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 some 800 families in Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Newport Coast, and neighboring Southern California communities live safer, happier lives.
Last year we welcomed a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) on staff: our precious Cynthia, known (like Cassidy) for her compassion, dedication & leadership.
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
Testimonials
TestimonialsDear Ms. Cassidy,
I hope this message finds you in good health and great spirits. As I reflect on my time working with your agency, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and a deep sense of admiration for your generosity and leadership.
Of all the employers I have worked with, you stand out as an extraordinary example of what it means to value and uplift those under your care.
Your willingness to offer an hourly wage that surpasses expectations speaks volumes about your commitment to fairness and the well-being of your team.
The thoughtful gestures of providing bonuses during Christmas and birthdays reflect not just generosity, but also a rare & genuine care for the people who work with you. Read More
I happened on the article “A Salute to Eugenie Fisher” April 5, 2021.
Eugenia and her family were next door neighbors to my Gusz grandparents on William Street in Trenton, NJ. My aunt and mother were close in age to Eugenia, and one of her father’s paintings (of a Trenton neighborhood) hung in the Ediss home. Both my mother and aunt always remembered it. Years later, I contacted one of the Ediss sons for information. He took a photo of it so I could make a small copy and frame it for my mom. It brought smiles and memories. Read More…
What a gift to find Marta this morn!
I picked up mail recently at 10 pm. Had to read all in Kate’s glossy art piece [the Coral Tree Companion aka our newsletter.]
So much beautiful news. Blessings from all directions. Amazing Doris [See Our Friends | Doris Felman ~ The Extraordinary Life of an American Woman.] Deena Metzger and Ollie Sacks. Two of my favorite souls. And so much more.
While in Sherman Gardens with Kate I wondered what her focus would be …. Hello! Staring me in the face….
A sweet, gentle , joyful 2022 to you both and to your family and all the devoted Coral Tree caretakers.
Under the Coral Tree
Life Stories, Care Conversations, Wisdom, Healing Poetry & More…
Cassidy’s Corner | Whom We Love Remain
February 21st was her birthday. I read his letters to her again, but don’t have hers. What did her letters say? Is someone reading them now, too? She turned her disasters, disappointments. Yes, turned them literally. Into something? Not necessarily. But if she...
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 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
Our homes become places of deep emotional connection & belonging.
A 2014 study conducted by Merrill Lynch found that the emotional importance of one’s home increases as we age. The study also found that for the vast majority of retirees – 85% – the preference for receiving extended care is in their own home.
“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
Based in Newport Beach, California, we are a small, locally 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?
“[God] enters [through] our wounds. He knocks at our door, not despite our suffering, but because of it.” – Pope Francis
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 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
Receiving care at home, surrounded by familiar sights, sounds, and routines, can ease the stress and anxiety that often come with a dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Research even suggests that being in a place filled with personal memories and associations may help slow the progression 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.
Also, 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 older adults to bear.
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 keep to their own rhythms — their meals, their medications, their favorite pastimes & hobbies — done in 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
“It is a serious thing, just to be alive on this fresh morning, in this broken world.” – Mary Oliver
Peace of Mind Starts Here
Bringing a caregiver into your home – or into the life of someone you love – is a big step. Families often wonder: Where do we begin? How much help do we need? How do we find someone we can trust? What will it cost? What risks should we consider?
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.
Experience. Compassionate. Dedicated.
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.
Coral Tree Provides a Dedicated Care Manager for Each Client
Your loved one and family also always has our support. Our care managers: Cassidy, Cynthia, Christina, & Marta 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 Coral Tree Protects Your Family from Significant Legal & 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.
Workers’ Compenation in California is Open-ended
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.
In South Africa, among the Zulu (and to other South Africans), the coral tree is honored as a royal tree, for its medicinal and healing powers.
Traditionally, Zulu communities planted coral trees on the graves of their chiefs and used these colorful, flowering trees to form natural walls around their kraals, or villages.
The coral tree bark has long been applied as a poultice to ease wounds and arthritis; and the seeds are treasured as good-luck charms.
The coral tree represents home & healing to Cassidy & Donald (who emmigrated from South Africa in the late 80s) — that same sense of “home & healing” is what our Coral Tree crew hopes to bring to you.
