In-Home Senior Care, on your family's terms
When an aging parent wants to stay in their own home, the right caregiver makes that possible. CareJan helps Southern California families find independent in-home senior caregivers near them — for daily living help, medication reminders, meals, mobility, personal care, and companionship — and hire the caregiver directly, on the schedule and terms that fit your family.
یافتن مراقب مستقل و مورد اعتماد برای نگهداری از سالمندان در خانه — مراقبتی از جنس خانواده
Quick answer: In-home senior care is non-medical support — help with daily activities, medication reminders, meals, mobility, personal care, and companionship — that lets an older adult age safely at home. CareJan is a bilingual caregiver registry that connects families with independent caregivers near them. As a Domestic Referral Agency, CareJan does not employ or screen caregivers; families hire directly, verify qualifications, and conduct their own background checks.
What in-home senior care includes
"In-home care" is a broad term for the everyday, non-medical help that lets an older adult remain at home rather than move to assisted living. A good caregiver does the small, repeated things that keep a senior safe and comfortable — and that quietly take an enormous weight off the family. Most in-home care falls into a few categories:
| Type of help | What it looks like day to day |
|---|---|
| Activities of daily living (ADLs) | Bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and transfers — done with patience and dignity |
| Medication reminders | Prompting the senior to take the right medication at the right time (reminders only — caregivers are not nurses) |
| Meal preparation | Cooking familiar, nutritious meals, help with eating, and grocery shopping |
| Mobility & safety | Walking assistance, fall prevention, help moving between bed, chair, and bathroom |
| Personal care & hygiene | Keeping the senior clean, comfortable, and feeling like themselves |
| Companionship | Conversation, shared activities, errands, and reducing the isolation that harms older adults |
| Light housekeeping | Laundry, tidying, and keeping the home a safe place to move around |
In-home care is non-medical. It does not include administering injections, wound care, or other tasks that legally require a licensed nurse. If your parent needs skilled nursing or therapy, that is arranged separately through a licensed home-health provider and your physician.
Who in-home senior care is for
In-home care fits a wide range of situations — and it is rarely all-or-nothing. Families turn to it when:
- A parent is still independent but needs a few hours of help a week with errands, cooking, or company.
- Someone is recovering from surgery, a fall, or a hospital stay and needs temporary support at home.
- An adult child has been the primary caregiver and needs respite care to rest and recharge.
- A senior is living with early memory loss and benefits from memory care at home with a familiar, patient presence.
- A parent is mostly fine but lonely, and needs companion care more than hands-on help.
- Around-the-clock supervision is needed, through overnight or live-in care.
A note on memory loss. This page is general information, not medical advice. Dementia and Alzheimer's affect every person differently, and decisions about diagnosis, treatment, and the level of care a senior needs should be made with a qualified physician or care professional. CareJan does not provide medical advice or assess care needs.
Caregiver registry vs. home-care agency: what's the difference?
This is the most important thing to understand before you hire — because it changes who is in control, how transparent the arrangement is, and what you pay for.
| Home-care agency | Caregiver registry (CareJan) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who employs the caregiver | The agency | The family hires the caregiver directly |
| Who chooses the caregiver | The agency assigns staff | The family chooses, interviews, and decides |
| Who verifies qualifications | The agency | The family verifies and runs background checks |
| Transparency | You often don't meet the caregiver until they arrive | You review profiles and connect directly before hiring |
| Cost structure | Agency rate (includes overhead and markup) | You agree on pay directly with the caregiver |
CareJan is a caregiver registry — legally, a Domestic Referral Agency (DRA) under California Civil Code §1812.5095. CareJan introduces you to independent caregivers and provides the platform to connect; it does not employ, supervise, screen, certify, or guarantee any caregiver. The trade-off is real: a registry gives families more control, a direct relationship, and transparent cost — but the responsibility to verify a caregiver's qualifications and conduct your own background check rests with you. The section below is written to help you do that well.
Bilingual by design. CareJan was built for Southern California's Persian and Iranian families. You can filter for Farsi-speaking caregivers so an elderly parent can be cared for in their own language — the foods they grew up with, the customs they recognize, and the respect for elders (احترام به بزرگترها) that makes a house feel like home.
How to choose an in-home caregiver
Because you — not an agency — are making the hiring decision, take the time to interview well. Caregiving is an intimate, trust-based relationship, and the right fit matters as much as the résumé. A practical approach:
- Be specific about needs. List exactly what help you want — which ADLs, how many hours, days and times, any languages or dietary preferences — so you can match the caregiver to the role.
- Interview more than one. Ask about their experience with your parent's specific situation (mobility, memory loss, a particular condition), how they handle emergencies, and why they do this work. Notice warmth and patience, not just answers.
- Check references and verify qualifications yourself. Ask for and actually call recent references. Verify any certifications or training the caregiver claims, and conduct your own background check before anyone starts. CareJan does not do this for you.
- Do a trial. Start with a short trial shift or a paid trial week. Watch how your parent responds and whether the caregiver communicates clearly with the family.
- Put it in writing. Agree on schedule, duties, pay, and how you'll handle time off and changes. Clear expectations prevent most problems.
Paying for in-home senior care
There are two common ways families fund in-home care in California. We won't quote specific prices — rates vary by caregiver, region, hours, and level of need — but here is how each path works:
Private pay
Most families pay privately and agree on an hourly or live-in rate directly with the caregiver. Because you hire through a registry rather than an agency, there's no agency markup layered on top — the arrangement is between you and the caregiver. Some families also use long-term care insurance or veterans' benefits to help cover costs; check the terms of any policy directly.
IHSS for eligible Medi-Cal recipients
California's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program can pay for in-home care for eligible low-income older adults and people with disabilities who receive Medi-Cal. If a senior is approved, the county authorizes a number of care hours and the IHSS provider is paid through the program. IHSS pay rates are set by each county and vary — we don't publish a rate because there isn't a single one. CareJan can help match an IHSS recipient with a qualified provider, and this matching is always free of charge, in accordance with California Business & Professions Code §650.
How CareJan works
- Tell us what you need. Choose the type of care, the hours, and the language you prefer — English, Farsi, or both.
- Browse caregiver profiles. View independent caregivers near you who match your location, language, and care needs. Families are responsible for verifying qualifications and conducting their own background checks.
- Connect directly. Contact caregivers, interview them, agree on terms, and begin care. As a Domestic Referral Agency, CareJan facilitates the match — you choose who provides care.
Frequently asked questions
What does in-home senior care include?
How is a caregiver registry different from a home-care agency?
How do I find in-home care for seniors near me?
How do families pay for in-home senior care?
Does CareJan screen or employ the caregivers?
CareJan is a bilingual caregiver registry and Domestic Referral Agency (DRA) operating under California Civil Code §1812.5095. CareJan does not employ, supervise, or screen caregivers, and does not provide medical advice. Families are responsible for verifying caregiver qualifications and conducting their own background checks. IHSS matching is provided free of charge in accordance with California Business & Professions Code §650.