The Value of  a Lifetime of Experience........

I often get phone calls here at the office asking me for staff pricing.

The truth of the matter is that in Brantford, quality health care staff are in high demand.
Bonded, insured, credentialed  staff  will be competitively priced, all things being equal....

The Lifeguard  Lifetime Experience difference

Lifeguard is not a franchise.  Because of this our advantage is we have lower overhead, and we can put that funding back into our staff and staff training,.  We are also locally owned and managed. Having a local presence in the community is important when the focus needs to be placed on maintaining quality service delivery.

When we hire our staff we look for individuals who have not just the  relevant diploma, but who have  accumulated a wealth of common sense brought on through years of experience'.  For example, someone who understands how to do a load of laundry without turning 'white sheets into pink sheets'. and, can they turn out a decent Shepherd's pie?

The ideal Lifeguard staff member is someone who can 'see around corners', trying to avoid problems before they actually happen. Remember what your Grandmother used to tell you? 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?'

Your instincts will let you know you have the correct worker, generally within the first 30 minutes of service. Do you feel relaxed?  Is the focus on you.... not their cell phone? Are they professional?  Can they communicate well and understand the expected goal of their visit? It helps if somehow they bring to mind elements of   'Mary Poppins,  Mrs Doubtfire .... as well as your Mom  and  Grandmother.....you know, those intangible impressions  we refer to as ' the warm and fuzzies'.

For all of your care needs, whether  'in home, in facility, or in hospital', call us here at Lifeguard... now in our 12th year delivering quality  home support service in Brantford and Brant County.

Heidi Smith
President, Lifeguard Homecare
519 753 2552 x 1,
After hours, 519 750 8636

Are you paying too much for home care?

I recently stopped in to visit  a new client who finally had decided to call Lifeguard Homecare for help, because she had become frustrated  and overwhelmed with many problems cause by managing staff she had hired directly though a variety of classified ads.


Some of the problems involved staff not showing up consistently, staff becoming 'too familiar' in some of their comments and knowledge of her affairs, and, she felt uncomfortable indicating when she was dissatisfied, worrying that staff would leave her without the support she needed. etc.

This client had also become concerned with what might happen if something in her home was broken or stolen, or if one of these individuals physically became hurt on her property.  Would her home owners insurance be at risk?

When I informed her that it is actually less expensive to use a bonded, insured  and transparent agency such as Lifeguard Homecare by utilizing the' Disability Tax Credit,'  she could not believe it.

I explained how there are rebates for people such as herself requiring personal support services, and, based on her being approved for the Disability Tax Credit, showed her how the hourly cost of service was actually going to be roughly 30 per cent less than what she had been paying privately. As such, clients can often qualify to get a significant portion of our charges back through a tax rebate system.

She was also assured when I told her that  Lifeguard Homecare, a fully insured agency,  operates  in compliance with all Provincial business requirements.

And... best of all our direct staff  employees are managed by Lifeguard.....no need to have to cancel plans because your worker calls in sick, we ensure you are covered in accordance with your support needs on the day that you need it!! We guarantee coverage barring severe weather conditions.

Because we manage our employees, our clients have the  the ability to sit back, relax, and focus on more important things, including their own path back to wellness!

Kind wishes to all!.


Heidi Smith

Taking pride in delivery of Quality Care

Happy New Year!!

Hopefully 2016 Brings a 'Wealth of Health' to you and everyone you care about.

For those of you considering using a  home care agency, please be aware that the home care industry in Ontario is not regulated.  So..........  make sure you ask a lot of questions when checking into potential local  agencies  to use  in your area.

Things to ask:

• If your loved one is already receiving CCAC funded care, ask your Case Manager for a few names of other reputable firms in the area.
• Try to speak with  Discharge Planning at the hospital, and ask trusted friends in the community for their suggestion.
• Ask the agency if they have a clinical director (Registered Nurse or Registered Practical Nurse) who sets standards
• does the Agency employ Staff directly or do they use Independent Contractors ( direct Employees tend to be more accountable)
• Ask what type and how much insurance the agency has
• Ask how they screen their Employees

Unfortunately all too often we receive calls from family members in an emergency who are  using another agency,  indicating that due to a sick call, they are unable to cover the  shift as scheduled, resulting with  the family member  missing  a day of work, or an important appointment.

• Lifeguard Homecare guarantees in most cases to ensure continuous coverage, barring extreme weather conditions.  If a Lifeguard staff member calls in too ill to attend their shift, it is our policy to provide  a RPN or RN without additional charge.  That is our commitment to our clients.

I hope the above tips are helpful.

Should you ever need to touch base with me concerning care and TLC for your loved one, please do not hesitate to contact us here at Lifeguard, now in our 12th year of serving Brantford and the surrounding community.  519 753 2552 x 1

Best wishes to you all,

Heidi Wilmot Smith