Welcome to Coral Tree In-home Care
kindness. comfort. compassion.
We provide caregivers, care management, old-fashioned kindness, and neighborly support to older adults who want to live at home safely, comfortably, and as independently as possible.
Since 2010 we’ve helped more than 500 families in Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Newport Coast, and neighboring Southern California communities live safer, happier lives.
Looking for care for yourself or a loved one? Please feel free to call us anytime.
We’re here to help. (949) 706 7550.
Home Care Organization Number 304700001
Our Blog
Our BlogLife Stories, Care Conversations, Wisdom & Thanks
Gratitude for Our Caregivers | Ninta
Ninta has been working as a caregiver since 2006 and started working for Coral Tree in 2013. She is retiring this year, and was going to return to Indonesia, but now feels that since she has bonded with her 14-month-old granddaughter, Faith, she will stay close to...
Our Friends | John Eilertson: A Pilot’s Story
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”– John 15:13 Through our work, our family has the great privilege of getting to know elders in our community, and to hear stories from their lives. We’ve had the opportunity to care for...
Cassidy’s Corner | Shortbread and Brawn
My father-in-law liked to read, eat sweets and drink whisky. Most of all he liked to make money. He had an unconscious habit of shaking coins in his hand–a reminder? My mother-in-law used to call him moneybags but that was after they were divorced. Mr. Mac, as I used...
Cassidy’s Corner | The Frogman, a Prince
My dad lost a lot. When he was two years old he lost his father who died from complications from being gassed in the trenches during the Great War. He lost his mother next, who had to go to work to support her two sons. Jack was angry at her, not understanding her...
Wisdom from Our Elders: An Interview with Bob Cogan, 96-years-old
“I’ve never seen such devotion.” These are the first words my mother says when I ask her to describe our friend Bob Cogan, who turned 96 this year. Bob is straight-forward, ethical, and kind. As my mom says: “He is a good man.”
Poetry Rx | “Small Kindnesses” by Danusha Laméris
I’ve been thinking about the way, when you walkdown a crowded aisle, people pull in their legsto let you by. Or how strangers still say “bless you”when someone sneezes, a leftoverfrom the Bubonic plague. “Don’t die,” we are saying.And sometimes, when you spill...
Wisdom | The Sacred Pause by Jack Kornfield
Some wisdom from Jack Kornfield in time for the holidays... An excerpt from Jack's book The Wise Heart; and also published here on JackKornfield.com. Our life can take on a whirlwind quality of working, responding, answering, solving, building, caring, tending and...
Testimonials
Cassidy and Donald run a world class operation. My father has Alzheimer’s and I really didn’t know where to turn when I knew we’d need someone to look in on him. I’d interviewed a couple of services and was not impressed. But one conversation with Cassidy about my father, and I just knew this service would be good. She did not disappoint when she came for an interview with one of her long-time caregivers. Everyone is very comforting and professional. The caregivers they have are simply the best. My father has been in excellent hands. They do so much for us, and I can never thank them enough for all the little and big things that go well beyond daily care for my dad. They’re simply part of our family, and that’s the way an in-home care service should be.
If there is a better company that cares for people….I wouldn’t know where to find it. These people are professional, quick to be at your side and completely wonderful..each and every one of them. My highest thank you to the entire company.
Coral Tree were true partners to us when our mother required more care to live in her home safely. They were there every step of the way, carefully helping us through difficult decisions and finding the right caregivers for her and her needs. When her health became more of an issue they were right there – guiding us from their wealth of knowledge and understanding of the situation.
Kindness, compassion, familial care is how I would best describe them and would recommend them to anyone looking for added care for a loved one.
Our Caregivers
“When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.” – the Dalai Lama
Coral Tree’s caregivers are the heart of the work we do. We have a wonderful team of experienced, loving caregivers – many of whom we’ve worked with since we started Coral Tree in 2010. Our caregivers help our clients continue to live meaningful lives, feel loved and valued, and maintain their independence, health, and well-being. All of our caregivers are covered by Coral Tree’s workers’ compensation and liability insurance.
