August 20, 2024 | Aging Life Care, Home Care
Wondering what a home care agency does, and why you might need one? We’re here to answer your questions. Following are answers to some of the most common questions we receive—and we’re always ready to answer more!
What types of home care services does Windward Life Care provide?
Windward Life Care offers a comprehensive range of services designed to assist clients with daily tasks and enhance their quality of life. This includes:
- Home care services (non-medical), provided by our home care aides, include light housekeeping, medication reminders, social activities, safety monitoring, transportation to appointments, assistance with errands, meal preparation according to dietary needs, and personal care such as bathing, dressing, and grooming. Our aides also provide non-medical end-of-life support.
- Home health care services are provided by our RNs and LVNs. They have deep experience in providing transitional or ongoing care for a variety of diagnoses. We also provide specialized support for clients living with chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
We pride ourselves on our continuum of care, which means that no matter what your care needs, we can help you navigate the journey. We call it “Care Where You Are.”
How do you select and train your caregivers?
Caregivers at Windward undergo a thorough selection process followed by comprehensive training. Our Compass Care Certification program is a 10-hour training series that is mandatory for all home care aides. Compass Care covers a range of critical topics including healthy aging, client safety, dementia care, mental health, and more. Additionally, the skills of each home care aide are assessed by Windward’s RN clinical services manager to ensure proficiency before they start working with clients.
We are proud that our caregiver turnover rate is roughly half the industry average. For the last five years, we have been recognized as a San Diego Union-Tribune “Top Workplace.”
Can you customize your services to my specific needs?
Yes. We adjust our services based on the client’s needs, health conditions, personal preferences, and lifestyle, ensuring that care is as effective and comfortable as possible. What’s more, we provide our services to wherever the client calls home, whether it’s their private residence or in a senior living community.
How do you protect my safety and privacy?
Windward Life Care is fully licensed by the Home Care Service Bureau and is a direct employer of home care aides. We do not use 1099 forms or utilize “independent contractors” to provide in-home care. We ensure that all state and federal labor laws are followed and that state and federal taxes are paid. We hold worker’s compensation and liability insurance and are bonded. We hold regular performance reviews and supervise our employees’ work. In taking responsibility for these important employer-related tasks, we lighten your load.
What are the options for live-in vs. hourly care?
Our minimum shift length is 4 hours, and we can provide up to 24/7 care, including live-in care.
How do you handle emergencies or unexpected situations?
When their client is in the ER, an Aging Life Care Manager can advocate for the client’s needs and wishes via telephone.
Our team is on call 24/7, bringing peace of mind to our clients and their families that they can always reach us should an emergency arise. After-hours calls go directly to Windward employees with access to client records, not a call center.
How much does home care cost, and is there financial assistance available?
Please contact us for information on our rates. All of our services are private pay, meaning we bill you directly and do not accept insurance or Medicare. If you have long-term care insurance, we can assist you with filing the claim and submitting invoices for reimbursement.