First, it's not easy choosing a Homecare Agency in San Diego. There must be hundreds of them, and they all seem to sound alike. The most frustrating thing I experienced when calling around to find out about an agency's services and prices is that no one wants to give out prices, or rates as they call them, over the phone. They want to send a representative out to where you are for an "assessment". Fair enough as I understand that assessing a person's needs are indeed relevant to determine the type of care needed and the skill level required for each client. But no prices over the phone? It immediately made me think about the old bait and switch routine, and I was suspicious. I guess we all are when it comes to our family, especially when they're in need of help, and my Mother of 87 years old was certainly in need of a lot of help, and fast. My Mother had lived alone for 9 years after my Father passed, and during that time she had done very well at maintaining her independence. We still enjoyed outings together, and she was physically, mentally and emotionally well. Of course, she had slowed down a bit, as we all do eventually, but she had no major ailments.. Until, she fell in her kitchen and broke her hip...shattered it in fact. It was the week before she was being released from the hospital when I was confronted with the harsh reality that my Mother would have to have more assistance than I could provide for her in her home. I have four children, they all live with me, so moving my Mother in was unfortunately not an option. The case manager at the hospital gave me a handful of Homecare Agency brochures and said to start calling them because they, the hospital, wouldn't release my Mother until there was someone to take care of her; full time care at her home. That's when I experienced what seemed like a never ending go around with every agency I called. And again, no one would give me simple, ballpark pricing over the phone! I must have met with 9 different agencies, and they all said the same thing, they all had similar pricing, and they all said they were the best. The bait and switch thing did happen when every one of the agencies gave me both hourly and live in rates that increased depending on the type of care and the amount of work necessary. So, I never really knew exactly how much it was going to cost before hiring any one of them. I then remembered that someone had given me a New Lifestyles magazine/directory that had a Homecare section that listed many area agencies. I kept turning pages until I came across an ad for "Avalon Homecare" and, guess what? They actually listed their prices...and they were less expensive than the agencies I had already called. I called Avalon, who is located in Carlsbad, and they gave me the same prices they had listed in the ad. The lady I spoke to was very friendly, warm and reassuring, and she sent a wonderful nurse to meet with me and my Mother. We hired Avalon, and for the past two years, my Mother has thrived again in her home, and she's doing better than I could have expected. The professionalism mixed with the warm family feel that my Mother and I have experienced with Avalon has made life easier and more enjoyable again. I just wanted to thank Avalon Homecare for making such a wonderful difference, and for being more than just another agency, because they are not all alike :) read more
