Home Instead

10/28/2025

💜 Caring for a Loved One? You Don’t Have to Do It Alone.

Family caregivers in San Juan Capistrano and across South Orange County often carry a heavy load—schedules, medications, meals, emotions. This month, we’re sharing practical ways to prevent burnout together, from open family conversations to condition-informed care at home.

At Home Instead South Orange County, we support sustainable caregiving routines with flexible services that bring relief and restore balance.

📖 Read our latest guide for tips, resources, and personalized care strategies that make caregiving more manageable—without sacrificing quality of life.

Family caregivers in San Juan Capistrano face unique challenges. Find trusted ways to ease stress, share responsibilities, and access local support through Home Instead.

10/27/2025

We have no control over diagnosis or decline. What we can control is our acceptance, and that helps us move through caregiving with more ease.

Dr. Lakelyn sits down with Katie Prentiss, an actor, filmmaker, and former caregiver to her mom who lived with frontotemporal dementia.

Katie shares what it was like to care for her mom while raising four kids and running a business, and how she found peace by letting go of control. She also talks about her new film Wake Up Maggie, a love letter to caregivers everywhere. 💌

🎧 Tune in wherever you get your podcasts: https://homeinsteadinc.visitlink.me/HHHZVX

10/27/2025

It started with a fall. It grew into friendship that feels like family.

After a lifetime of working the land, Mr. Eddy lost his mobility in an instant. “I just had to lay there until someone came. I couldn’t get up,” he says.

His family lives nearly 700 miles away, and while they couldn’t be there every day to help, his daughter knew he still deserved to feel safe, supported, and cared for.

That’s when she found Home Instead—and Jacquie came into his life.

From the beginning, they just clicked.
They’ve got their own secret handshake.

Mr. Eddy can’t get enough of her southern cooking.
And Jacquie? She listens like a friend, soaking up his stories and life lessons from decades on the farm.

What started as help around the house became something deeper—companionship, laughter, and trust.

Because when family can’t be there, someone like Jacquie can. Someone who shows up with heart. ❤️

Share this story with someone who needs a little hope today. ✨

10/21/2025

You want the best for your loved ones, and so do we. 🫶

With 30+ years of experience and a trusted network of compassionate Care Pros, we’re here when it matters most. 🏡 Learn more at homeinstead.com.

10/17/2025

Tune in to our latest Caregiver Chats episodes for expert advice, resources, and real stories designed to support caregivers everywhere.

🎧 Listen now: https://apple.co/3RuALpz

10/17/2025

❄️ Winter brings unique challenges for seniors in San Juan Capistrano

From icy steps to shorter days and lower energy, the colder months can make life harder for older adults. At Home Instead South Orange County, we help families across San Juan Capistrano, CA stay ahead with safety tips, nutrition ideas, and thoughtful in-home support.

📖 Read our winter guide to learn how to help aging loved ones stay safe, independent, and well this season. If you have questions or want to talk through options, we’re here for you.

Help seniors in San Juan Capistrano stay safe this winter with tips on warmth, fall prevention, nutrition, and emotional wellness from Home Instead South Orange County.

10/16/2025

Today we’re unpacking the surprising sides of grief, and how to resist the urge to judge it when it shows up differently for others.

Dr. Lakelyn sits down with Katie Prentiss, an actor, filmmaker, and former caregiver to her mom who lived with frontotemporal dementia.

Katie opens up about what it was like to care for her mom while raising four kids and running a business, and how she learned to let go of control and find peace through acceptance. She also shares the heart behind her new film, Wake Up Maggie—a love letter to caregivers everywhere. 💌

🎧 Tune in wherever you get your podcasts: https://bit.ly/3KIelBj?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=app.dashsocial.com%2Fhomeinsteadinc%2Flibrary%2Fmedia%2F594035843

10/15/2025

“There’s no do-overs in grief, and so there’s a ton of second guessing in grief.” — Lisa Pahl

It’s never easy to talk about death. But avoiding it? That can leave our loved ones with conflict, confusion, and a heavy burden of “what ifs.”
In this episode of , Dr. Lakelyn sits down with hospice social worker and co-creator of The Death Deck, Lisa Pahl to explore the real consequences of not planning ahead.

Starting the conversation now won’t take away the pain of loss, but it can offer clarity, connection, and peace when it matters most.

