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.

Click here to see all of the books, articles, blogs and documents we recommend to children of aging parents & family caregivers. 

“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.

Click here to see more.

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.”

Click here to read more news stories.

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.

Click here for more local organizations & support.