Your parent can stay home. We can help make that safe.
A nursing home isn't the only option. For many Calgary families, it isn't the right one.
HomeFree's Medically-Supervised Homecare™ brings physician oversight, consistent care teams, and facility-level support into your parent's own home. Their routines stay intact. Their relationships stay intact. The home they built stays theirs.
You shouldn't have to choose between safety and staying home. With the right team, you don't.
What we hear from families facing this decision
- Mom is falling more often. We can't keep doing this alone, but moving her feels like giving up.
- Assisted living waitlists are months long. The real cost is higher than the rent once you add the care.
- Dad said "never a nursing home." We made a promise. We don't know how to keep it safely.
- The facility tours felt institutional. Nothing looked like the life our parent actually lives.
- We need medical oversight, not just help with chores. Most home care agencies don't offer that.
The HomeFree difference
Compare your three options: home care vs traditional home care vs nursing home
Medically-Supervised Homecare™ | Traditional Homecare and Franchises | Facility-Based Care | |
|---|---|---|---|
One-on-one caregiver attention | Dedicated to your parent | One caregiver at a time | One staff shared across many residents |
Physician oversight, built in | Weekly clinical rounds | None | Varies by facility tier |
Stays in their own home | Yes | Yes | Must relocate |
Consistent caregiver team | 2 to 3 dedicated caregivers | Rotating staff | Rotating staff |
Handles complex medical needs | Yes, with MD oversight | Limited | Depends on facility tier |
Adapts as needs change | Plan scales with you | Plan scales with you | May require transfer |
Family involvement | Encouraged every day | Encouraged | Limited to visiting hours |
Questions families ask about choosing home care over a facility
With the right plan and the right team, yes. Every HomeFree engagement starts with a physician-led fall and safety assessment. We recommend home modifications, build the caregiver schedule around real risk, and adjust as things change. At the free assessment, our physician walks through the plan honestly and tells you if we don't think home care is the right fit for your parent's situation. We don't take on families we can't safely support.
The comparison is often closer than families expect. Assisted living in Calgary typically runs $4,500 to $9,000 per month once care levels are added. Full-time home care can be higher, but partial, overnight, and medically-focused care is usually lower. Alberta's CDHCI program also covers up to 75% of eligible home care for qualifying patients. At your free assessment, we model both options side by side using your parent's actual situation.
Every HomeFree client has a 24/7 care coordinator line, an on-call physician, and a protocol for paramedic and hospital coordination. When an emergency happens, our physician already knows your parent's full medical picture, which makes the handoff to hospital staff faster and more accurate.
Yes. Our care teams include RNs and LPNs alongside HCAs, and our physicians coordinate care for patients with dementia, Parkinson's, ALS, post-surgical recovery, palliative needs, and hospital discharge transitions. Medically-Supervised Homecare™ was designed for patients with complex needs who want to stay home. If your family has been told a facility is the next step, let our physician team assess the situation first. The free in-home assessment is the most honest way to know what's possible.
Yes. Trying home care first doesn't close any doors. If the plan isn't working, or if your parent's needs eventually move beyond what home care can safely support, we help families navigate the transition. Many of our clients use home care for months or years before that point. Many never reach it.
Alberta's CDHCI (Client-Directed Home Care Invoicing) program can cover up to 75% of eligible home care services for qualifying patients. Some private insurance and long-term care policies also contribute. At the free assessment, we walk you through which programs apply to your parent's situation and handle the paperwork.
A HomeFree physician leads every care plan and reviews each patient weekly. They visit the home at intervals matched to acuity, usually every 1 to 4 weeks. Caregivers report observations to the physician, who adjusts medications and orders as needed. Families have direct access to the physician for questions, not just the agency coordinator.
Not sure if home care is the right call? Let's talk it through.