🎧 Listen to wherever you get your podcasts. https://apple.co/3RuALpz

10/14/2025

Caregiving can feel like chaos—especially when you’re trying to hold it all together. In this episode, Dr. Lakelyn sits down with Katie Prentiss, an actor, filmmaker, and former caregiver to her mom, who lived with frontotemporal dementia.

Katie shares what it was like to care for her mom while raising four kids and running a business, and how she learned to let go of control and find peace through acceptance. She also talks about her new film, Wake Up Maggie—a love letter to caregivers everywhere.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts: https://bit.ly/3KIelBj?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=app.dashsocial.com%2Fhomeinsteadinc%2Flibrary%2Fmedia%2F592846977

10/14/2025

When life changes in an instant, the right support can mean everything. ❤‍🩹 Mr. Eddy didn’t just find care after a fall, he found companionship too. Share this with someone who needs a little hope today. 🥹

10/09/2025

💸 Did you know family caregivers spend an average of $7,000 out of pocket each year, and for long-distance caregivers, it can be even more?

On this episode of Caregiver Chats, Dr. Lakelyn and Certified Financial Planner™ Danielle Miura talk about the hidden costs of caregiving and why it’s so important to plan ahead. From workplace benefits to government resources, knowing your options can help you avoid burnout and protect your financial future.

🎧 Listen to Episode 55: Navigating Financial Stability as a Family Caregiver: https://homeinsteadinc.visitlink.me/FSBkeu

10/06/2025

Caregiving can no longer be a solo act. In this clip from our podcast, guest Jason Resendez shares how important it is to ask for help—and to offer it—in order to make caregiving more sustainable for everyone, especially sandwich caregivers.

Whether you're caring for both a parent and a child or simply know someone who is, showing up matters. Don’t wait to be asked. A text, a meal, or a short visit can make all the difference.

🎧 Hear more from Jason, President & CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving, in our latest episode. (Link in bio)

10/03/2025

“At first, my dad’s dementia showed up in small ways. He’d leave the garage door wide open. He’d forget to take his phone with him when he left the house. Little things. Easy to explain away—until they weren’t.”

Then the emergencies came. Her mom was overwhelmed. Debbie was juggling a demanding job, raising her kids, and trying to make sense of a world that suddenly felt upside down.

She didn’t know what was normal, what was urgent, or where to turn. No one told her what to expect.

They learned the hard way.

So many calls from her mom asking her to come over—and plenty of 911 calls, falls, and difficulty physically helping him in the shower or getting dressed.

And then, outside a grocery store, she saw a sign: “Home Care Assistance.”
“I didn’t know what that meant. But I knew I needed it.”

That moment opened the door to care—compassionate people who helped her dad feel safe. Professionals who gave Debbie’s family a sense of calm and control again.

That experience changed Debbie’s life. It lit a fire in her.

Today, she owns three Home Instead franchises in Arizona. Her mission is deeply personal: to give families the kind of care and guidance she wishes she had earlier.

Because the signs are always there. Families just need someone to help them see them, trust them, and know they don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Home Instead stands for that kind of care—care rooted in empathy, built on trust, and delivered with heart. Debbie knows because she lived it. And now she’s making sure other families don’t have to walk that road alone.

10/02/2025

Starting a talk about home care in San Juan Capistrano isn’t easy, but gentle conversations make a big difference. Our guide shares ways to ease into the topic and keep independence at the center of the discussion.

Start respectful home care talks, spot readiness, and plan support in San Juan Capistrano—with resources to protect safety and independence.

10/01/2025

Falls are the leading cause of injury for older adults in San Juan Capistrano, but many can be avoided. From home adjustments to strength-building activities, small steps add up to greater safety and confidence.

Learn simple fall prevention strategies that help older adults stay safe and independent at home. Guidance from Home Instead South Orange County.

09/29/2025

Charles spent his early years surrounded by books and artifacts, studying archaeology and collecting antiques wherever he could. His home still reflects that passion, lined with treasures from a life spent exploring.

An accident in his thirties, followed by a stroke years later, changed what life looked like. Now in a power chair, Charles depends on daily support. But thanks to Valarie, his longtime Home Instead Care Pro, the world he loves is still within reach.