Our Caregiving Services
Coral Tree’s in-home care and caregiving senior care services allow older adults to safely maintain their independence and health in the comfort of their own home. We offer both hourly, 24-hour, and live-in care, as well as care management — Cassidy, Cynthia, Christina, Marta & Natasya oversee all of our clients’ care and are in regular contact with their family and loved ones. We are also happy to accommodate any non-medical special needs.
Home Care Organization Number 304700001
Activities of Daily Living
Companionship & Social Interaction
Help with Daily Routines
Additional Support
“Our Home Is Everything”
The Importance of Aging in Place
A 2014 study conducted by Merrill Lynch shows that for the vast majority of retirees – 85% – the preference for receiving extended care is in their own home. The study also found that the emotional importance of one’s home increases as we age. “Prior to age 55, more homeowners say the financial value of their home outweighs its emotional value. As people age, however, they are far more likely to say their home’s emotional value is far more important than its financial value.”
Said one focus group participant: “Our home is everything we put into our house materially and emotionally over the years. It’s us.”
Our Small Business
Del, Cynthia, Donald, Finn, Cassidy, Kate, Christina, Natasya & Sari
Based in Newport Beach, California, we are a small, family-owned “boutique” caregiving agency — boutique in the sense that we are a small company (no franchises here!) and strive to offer a personalized level of service.
Taking care of people in a personal and meaningful way has been at the heart of Coral Tree since Cassidy & Donald started the business in 2010.
For Cassidy, having devoted much of her life to caring for her mother, father, and uncle (and Donald and kids!), as well as always helping look after older neighbors and friends, starting Coral Tree was, in many ways, simply continuing what she has always done: help others. It is her personal interest in people: in their stories, lives, history & well-being — and her dedication & commitment — that is the foundation of how we try and connect with and care for our clients.
We understand the struggles that children, spouses and family caregivers face in caring for aging loved ones. We also empathize with the pain and struggle that our seniors without local family or support face. We understand, and we are here to help.
Resources for Navigating Your
In-home Care Journey
Your Guide to Helpful Insights & Practical Support
Why Choose In-home Care?
In-home Care & Coral Tree Caregivers Are Safe
Coral Tree’s caregivers are kind, experienced, carefully screened, and covered by our liability and workers’ compensation insurances. As a small agency, we get to know everyone who works with us personally. Many of our caregivers have worked with us since we started Coral Tree in 2010 and have decades of experience caring for older adults. Our caregivers understand the inclinations and sensitivities of older adults: providing care for seniors is their profession and life’s work. Cassidy, Cynthia, Christina, Marta & Natasya also oversee all of our client care, liaise with families, and make regular visits to our clients to ensure they are receiving the best possible care, as well as that our caregivers have any additional support they might need in caring for your loved one.
In-home Care Is Personalized Care
Together with our caregivers, we provide a high level of personalized care and get to know our clients and their families well. We understand what a huge step it is be able to accept help and to invite people who aren’t your family into your home. We’re here to help each step of the way.
“When you get to the point where you need in-home care it can be very scary,” said the granddaughter of one of our clients. “The team at Coral Tree not only eased the pain of what we were dealing with emotionally, but more importantly became part of our FAMILY… My grandmother emphatically used to say she didn’t know what she would do with out her ‘best friend.’ I could not recommend a better company to take care of our loved ones.”
Nine out of 10 Older Adults Would Prefer to Receive Extended Care at Home
Did you know that nine out of 10 older adults say they would prefer to receive extended care in the familiarity and comfort of their own home? According to a 2014 Merrill Lynch study, the emotional importance and significance of one’s home increases as we age. “Prior to age 55, more homeowners say the financial value of their home outweighs its emotional value. As people age, however, they are far more likely to say their home’s emotional value is far more important than its financial value.” Said one focus group participant: “Our home is everything we put into our house materially and emotionally over the years. It’s us.”
