FAQs
Questions families ask us
The questions that come up on almost every first call, answered the way we would answer them on the phone.
Licensing and caregiver screening
Licensed Home Care OrganizationCDSS license #374700397
Caregivers on the state registryLive Scan fingerprint check (CA DOJ and FBI) and TB test
Owned by a registered nurseMildred Kiminyei, RN
Still not sure?
Call (858) 380-9599 and describe the situation. If home care isn’t the right answer, we’ll say so and point you somewhere better.
Common questions
What does "non-medical" home care actually mean?
Our caregivers help with daily life: bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, moving safely, meals, laundry, errands, driving, and company. They don’t give injections, change wound dressings, or manage IVs or feeding tubes. That work comes from a home health agency, and many families have both.
Are you licensed?
Yes. We are a Home Care Organization licensed by the California Department of Social Services, licence number 374700397. You can look that number up on the CDSS care facility search.
Are caregivers your employees or contractors?
Employees. We handle wages, payroll taxes, workers’ compensation, training, and scheduling. You are not anyone’s employer, and if a caregiver is hurt working in the home, it goes through our coverage rather than a homeowner’s policy.
How are caregivers screened?
Everyone is registered on California’s Home Care Aide Registry, which requires a Live Scan fingerprint check with the state Department of Justice and the FBI, plus a TB test. We also require a current driver’s licence with a clean record, proof of car insurance, and verification of work eligibility.
What does it cost?
Rates run from $40 to $48 an hour, depending on the care and the schedule, and we quote your exact rate on the first call. The minimum visit is 4 hours. Holidays are billed at 1.5 times the hourly rate.
Do I have to sign up for a set number of hours a week?
No. Schedules are built around what you need, from one visit a week to around-the-clock care. The minimum for a single visit is 4 hours, because shorter visits don’t leave time to do the job properly.
How does billing work?
We bill every two weeks for the hours of care provided, at the rate in your service agreement. There is a $500 deposit, and cancelling a shift needs 12 hours’ notice.
Does Medicare pay for this?
No, not for ongoing non-medical care. Medicare pays for short-term home health, meaning nurse or therapy visits a doctor orders, usually after a hospital stay. Long-term care insurance and VA Aid and Attendance often do pay for home care.
We have long-term care insurance. Do you bill them?
We give you an invoice to submit to your insurer. Check your policy’s waiting period, daily limit, and whether it needs a plan of care signed by a doctor or nurse before it pays.
What languages do your caregivers speak?
English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Swahili. Tell us which language your parent is most comfortable in, especially if there is memory loss, because people often return to their first language as dementia progresses.
Can a caregiver give medications?
A caregiver can remind your parent when it is time, bring the pill organiser and a glass of water, and open containers. They cannot give injections or decide doses. Those stay with your parent, the family, or a licensed nurse.
Can a caregiver drive my mother to appointments?
Yes. Driving to appointments, the pharmacy, the shops, and social outings is part of the service. Caregivers hold a current licence with a clean record and carry their own car insurance.
What happens if our caregiver is sick?
We find the replacement and tell you who is coming. Finding cover is our job, not yours.
Which areas do you cover?
Chula Vista, Eastlake, Bonita, Downtown San Diego, La Jolla, Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, Carlsbad, and Poway. If you are nearby but not on that list, call and ask.
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. We visit the home, look at the practical things like stairs and the bathroom, talk with your parent, and tell you what we would do. There is no charge and no obligation to go ahead.
Who owns Penda Senior Home Care?
Mildred Kiminyei, RN, a registered nurse who worked as a caregiver for six years before starting the agency in 2024, and who supervises every caregiver.
Request a free in-home consultation
Tell us what’s going on and we’ll call you back to talk it through and set up a visit at the home. The consultation is free.
If it’s urgent, call instead of using the form.
- (858) 380-9599
- love@pendaseniorhomecare.com
- Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Care available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week