“I am the Director of Community Relations at Redwoods a community of seniors in Mill Valley, California. Our community serves over 320 residents with independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing. We are always looking for community partners to team up with us to meet the diverse needs of the residents we serve on our campus. With this many seniors on our campus, it is so important for our campus and staff to have trusted and licensed community partners who we know follow the rules of their respective state regulators. The Marin Home Care Association (MHCA) is an organization that I turn to and look to for answers and guidance to make sure that the caregivers who we allow to serve our campus are state registered and employed by a state licensed agency (hospice, home health, or home care). These licensed agencies supervise the healthcare workers and make sure they follow all the rules for safe support of our seniors. I have worked in this industry for the past 28 years, and I have seen different scenarios that have put clients at risk and hurt families and residents when their caregivers were private and not an employee of a licensed agency. I have learned that personal caretakers are not legally independent contractors but are in fact household employees and the client/family has all the employer responsibilities. 

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When seniors or families are seeking help and support, I beg and encourage you to contact the MHCA! It is too dangerous not to do your research and stay informed of how to protect yourself and loved ones. Thank you to the leadership team of the MHCA who continues to educate our communities, consumers, residents, and families. We need to be vigilant and stay educated on who is safe to serve our seniors. If you have not contacted the MHCA team yet, do yourself a favor and do it immediately!” 

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Sincerely,

William Foster, Director of Community Relations at Redwoods a Community of Seniors 

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"The residents of our Independent Living Community found the recent educational presentation by the Marin Home Care Association (MHCA) invaluable! Many of the attendees commented on needing and wanting to hire caregivers but were overwhelmed by the task. The MHCA speakers gave our audience the information they desired to get started and make the choices they needed to make. I also learned just how much the fields of Home Care, Home Health, and Hospice have changed in the last few years and how much they collaborate. The information learned will be vital for me both personally and professionally."

 

~Kimberly Salvail, MA, Wellness Program Coordinator Smith Ranch Homes