In-home Care & Coral Tree Caregivers Support Loved Ones with Dementia & Alzheimer’s
Being able to receive care at home, in the comfort of familiar things, sounds, smells, and routines can help ease the stress and anxiety of a dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis. It’s even said that being at home, where you have memories and associations, can help impede the progress of the disease.
Moving Is Stressful!
Moving is stressful at any age –– research suggests that moving is even more stressful than divorce! –– but moving is especially stressful for older adults, and can result in Relocation Stress Syndrome or “transfer trauma.” Transfer trauma can sadly lead to a dramatic decline in mental and physical health. Older adults with memory loss are particularly susceptible.
In-home Care Is Flexible
As your loved one’s health and personal care needs change, you can always increase or decrease the amount of care. We offer shorter hours, as well as longer hours up to 24-hour and live-in care.
Coral Tree Caregivers Offer One-to-one Care
As opposed to assisted living or board and care facilities that have just a handful of staff overseeing the myriad needs of all residents, in-home care allows your loved one to have one-to-one care: one caregiver dedicated solely to your loved one’s well-being, supporting them in their activities of daily living and routines, and caring for their personal needs.
Coral Tree Caregivers Allows for Greater Freedom & Independence
In-home care allows your loved one the greatest sense of freedom and independence. Changing bodies and cognitive struggles can lead to intense physical and psychological stress in older adults. Accepting care in our later years is challenging in our culture – so much of our identity is tied up in an unrealistic notion of independence; and a sense of losing one’s independence is often an intense additional psychological burden for senior to bear. But being able to receive care in the comfort and privacy of one’s own home can help soften the challenges of aging. In-home care allows your loved one to continue their own personal daily routines, personal meal and medication schedules, and personal hobbies on their time, in their way. Psychologically this provides an invaluable sense of independence and continued control over one’s life.
Coral Tree Caregivers Promotes Healing & Well-being
Research has shown that we heal more quickly and comfortably at home. Seniors who live at home – even those needing help with personal care and dealing with chronic conditions – report greater life satisfaction. Patients who receive in-home care are also less likely to be re-hospitalized.
Working with Coral Tree vs. Hiring Private Care
Deciding to hire a caregiver for a loved one is a big decision for most families. Where to start? How much support is needed? What’s the best way to bring in outside help? How much will this cost? What are the risks involved?
We’ve worked with hundreds of families throughout Orange County and understand all of the nuance and thought and sensitivity that goes into the decision to hire someone to work in your home; as well as all of the questions that might arise, and things you’ll want to consider.
Working with Coral Tree (as opposed to hiring a private caregiver directly) should help reduce the burden of stress and worry on a variety of levels.
For one, our caregivers are people our family knows. They have experience working with older adults and are dedicated to the work of caring for others. Many of our caregivers have worked with us since we started Coral Tree in 2010. We also personally interview all new hires; we run background checks; and we only hire caregivers that have a minimum of four years experience providing one-to-one care for an older adult. Many of our caregivers have decades of experience providing care for older adults, and have trained extensively in the myriad aspects of elder care. For our caregivers, caregiving is their career and life’s work and they are sensitive to the needs and desires of older minds and bodies. Our caregivers also do training every year, and are all registered with the state of California.
Your loved one and family also always has our support. Our care managers: Cassidy, Cynthia, Christina, Marta & Natasya make regular visits to our clients; we also manage all of the scheduling needs. If the caregiver working with your parent becomes sick, or needs time off, we will introduce, train, and send another of our caregivers to work with your loved one. Any scheduling needs that might arise are always our responsibility.
