Why choose Plum Living Home Health Care Services? There are many choices of home health care providers.  Sometimes so many, that making the choice seems like taking your best guess from a google search or a pamphlet on a dusty shelf in a physicians office.  Some times home health care is being sought because someone else thinks you need support and have a million reasons why.  When we are contacted by You, we ask "How can We help?".  We believe the support and services you ask for should be chosen and directed by you.  We may not need to be the answer to all of your needs and we will always put you first in helping you get what you need.  We do not provide services "to" but rather "with" and "for" you.  Plum Living provides trusted, professional and personal services specifically requested and designed by You.  If we are contacted by a friend or family member on your behalf we have the same approach and work collaboratively with everyone involved to make sure that the needs and wishes of the person requiring services are at the forefront of any plans.

Does Plum Living only provide services for the LGBTQ community? No. Although many of our clients identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, or queer, many do not.  Who you are is important to us and we believe that acknowledging and understanding your life experiences and expressions is a critical point in being involved in your life.

Why LGBTQ focused care? Members of the LGBTQ community have historically experienced barriers in accessing health care in acute, community, and home care environments.  More recently, LGBT specific health care issues are being considered, studied, and documented, resulting in best practice care models being developed.  Through this work, it is evident (and we know) that the health status of many in the LGBTQ community is compromised due to many factors including societal prejudice, lack of education for health care professionals on LGBT issues, and the reluctance of many LGBT to seek out care and openly communicate issues of sexual orientation or gender identity.  These vulnerabilities are often increasingly evident for older LGBT but are an issue for many of us at any age.  Plum Living removes being LGBTQ as a barrier to receiving services, support and care and moves on with providing what you need.

I don't really need home health care services, but I do need a fantastic housekeeper.  Can you do that?  Yes.  We have many clients who use our housekeeping services because of the flexibility and fantastic services we provide.

I'm not a "senior", but I need help. Can I call you?  Yes, and the first thing we do will be to never use the word 'senior".  We use it only in the context that a specific age may qualify you for a funded program where they identify you by that term.  We offer services to people of all ages and know that terms that have traditionally described age categories are obselete and not in keeping with how we view ourselves.

What is the in-home needs assessment?  We’ll come to your home to find out how we can help.  We will suggest how we may meet the needs you identify and may also suggest ideas and options you may not have thought of.

How much will home health care services cost?  Every person has unique needs.  We will help you to determine which member of our team is best to suit these needs based on their experience, professional designations and expertise.  The cost to you for these services will depend on what you need.  Typically our rates begin at $25.00 per hour and will go up from there for support of increasing complexity.  

Are Home Health Care services available 24 hours a day?  Yes, based on your specific needs we will develop a plan with you including determining how often you may need services. Most of our clients ask for services 2 - 4 hours weekly or every two weeks.  Some we visit monthly and others need us 24 hours per day.  This can change from time-to-time and we are committed to providing you with what you need and when you need it.

Will Plum Living advocate on my behalf? Plum Living is often involved in advocacy efforts surrounding hospital stay needs and in collaboration with hospital staff and community health care providers in planning for discharge from acute hospital stays. Sometimes the information presented while in acute care can be overwhelming, come at you from every direction and at times of the day when you are least able to absorb it all. (Hospital rounds at 7:30 AM are not a friendly experience). We can also arrange any healthcare or supportive equipment required in your home, we consult with physicians and other community healthcare professionals in regards to a and follow up care, services, or support. We are also happy to provide regular reports to your friends and family if you ask us to. 

Are healthcare fees covered by my insurance? We can help you identify benefits you may already be insured for, as well as government-subsidized services you may qualify for through your health authority.  We are also an approved provided for Veterans Affairs Canada.

Is Plum Living an established, reliable, home healthcare company?  Yes, when you consider allowing caregivers into your home, you want to ensure you hire an experienced, professional agency with an excellent reputation.  We ensure that all of our staff are thoroughly screened before being hired and we carry liability and WCB insurance. We are happy to supply references from people we currently provide services for.

What do I do now?  Call Plum Living at 604.789.8725.