Home Care Questions Answered — Palm Desert & Coachella Valley | Custom Care Solutions

Question 1

How do we get started with home care?

Accepted Answer

The first step is a no-obligation phone consultation. We'll learn about each client's needs, review their daily routines and support needs, and walk you through how our care model works. From there, we develop a Custom Care Plan to match each client's needs and match the right caregiver to their situation before care begins. There's no pressure and no paperwork at the consultation.

Question 2

How quickly can care begin?

Accepted Answer

In most cases, we can begin care within a few days of the initial consultation. For urgent situations — such as a hospital discharge or a sudden change in a client's condition — we work to move as quickly as possible. Call us directly at (760) 469-4633 to discuss your timeline.

Question 3

Do you require a minimum number of hours?

Accepted Answer

We typically require a minimum of four hours per visit to ensure quality care and allow caregivers adequate time to complete all care tasks. Beyond that, there's no weekly minimum — we can provide care a few hours a week or around the clock, depending on your family's needs.

Question 4

What areas do you serve?

Accepted Answer

We serve the entire Coachella Valley, including Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, La Quinta, Indio, Coachella, Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes, and surrounding communities. If you're unsure whether we serve your area, call us and we'll let you know.

Question 5

Is Custom Care Solutions licensed?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Custom Care Solutions is a licensed Home Care Organization (HCO) regulated by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). Our license number is #334700038. California's HCO licensing law requires agencies to register all caregivers on the state Home Care Aide Registry, conduct background checks, and meet ongoing training and operational standards. Don't just take our word for it — we encourage you to verify our license directly with the CDSS and to do the same for any home care organization you are considering. Protecting your family starts with verifying credentials: https://www.ccld.dss.ca.gov/carefacilitysearch/FacDetail/334700038

Question 6

What is a Home Care Organization (HCO)?

Accepted Answer

A Home Care Organization is a California-licensed agency that employs and places Home Care Aides with clients. HCO licensing was established by the Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act to protect consumers from unlicensed, unscreened caregivers. Licensed HCOs must register all caregivers with the state, conduct Department of Justice and FBI background checks, and comply with CDSS oversight requirements. Hiring an unlicensed agency or an independent caregiver means bypassing all of these protections.

Question 7

Are your caregivers on the California Home Care Aide Registry?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every caregiver we employ is listed on the California Department of Social Services Home Care Aide Registry before they are assigned to any client. This is a legal requirement for licensed HCOs and a protection for consumers — you can verify any caregiver's registration status on the CDSS website at cdss.ca.gov.

Question 8

Do your caregivers have background checks?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every caregiver must pass a Department of Justice and FBI background check before being hired or assigned to a client. This is a non-negotiable requirement — no exceptions. The background check is conducted through the CDSS registration process and must be cleared before a caregiver can work with any client.

Question 9

Are your caregivers employees or independent contractors?

Accepted Answer

Our caregivers are W-2 employees of Custom Care Solutions — not independent contractors. This is an important distinction. As employees, they are covered by our workers' compensation insurance, supervised by our office team, and held to our operational standards. When you hire an independent caregiver or use an agency that classifies caregivers as independent contractors, you take on significant legal and financial liability. As an employer, we handle all of that.

Question 10

How do you match caregivers to clients?

Accepted Answer

We match caregivers based on several factors: the client's care needs and health conditions, the caregiver's skills and training, personality compatibility, and scheduling availability. For clients with dementia or cognitive decline, we specifically match caregivers with memory care training and experience. Before care begins, we introduce the caregiver to the client and family — you meet your team before they start.

Question 11

What happens if our regular caregiver is unavailable?

Accepted Answer

If a scheduled caregiver can't make a visit, our office team handles coverage — we don't leave that to the family to figure out. We notify you before the visit, not after, and we work to send a familiar caregiver whenever possible. We maintain a backup caregiver pool specifically for coverage situations.

Question 12

What training do your caregivers receive?

Accepted Answer

All caregivers complete orientation training before their first assignment, covering safety, personal care techniques, communication, and our operational standards. Caregivers assigned to clients with dementia or Alzheimer's receive additional specialized training in memory care techniques, redirection, and behavioral support. Training is ongoing — not a one-time event.

Question 13

What does a Custom Care Plan include?

Accepted Answer

Every Custom Care Plan at Custom Care Solutions is built through a thorough phone consultation — not assembled from a generic checklist. We review each client's daily routines, functional needs, personal preferences, and home environment, then build a plan that guides exactly how our caregivers will support them. As a licensed Home Care Organization, our caregivers provide non-medical assistance with daily living. When clinical guidance is needed, we refer to licensed RNs, LVNs, and other qualified medical professionals — we do not employ them directly, but we work closely with them. Many of our staff hold certifications as CNAs, LVNs, and other specialties. Care plans are updated as needs change.

Question 14

Can you provide care after a hospital stay?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Post-hospitalization support is one of the most common reasons families contact us. We work with hospital discharge planners and can often begin care within days of a discharge. Our caregivers provide hands-on, non-medical support with mobility, personal care, medication reminders, and daily tasks during recovery — helping clients stay safe and comfortable at home. We also provide sitters while clients are in the hospital, rehab facilities, and post-surgical care to assist with recovery and daily routines.

Question 15

Do you provide around-the-clock coverage?

Accepted Answer

Yes. For clients who need continuous support, we offer 24-hour coverage with a consistent caregiver presence in the home — day and night — through structured rotating shifts and regular relief coverage. We'll help you determine which schedule makes the most sense for each client's situation and level of need.

Question 16

What services do you NOT provide?

Accepted Answer

As a non-medical home care agency, our caregivers do not provide skilled nursing services, administer medications, perform wound care, or carry out any task that requires a medical license. We provide medication reminders (not administration), personal care, companionship, homemaking, and transportation. If a client needs skilled nursing or therapy services, those are provided by a separate home health agency — often in coordination with our care.

Question 17

How much does home care cost?

Accepted Answer

The cost of home care depends on the number of hours, the type of care needed, and the schedule. We provide transparent pricing during the phone consultation — no hidden fees. We're happy to discuss costs and help you understand what level of care fits your budget and each client's needs.

Question 18

Does Medicare or Medi-Cal cover home care?

Accepted Answer

Medicare does not cover non-medical home care (personal care, companionship, homemaking). Medicare covers skilled home health services — nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy — when ordered by a physician after a qualifying event. Medi-Cal may cover some in-home supportive services through the IHSS program, which is a separate program from private home care. Long-term care insurance often covers non-medical home care — we can help you understand your policy.

Question 19

Do you accept long-term care insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We work with many long-term care insurance policies and can help families navigate the claims process. Bring your policy information to the consultation and we'll review it with you. Most long-term care insurance policies cover non-medical home care services like ours.

Answers to the questions families ask most

Getting Started

Licensing & Credentials

Our Caregivers

Care Plans & Services

Costs & Payment

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