Working with us also protects your family from significant legal and financial risk. Our caregivers are our employees, and so covered by our workers’ compensation and liability insurances. Did you know that if your family decides to hire a caregiver privately, that you are legally required to pay both workers’ compensation insurance and payroll taxes? Caregivers rarely qualify as independent contractors and would be considered an employee of your parent or loved one.
If the caregiver you’ve hired privately is injured while working for you (they sprain their back, for example), and they aren’t covered by a worker’s compensation policy, your family would be personally responsible for all of their medical expenses related to their injury.
Many people mistakenly think a private caregiver would fall under the category of “residential employee” as covered by homeowner’s insurance, but this is not the case. (You can find “residential employee” in the the definitions part of your policy.) Caregivers do not quality as residential employees as defined by the law.
Also, in California workers’ compensation insurance is open-ended. That means there is no fixed amount that is paid out in the event of an employee getting injured, and you would be responsible for the private caregiver’s workers’ compensation and medical expenses for the life of the injury. Because of the nature of the work caregivers do: transferring, lifting, and assisting are often involved, and they are more susceptible to injury than people in other lines of work.
Another risk to your family, if you decide to hire a caregiver privately, is the caregiver claiming unemployment after the job has ended. If you haven’t been paying payroll taxes, you would be personally responsible for paying their unemployment and also subject to a fine. You would also be required to pay back taxes for the time they were under your employment, as well as interest on those back taxes.
Helpful Books, Articles & Support
Recommended Videos
“Compassion results in pleasure. Compassion results in decreased levels of stress. Compassion results in promotion of the immune system.” – Dr. James Doty, Stanford University
Founder and Director of Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE), Dr. James Doty, speaks on the power of compassion and importance of the work of CCARE.
CCARE investigates methods for cultivating compassion and promoting altruism within individuals and society through rigorous research, scientific collaborations, and academic conferences. In addition, CCARE provides a compassion cultivation program and teacher training as well as educational public events and programs.
Related News
October 11, 2019
At 97, former fighter pilot is still leading his crew home
“During World War II, Hays’ mission was to protect allied bombers. He studied air routes and enemy tactics. The men who flew those bombers depended on him. After every successful trip, Hays quietly uttered four words to himself: I got them home. Now, sitting in his apartment, Hays had a crazy plan to start a scooter club for residents. He’d lead the group, find a safe route and then bring them home … At 93, Mel Hays found his final mission.”
Local Organizations
Newport Beach’s Oasis Senior Center
Oasis is a large senior center in Newport Beach dedicated to meeting the needs of all seniors and their families. Many educational, recreational, cultural and social services are offered, aimed at helping older adults live an enriched, active and independent life. The center is owned and operated by the City of Newport Beach and is staffed by a core of professionals who are responsible for planning classes and activities, working with seniors in developing new and exciting programs, providing support services and counseling, and helping family members who are concerned about their parents.
Laguna Beach’s Susi Q Senior
Founded in 1975, Laguna Beach Seniors was one of the first senior service nonprofits in Orange County. Since 2009, Laguna Beach Seniors’ home has been the Susi Q, a warm and welcoming center in downtown Laguna, where our fastest-growing demographic is living it up and finding the help they need. The Susi Q also is the heart of an ambitious vision called Lifelong Laguna: a community and a nonprofit working together to make the town we love a better place for the rest of our lives. You can read more about the Susi Q and the services they offer our Laguna Beach community here.
The Coral Tree
The coral tree, Erythrina, is the official tree of Newport Beach (as well as Los Angeles) and also a royal tree to the Zulu, believed by many, particularly in Africa, to have medicinal, healing properties. The Zulu planted coral trees on the graves of their chiefs, and also used these colorful, flowering trees to create natural walls for their kraals, or villages. It’s said that coral tree bark applied as a poultice can be used to treat wounds and arthritis; and in South Africa, coral tree seeds are said to be good-luck charms. Originally from South Africa (we moved to Newport Beach in 1987), the coral tree represents home and healing to our family — that which we hope to bring to you.
