testing to ensure caregivers remain in compliance with the high standards CHC clients and families deserve.

To maintain open communication between clients, families and physicians CHC provides each client with a Bill of Rights, specifically outlining what individuals can expect from Borg’s professional home care agency. Among CHC staff are a client relations director and a nurse manager, both who routinely visit clients in their homes. Additionally, the agency maintains effective communication through a quarterly newsletter that provides medical updates, home care industry news, timely articles, better living and safety tips.

Borg says she believes that making sure caregivers keep pace with the ever-changing medical and home care industries is especially important. CHC caregivers, all of whom are CPR certified, insured and bonded, are required to participate in the agency’s comprehensive educational program. Caregivers are certified through attending CHC’s Focus Classes. The classes train employees in such areas as communication, personal care, body mechanics, basic home safety and meal preparation. Additionally, the agency offers employees monthly continuing education classes on timely topics such as diabetes, kidney, liver, neurological diseases, respiratory conditions and skin and breast cancers. “As a response to our caregivers’ requests, we’ve recently added a mind/body connection class,” says Borg. “A request for a class such as this is a reflection of how progressive our employees have become over the years. I see this as a positive component of the home care industry that’s been around since the 1800s.”

The agency’s high standards and employee commitment to quality in home care is the reason CHC was recently honored by receiving the San Diego Regional Home Care Council’s Caregiver of the Year award for the second year in a row.

“Our professional and reliable caregivers have made this possible for the past three out of five years,” Borg says.

CHC serves fragile seniors, recuperating patients, homebound individuals and couples, hospice patients, high-risk pregnancies, AIDS patients and those people with special needs. The agency offers personal care assistance with activities of daily living, supervision of medications, light housekeeping and laundry, meal preparation, grocery shopping, errands, transportation, and just plain companionship. Hourly and live-in services are available depending upon clients’ unique requirements.

California Home Care’s mission is to provide the finest care available to help its clients achieve the highest level of independence and life satisfaction possible in the home. Borg says, “We firmly believe that being at home is more comfortable than being anyplace else.”

For more information about in-home services, call California Home Care at
(619) 521-5858 or (800) 518-2222.