Friends of the Family has been providing home care services for seniors since 2006. The founder created the company after his own grandmother was a victim of elder abuse in a care facility. As such, Friends of the Family is dedicated to providing seniors with safe, personalized in-home care. 

This care provider operates in five locations throughout Michigan and Ohio: Toledo, Ann Arbor, Monroe, Sylvania and Perrysburg. Since 2012, all locations have been owned and managed by Rebekah Lafontaine, who receives direct assistance from the company’s director of operations and director of client care. Together, this team ensures that seniors are well-cared for and provided with the essential services that allow them to live an independent, comfortable life in their own homes.

Friends of the Family offers a comprehensive list of care options that can be customized, based on the needs of the seniors it serves. This list of services includes personal care, as well as added services, such as transportation, pet care, meal preparation and nursing care. Seniors and family members who’ve worked with the company often speak highly of the company’s caregivers, as well as the all-inclusive care plans that are available.

What You Need to Know About Friends of the Family

  • Founded in 2006 on the principle of providing seniors with a safe care option that allows them to remain in their own homes
  • Five locations throughout Michigan and Ohio
  • Offers customizable care plans that include in-home personal care and nursing services
  • Friends of the Family is known for providing compassionate care and assistance to seniors and their caregivers
  • Works directly with health care professionals and family members to develop care plans

What Senior Care Services Does Friends of the Family Provide?

Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care

Friends of the Family believes that remaining at home is one of the best ways for seniors with dementia to reduce anxiety and continue to feel safe. The caregivers it employs are trained to provide memory care for seniors who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or traumatic brain injuries, as well as other forms of dementia, such as Huntington’s disease. These caregivers understand the unique needs of these individuals and take measures to ensure that those needs are met at every home care visit.

Elderly Companion Care

With a focus on improving the quality of life of the seniors it serves, Friends of the Family provides nonmedical elderly companion care. This service can provide relief for family caregivers, as well as a sense of friendship and well-being for seniors. 

The company’s elderly companion care service consists of regular visits that can include simple activities, such as playing cards or chatting over coffee. Additionally, elderly companions can provide limited, nonmedical services such as:

  • Transportation to and from appointments and errands
  • Light housekeeping
  • Meal preparation
  • Grocery shopping
  • Laundry 
  • Pet care
  • Plant care

Seniors who receive elderly companion care often experience a higher quality of life, reduced stress and better mental health.

Personal Care

Personal care services are ideal for seniors who are unable to effectively care for themselves. This service includes help with activities of daily living, which include bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting. Caregivers providing this service also offer assistance with incontinence care and take precautions to prevent illnesses and infections that are often related to it. 

Caregivers at Friends of the Family understand the personal discomfort many seniors may feel when they begin to rely on others to help with these needs. That’s why the company is dedicated to preserving seniors’ dignity as they receive personal care services. 

Transportation

Many seniors find themselves unable to drive as they age, leading to a dire need for safe transportation to and from medical appointments, church, visits with friends, family events and other errands. Friends of the Family provides this service, ensuring that its clients can enjoy pleasant companionship and get where they need to go safely. When possible, drivers can provide assistance and companionship during errands, such as helping seniors at the vet and assisting with shopping. 

For seniors who prefer to stay home or are unable to go out, Friends of the Family can run errands on their behalf. This service can include collecting groceries, picking up prescriptions and obtaining veterinary care for a pet. 

Respite Care and Relief for Families

Many seniors rely on their family members to provide full-time care. In many cases, this means that caregivers are left unable to enjoy free time, and ultimately, that can lead to negative effects on physical and mental health. 

Friends of the Family is dedicated to ensuring that family caregivers have the support they need to remain strong and healthy for the senior they care for and themselves. Its caregivers can provide respite or relief care regularly or occasionally for periods ranging from a few hours per day/week to several weeks.

When providing respite care, caregivers are dedicated to ensuring that care is consistent. They take time to sit with family members and seniors to determine an appropriate care plan and schedule before service commences, and they follow family instructions as closely as possible.

Nursing Care

While Friends of the Family is a non-skilled home care agency, it employs nurses who can provide limited in-home nursing services, including:

  • Medication administration
  • Blood sugar monitoring
  • Blood pressure checks
  • Tube feeding
  • Minor wound care
  • Speech-language pathology
  • Physical therapy
  • Medical social services
  • At-home laboratory services
  • Occupational therapy

These services can make it easier for seniors who are experiencing long-term or temporary health conditions to remain in their homes and delay the need for institutionalization.

What Are People Saying About Friends of the Family?

Seniors and family caregivers often praise Friends of the Family for the care it provides to its clients. Many reviewers tout caregivers’ compassion and kindness, with one five-star reviewer saying, “I have been blessed by this company and staff and the wonderful care they give my mom. They also have been kind and compassionate with me as I navigate the role of caregiver.”

Another reviewer spoke highly of Friends of the Family’s comprehensive service and dedication to adhering to care plans. This reviewer was pleased with the care plan set up by the company’s management and caregivers’ dedication to following it. This reviewer said, “We hired Friends of the Family for my father-in-law for two weeks, and they did a good job. They came in, checked his mail, and did some house cleaning. The caregivers were compassionate and did a good job…Everything was met according to the schedule they set up.”

All in all, Friends of the Family consistently receives high marks and positive reviews for its care services.

How Much Does Friends of the Family 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 Friends of the Family?

Friends of the Family is an excellent care option for families in Ohio and Michigan who require varying levels of care for seniors who wish to continue living independently at home. Those who can benefit most from this company’s services include:

  • Seniors who are living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia
  • Seniors with cognitive or functional disabilities who require assistance with personal care and daily activities
  • Seniors who are lonely and desire companionship 
  • Seniors who are unable to access reliable, safe transportation and need help getting to and from appointments, errands and visits with their friends and family

How to Get Started with Friends of the Family

Contact a Family Advisor at (800) 973-1540 for more information about Friends of the Family’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.