Home Care FAQ — Calgary, Alberta

Getting started with Sagewell Home Care is simple and stress-free. Our three-step process ensures you get the right care quickly:

• Step 1: Contact Us — Reach out by phone at 403-990-9821, email, or through our contact form. We will listen to your needs and answer any initial questions.
• Step 2: Free In-Home Assessment — One of our care coordinators visits your home to understand your unique situation, assess care requirements, and discuss preferences including language, cultural needs, and scheduling.
• Step 3: Care Begins — We create a personalized care plan, match you with a carefully selected caregiver, and begin delivering reliable, compassionate care to your home.

In most cases, we can begin providing care within 24 to 48 hours of completing your assessment. We understand that care needs can be urgent, especially following a hospital discharge or sudden change in health. Our team works diligently to coordinate caregiver matching and scheduling as quickly as possible. For urgent situations, please call us directly at 403-990-9821 so we can prioritize your request and discuss expedited options.

Yes, absolutely. We offer a completely free, no-obligation in-home assessment and consultation. During this visit, our care coordinator will meet with you and your family to discuss your care needs, answer all of your questions, and explain the options available to you. We will also assess the home environment, review any medical requirements, and discuss scheduling and caregiver preferences. There is no pressure to commit, and we want you to feel confident and informed before making any decisions about care.

Home care costs in Alberta typically range from $25 to $45 per hour, depending on the type and level of care required. Basic companion care and light homemaking tend to be on the lower end of the range, while specialized services such as dementia care, post-surgical support, or specialized dementia or post-surgical care may be higher. The exact cost depends on factors like the complexity of care, the frequency and duration of visits, and whether care is needed during evenings, weekends, or holidays. We provide transparent pricing during your free consultation, so you will know exactly what to expect with no hidden fees.

Yes, Alberta Health Services (AHS) does provide publicly funded home care for eligible individuals. If you qualify for AHS home care, you may also be eligible for the Client Directed Home Care Invoicing (CDHCI) program, which allows you to choose your own home care provider rather than being assigned one. Sagewell Home Care is fully compatible with the CDHCI program, meaning that eligible clients can use their AHS-funded allocation to pay for our services. We are happy to help you navigate the application process and determine what funding options may be available to you.

CDHCI stands for Client Directed Home Care Invoicing. It is a program offered through Alberta Health Services that gives eligible individuals greater choice and control over their home care. Instead of receiving care from an AHS-assigned provider, CDHCI allows you to select a private provider of your choice — like Sagewell Home Care — and have the services funded directly through AHS.

Here is how it works: Once AHS assesses you and determines you are eligible for publicly funded home care, you can request to participate in the CDHCI program. AHS allocates a specific budget based on your assessed needs. You then choose an approved provider, and the provider invoices AHS directly for the services delivered. This gives you the freedom to pick a caregiver who matches your language, cultural, and personal preferences while still receiving government-funded support. Contact us and we will help you through every step of the process.

We take caregiver screening very seriously because your safety and trust are our highest priorities. Every Sagewell Home Care caregiver goes through a comprehensive vetting process that includes:

• Criminal background check — A thorough police information check to ensure a clean record.
• Professional reference checks — We verify employment history and speak with previous employers or supervisors.
• Training and certification verification — We confirm all credentials including First Aid, CPR, and any specialized training.
• Ongoing supervision and review — Our care coordinators conduct regular check-ins, performance reviews, and client satisfaction assessments to maintain the highest standards of care.

Yes, absolutely. Cultural and linguistic compatibility is one of the foundations of Sagewell Home Care. We understand that communicating in your own language can make a tremendous difference in comfort and quality of care, especially for seniors. Our team includes caregivers who are fluent in English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, and additional languages. When we match you with a caregiver, we always consider language preferences alongside other factors like personality, experience, and care needs. If you have a specific language requirement, simply let us know during your consultation and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

Your satisfaction is our priority, and we want you to feel completely comfortable with your caregiver. If for any reason the match is not right, simply let us know and we will arrange a replacement caregiver at no additional cost. We offer free caregiver matching and guarantee that we will work with you until we find the right fit. Our care coordinators are always available to discuss any concerns, mediate any issues, and make adjustments to your care plan. We believe that a strong, trusting relationship between client and caregiver is essential for great care, and we will never stop working to achieve that.

Sagewell Home Care offers a comprehensive range of home care services designed to meet diverse needs. Our six core service areas include:

• Personal Care — Assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, mobility, and daily living activities.
• Companion Care — Social engagement, conversation, accompaniment to appointments, light housekeeping, and meal preparation.
• Dementia & Alzheimer's Care — Specialized support from trained caregivers experienced in memory care techniques.
• Respite Care — Temporary relief for family caregivers so they can rest and recharge.
• Post-Surgical Care — Recovery support following surgery or hospital discharge.
• Homemaking — Meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, grocery shopping, and errand running to maintain a clean, comfortable home.

Yes, we offer homemaking services to help clients maintain a clean, safe, and comfortable home environment. Our homemaking support includes meal preparation tailored to dietary needs and cultural preferences, light housekeeping such as vacuuming, mopping, dusting, and bathroom cleaning, laundry and linen changes, grocery shopping, and errand running. Homemaking services can be scheduled a few hours per week or on a daily basis, and pair well with our personal care and companionship offerings. Contact us to discuss a schedule that works for your family.

Yes, we provide specialized dementia and Alzheimer's care delivered by caregivers who have received dedicated training in memory care techniques. Our dementia care services include maintaining structured daily routines, engaging clients in cognitive stimulation activities, managing wandering and safety concerns, and providing patient, compassionate support during moments of confusion or agitation. We work closely with families to understand the individual's history, preferences, and triggers so we can deliver personalized care that preserves dignity and enhances quality of life. Our care plans adapt as needs change over time to ensure the right level of support at every stage.

Sagewell Home Care proudly serves families across the entire province of Alberta. Our primary service areas include Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie, Airdrie, Spruce Grove, Okotoks, and surrounding communities. We are continuously expanding our reach to ensure families across Alberta have access to high-quality, culturally sensitive home care. If you are unsure whether we serve your area, please contact us and we will let you know.

Yes, Sagewell Home Care is fully insured and WCB (Workers' Compensation Board) compliant. This means that both our clients and our caregivers are protected. Our comprehensive liability insurance covers any incidents that may occur during the provision of care, giving you and your family complete peace of mind. WCB compliance ensures that our caregivers are covered in the event of a workplace injury, which also protects you from potential liability. We maintain all required certifications and insurance policies as part of our commitment to operating at the highest professional standards in the home care industry.

For medical emergencies, always call 911 first. For urgent care-related inquiries, you can reach us by phone at 403-990-9821. Our regular business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. On Sundays, our phone line is available for emergency calls only. If you reach our voicemail outside of business hours, please leave a detailed message and we will return your call as soon as possible. For existing clients, your care coordinator can also be reached directly for urgent scheduling or care concerns.