We hire our caregiver from In Home Supportive Services. He is a family member, so we know him, and he's good. He serves for daily care. He helps my dad take a bath, and he makes lunch.

I have been using IHSS for less than a year now. I chose them because I could afford them. I have one caregiver. I like that this person is caring and very competent.

The caregivers are up to you. You have to find someone and then they go to IHSS and they have to qualify themselves. It's a kind of a touch and go type thing. You never really know exactly what you're gonna get. The pay scale is questionable. You have to practically beg for your money as far as the workers are concerned. They are not very well organized as far as pay scale is concerned. I've had a couple of really good caregivers and a couple of ones that were not dependable who would not show up, you just never really know.

In Home Supportive Services-San Diego County was recommended by the hospital where my mom was on rehabilitation. She needed help with everything because she couldn't be left alone. They provided their services for three and a half hours for five days weekly. A nurse came to see her every other week but I thought she needed more than that. I thought she qualified for a 6-hour service because of her needs. They should improve on the hours they gave and the nursing-skilled staff which they didn't have.

This program is based on the recipient's income as well as whether they need help or they could not stay safely in their own homes. It provides a care provider for however many hours the organization provides depending on the recipient's needs. The care provider can be chosen by the recipient/or family or they can provide suggestions. It is a life-saving service.

Her in-home support person is dependable, patient, caring and honest. She's had a lot of experience, but always family members and had never gotten paid. Now, she works with my Mom and she has a wonderful bed-side manner and knows how to relate to people. She's wonderful.