Founded in 2009, FirstLight Home Care focuses on ensuring the safety and independence of seniors. Its caregivers strive to help seniors continue living at home and maintain their independence for as long as possible. FirstLight Home Care operates on a franchise model and has more than 250 locations in 36 states. Services provided by its team of caregivers include personal care, respite care, and companionship.

FirstLight Home Care offers non-medical in-home care for seniors who are living with dementia-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, as well as for those without cognitive disabilities. Caregivers determine individualized care plans that focus on providing seniors with dignified, compassionate care when they need it most. In addition to helping seniors, FirstLight Home Care offers family caregiver support services, including respite care and caregiver training.

Seniors and family caregivers are consistently pleased with the customized care offered by FirstLight Home Care. Many online reviewers speak highly of the intake process, praising the company for its dedication to ensuring each client receives the care services they require most. 

What You Need to Know About FirstLight Home Care

  • Founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2009
  • Has more than 250 locations in 36 states, as well as Ontario, Canada
  • Offers in-home personal care, senior companionship, travel companionship, respite care, and caregiver support
  • Known for its individualized care plans and compassionate caregivers
  • Caregivers specially-trained in brain health and dementia care
  • Provides financial counseling services to help seniors determine the best way to cover home care costs

What Senior Care Services Does FirstLight HomeCare Provide?

Companion Care

Many seniors living at home can experience loneliness, while others often require assistance with simple tasks around the house. That’s where companion care comes in. FirstLight Home Care’s team of professional caregivers strives to help seniors maintain independence through companion care, which can include services such as:

  • Regular visits and conversation
  • Medication reminders
  • Meal preparation
  • Light housekeeping
  • Help with laundry
  • Companionship for shopping and errands
  • Transportation to and from appointments
  • Recreational activities outside the home
  • Paperwork organization

Some families may prefer to have a companion available 24 hours a day. In this case, FirstLight Home Care can provide live-in companion services on a temporary or permanent basis.

In addition to at-home companion care, this company provides travel companionship services. A qualified caregiver can accompany seniors traveling for vacation, business, or visits with family and friends. Caregivers can assist with:

  • Airport check-in and ticketing
  • Carrying suitcases
  • Navigating security and customs
  • Ground transportation
  • Activities of daily living
  • Medication reminders

Personal Care

FirstLight Home Care can provide assistance with all activities of daily living and is dedicated to treating clients with dignity and respect at all times. Caregivers can provide help with tasks such as:

  • Bathing and hygiene
  • Mobility issues, including walking, climbing stairs, and getting into vehicles
  • Maintaining proper posture while eating, reading, and sitting
  • Getting in and out of bed to use the washroom
  • Toileting
  • Oral hygiene
  • Eating
  • Preparing special diets

When determining a personal care plan, FirstLight Home Care works directly with immediate family members to assess the needs of every senior it serves. Caregivers can be available on any schedule, ranging from weekly visits to live-in, 24-hour care.

Dementia Care

FirstLight Home Care offers a client-centric dementia care program customized around the individual’s needs, preferences, and condition. Its caregivers understand that every case of dementia is different and that each person living with this condition has a unique history. These caregivers strive to incorporate the client’s history and personality into their care plan to ensure they maintain comfort and familiarity with their surroundings as much as possible.

The company’s long-term dementia caregivers use information collected from family members and the client to build individualized dementia care plans. The process includes one-on-one consultations, a rigorous caregiver selection process, and constant communication with family members. 

Caregivers providing assistance for clients with dementia are specially trained in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and have the necessary tools and skills to help clients deal with feelings such as anxiety, depression, and confusion, which are often associated with these conditions.

Respite Care

At FirstLight Home Care, staff and caregivers understand families’ desires to care for seniors on their own. Often, these family caregivers work tirelessly to ensure their loved one receives the help they need, and in many cases, these caregivers find themselves needing an occasional break. 

FirstLight Home Care helps these families by providing respite care. Services can include:

  • Companionship
  • Medication reminders
  • Help with activities of daily living
  • Dementia care
  • Light housekeeping
  • Meal preparation
  • Laundry services
  • Transportation

Respite care is available on any schedule the caregiver requires and may be used for any period of time, ranging from a couple of hours to several weeks.

Brain Health Services

FirstLight Home Care offers brain health services to help seniors reduce the risk of cognitive decline. While this service is tailored to those with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and traumatic brain injuries, it’s available to all seniors. 

The caregiving team at this company believes that early intervention is the key to protecting brain health and cognitive awareness. Through routine exercises that focus on concentration, learning, clarity, memory, and play, these caregivers help seniors preserve their mental health and improve basic cognitive functions. 

In addition to working directly with seniors, FirstLight Home Care offers memory care training for family caregivers. This training is provided in partnership with the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Franchise owners also receive training from Teepa Snow, who is a world-renowned dementia care educator.

What People Are Saying About FirstLight HomeCare

Regardless of the location, clients and their family members often praise FirstLight Home Care for its affordable pricing and compassionate care. Many mention the company’s companionship services and the strong relationships its caregivers build with clients. One reviewer said, “Mom still travels back and forth to Florida each year, staying down there about 7 months. When she is in Highland Beach, they make sure she is safe, eating right and taking her medicine. The caregiver even takes her for walks on the beach. We get regular updates and communications have been excellent. Without their tireless support, we could not let her be there by herself.”

When it comes to caring for seniors who are living with dementia, family members often speak about the professional and knowledgeable service provided by FirstLight Home Care’s caregivers, with one family member saying, “My mom has Alzheimer’s and lives with us. The emotional strain of taking care of her started taking its toll on us and our marriage. Thank Goodness we called this company! While we only asked them to come twice a week, they send people with dementia training and experience and those two days have given us the break we need to keep our sanity!”

How Much Does FirstLight HomeCare Charge for Home Care?

Home care costs vary based on several factors, including the type of services required, how often one needs assistance, and the timing of the services (i.e., overnight vs. daytime care). Where you live also has a significant impact on the cost of home care, as national chains scale their local prices to the cost of living in a given area.

When planning for home care costs, keep in mind that the national average cost is about $24 per hour, though prices in your location may be higher or lower. You can contact a Family Advisor at (800) 973-1540 to learn more about home care costs and payment options in your area.

Who Should Consider FirstLight HomeCare?

FirstLight Home Care is dedicated to helping seniors with varying levels of need. This company is a good choice for those who require services such as:

  • Personal care: Seniors who are unable to perform activities of daily living, such as bathing and grooming, on their own can benefit from the help of FirstLight Home Care. Its caregivers are dedicated to maintaining the dignity of clients while providing them with the care they need.
  • Dementia care: FirstLight Home Care’s caregivers are trained to work with seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. These caregivers understand the unique challenges these seniors face and can help them maintain a high quality of life in a safe home environment.
  • Transitional care: Seniors who are transitioning from nursing or hospital care back into their own homes can rely on FirstLight Home Care’s team of professional, compassionate caregivers to provide the assistance they need while adjusting to their independence.

How to Get Started with FirstLight HomeCare

Contact a Family Advisor at (800) 973-1540 for more information about FirstLight HomeCare’s offerings in your area and to connect with a local home care provider. Our knowledgeable Family Advisors can provide one-on-one guidance to help you find the best home care service for your needs and budget, all at no cost to you. No matter where you are in the process of choosing a home care provider, a Family Advisor can help.