Valarie helps him hold on to the routines and passions that bring him joy. “He likes to be read to,” she says. “I try, but he laughs at me. I cannot pronounce the words.” Still, she reads. They water the garden together and talk about what to cook. “One thing he loves is good food, and I can cook,” she says. “I will say, I will cook you meatloaf and green beans.” It is a familiar bribe when it is time for a haircut.

Outings take more planning now, but Valarie makes sure they still happen. She arranges rides for trips to antique stores, museums, and the zoo, sometimes bringing her granddaughter along. “We are going to the zoo next week,” she says. “I have pictures of all our trips.”

It is in these small comforts that their connection has grown stronger. Valarie says it best: “We are here to accommodate them. They are not here to accommodate us.”

Because with the right care, life does not stop. It keeps going with comfort, joy, and connection. 💚

Share this story with someone who needs a reminder of the power of care.

09/22/2025

More than 55 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Today, on World Alzheimer’s Day, we honor every life touched by this journey — individuals living with dementia, as well as the caregivers, families, and partners who walk alongside them. 🫂

Together, we can make a difference. 💜
Join us in the fight to end Alzheimer’s by donating at alz.org.

Looking for extra support? Link in bio to explore our podcast for real stories and resources from the caregiving community. ⤴

09/08/2025

Home Instead South Orange County is proud to share a personal message from our owner, Jim K., about why we're leading our community's participation in the Walk to End Alzheimer's:

"As the owner of Home Instead South Orange County, I've seen firsthand how Alzheimer's disease impacts families throughout our community. When my own father battled this disease, it became clear that we need to do more than just provide care – we need to fight for a cure.

This year, I'm proud to serve as Co-Chair of the Walk to End Alzheimer's for South Orange County, and I'm inviting our neighbors to stand with us.

The facts are stark: Alzheimer's affects 6.7 million Americans and remains the only top-10 cause of death without effective treatment. But there's hope when communities come together.

Walk with us on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 8:30 AM
Location: Sendero Field, San Juan Capistrano/Rancho Mission Viejo

Your participation – whether in person or through team support – directly funds research, advocacy, and programs that bring us closer to ending this disease.

Together, we're working toward a future where no family has to watch a loved one slip away from Alzheimer's."
– Jim K., Owner

Click the link below to join our team and make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.

I am participating in Walk to End Alzheimer's. Donate today and help me reach my goal.

09/04/2025

This is why we walk. 💜

When Michelle’s dad, Don, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at age 69, her family’s world changed forever. Over 10 years, she watched him go from living at home with caregivers to assisted living, and eventually to an Alzheimer’s unit before he passed away at age 79.

Earlier this year, dementia touched her family again when Michelle’s mom, Sandy, had a stroke and heart attack that rapidly advanced her dementia. Now in memory care, Michelle visits Sandy every evening. Despite these challenges, she finds gratitude: “Even though my mom has changed, I’m still creating memories with her.”

For Michelle, Walk to End Alzheimer’s is about honoring her parents and connecting with others. Each year, she joins her Home Instead team and others in the senior care community to walk not in sadness, but in hope for a cure.

It’s because of passionate people like Michelle that Home Instead, a Walk to End Alzheimer’s Gold National Team, has raised nearly $5.5 million over the past 17 years — including $280,000 just last year — to advance critical Alzheimer’s care, support, and research.

Together with the , we’re fighting for a future without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. Let’s make 2025 our most impactful year yet. 💪

Learn how you can get involved: alz.org/walk 🚶🏽‍♀️

08/26/2025

💜 Every Family Caregiver Deserves a Break 💜

Caring for a loved one is an act of love—but it can also be exhausting. This blog explores how respite care offers relief, rest, and reassurance to families—so they can recharge without guilt.

💬 “Supporting the caregiver is just as important as supporting the senior.”

At Home Instead, we offer flexible respite services designed around your needs.

📲 Tap below to read the full blog and learn how we help families breathe easier.

📞 Interested in respite care? Reach out to your local Home Instead team.

Feeling overwhelmed as a family caregiver? Learn how respite care from Home Instead in South Orange County can provide relief and compassionate support.

08/04/2025

We’ve cooked up something yummy for our care community. 😋🍉 Save this refreshing watermelon feta salad recipe for your next meal prep win. Perfect for warm-weather caregiving days!

✨ Bonus: It comes with meaningful conversation starters to help you connect while you share. ✨

Tag us in your photos enjoying it with your loved one—we’d love to see your summer caregiving moments! ☀️