Why choose home care?
Home care allows you to continue to enjoy the comfort of home while getting the additional attention and care you need to live your most vibrant life.
What are the benefits of using a home care agency?
Harmony Caregiving home care agency takes care of the logistics behind hiring a caregiver. We handle the screening, recruitment process, and scheduling for you. We ensure our caregivers are well-trained, licensed and bonded, and fit to work in the vulnerable sector. We have workers’ compensation and liability insurance for our caregivers, so liability does not fall to you. We can adjust to your care needs as they change. Using a home care agency means you can let go of the details and trust that everything is handled appropriately.
Do you provide home care to those living in an assisted living facility?
Whether you live in a house, an assisted living facility, or in a senior community, we can come to you. Harmony Caregiving is an approved service provider for Covenant Health, Capital Care and Medavie Blue Cross.
What is your hiring process for caregivers? What training and background checks have been completed?
All of our caregivers are licensed, bonded, insured, and have completed a vulnerable sector and criminal background check. Each caregiver is pre-screened and interviewed, and we require two professional references before hiring. Once hired, we provide an introduction and additional training for each individual client depending on the situation. We also offer dementia training to our caregivers (see below) to ensure they are prepared to support our clients with dementia.
Are your caregivers trained to work with clients with dementia?
We do offer dementia training to our caregivers. The training is created by the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada and provides the knowledge and understanding required to work with the physical, mental and emotional symptoms of dementia. Many of our caregivers are trained and experienced in caring for people with various illnesses and challenges including Huntington’s, dementia, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, Parkinson’s, etc. Our caregivers’ professional and personal experience in the field is an important part of the recruitment and hiring process.
How long is a scheduled visit with a caregiver?
We match the needs of each individual and the time they require. Each visit can range anywhere from a minimum of 3 hours per week to full, 24-hour care.
How do I set up services? What is the process?
Start by calling Harmony Caregiving at 780-328-3917 and we will schedule a free consultation with our Client Care Coordinators. They will assess your needs, create a care plan, and get a sense of which caregiver would be a good match for you. If you are ready to start services, they will begin the process of scheduling a Meet & Greet with your new caregiver.
What are your rates?
We base our rates upon level and type of care required. You are provided with a cost estimate of our services relative to your care needs during the consultation, once the situation is assessed. Additional to an hourly rate, we charge our clients for mileage at a rate per kilometer when our caregivers drive with or on behalf of the client.
What services do you provide?
We offer a variety of services, including companionship, personal care assistance (i.e., grooming, bathing, toileting, personal hygiene), dementia care, respite care, light housekeeping, medication management, hospital and appointment accompaniment, errand services, meal preparation, and transition services (such as moving into a facility or long term care). See our “Home Care Services” menu for a detailed description of each service.
What are your hours of operation? Are you available weekends and stat holidays?
Yes, we are able to provide care 24/7. We charge time and a half for visits that fall on a stat holiday.
How many different caregivers will I have?
You/your loved one will have a primary caregiver that covers the majority (if not all) of the shifts; a secondary caregiver will be introduced to cover the primary caregiver. For clients requesting care 7 days/week or for more than 12hrs/day, more than one primary caregiver will be introduced, but we try to limit this as much as possible to ensure consistency.
Is there a 24-hour phone line for emergencies?
Yes, we have a member of our staff available on-call for emergencies at all times. Please call 780-328-3917 with any emergencies.
Do I need to sign a contract? If so, how easy is it to terminate, and what happens if I am unhappy with the services?
Our clients sign an agreement, acknowledging the details of the services and rates as agreed upon. There is no penalty for terminating services, as long as notice is provided at least 24 hours in advance of a scheduled visit. If you are unhappy with the services, please contact our office and speak to one of our Client Care Coordinators, as the quality of care your loved one is receiving and your level of satisfaction is of the utmost importance to us.