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Frequently Asked Questions

About Equinoxe LifeCare

How long have you been in business?

Established in 1998, Equinoxe Lifecare is an ISO 9001:2015 certified Montreal based homecare management company offering high quality personalized programs addressing the physical, psychological and social needs of our client families. We are dedicated to whole person care, ensuring the management, coordination, and provision of quality care services across the spectrum in geriatric, chronic care, post operative and palliative care. Our team consists of skilled caregivers and care managers who function as advocates for our clients.

What services does Equinoxe provide?

Equinoxe provides a vast array of services to accommodate the care needs of your loved ones:

  • We offer our proprietary Care Management services through a holistic approach to clients’ individual needs and with the latest health and government information we can help our clients navigate through the healthcare system
  • Personal care: meal preparation, assistance in daily living (personal hygiene, dressing, grooming), medication reminders and management, light housekeeping and cooking, companionship, assisting clients with prescribed exercises
  • Post-operative care: post-hospital wound hygiene, physiotherapy, osteotherapy, occupational and massage therapy
  • Mental Health support: experienced caregivers trained to handle clients with mild cognitive impairment as well as other neurological degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Depression and Cancer care
  • We provide specialized Palliative care with experienced staff, coordination with CLSC palliative care teams in Quebec and following hospital directives
How do I know Equinoxe LifeCare offers a high quality of care?

ISO stands for the International Organization for Standardization which tests for quality standards and management in specific industries. We have been certified with ISO 2009 -2015 annually since 2015. We hire caregivers who are professional, skilled and as accredited educators (through SOFEDUC), we offer them additional training as part of their career with us.

Do my Caregivers have the skills for my health condition?

We hire certified caregivers, Registered Nurse and Registered Nurse Assistant. They go through stringent onboarding processes (background checks, police checks, interviews and orientations). The caregivers we hire come from healthcare backgrounds and/or have followed the Quebec training programs. The care coordinators also brief caregivers on new client files by phone, email, and our customized application. This ensures that when the caregiver starts with a client, they are informed with as much information as possible about the client’s condition.

How are your services different from hiring a private caregiver?

We offer individualized Care Management Services, which include the planning, scheduling, coordination, and supervision of home care services. We want to ensure that our clients and client families feel at ease and that we have taken the effort out of logistical and complex coordination, thereby providing peace of mind for the family.

What are the benefits of aging at home?

Most seniors prefer to age in place. We ensure that after evaluating a client’s needs and developing the care plan in conjunction with doctor requirements, hospital discharge plans and coordinating with CLSC involvement, we are able to provide support by combining high quality personal care combined with proprietary technology.

About Our Services

I require help for my senior parent who lives at home, how do I begin the process?

Reviewing your options would be a great place to start and our Care team would love to speak with you about that. You can call us at 1 877 935 2600, message us at info@equinoxe.ca or chat with one of our team members directly from this website. We always make sure to take time to assess the services required for the client. Our free evaluations and assessments or our home on-site assessments help both the client and their family understand the support we are able to give. Our solutions are customized to accommodate the needs of your loved one.

Do you only provide home care services for older adults?

While many of our clients tend to be older adults, we handle clients of all ages, whether they are suffering from a chronic condition, were recently admitted to the hospital and need post-surgery care, or have a cognitive impairment that requires mental health support.

Is Equinoxe LifeCare service only available in the home?

We can provide services whether our client lives at home, in residential care, or even during a stay at the hospital. We will be offering our services where they are needed.

Do you provide services in my area?

We have caregivers and nurses in Westmount, Montreal, West Island, South Shore, and Laval. We will be more than happy to inform you if we have a caregiver available in your area as we are currently expanding our reach throughout Quebec. Please call us at 1 877 935 2600.

Will my elderly parents always receive care with the same caregiver for long-term care?

Yes, and our objective is precisely to create a long-term caregiving relationship. We believe that a good connection and bond with the caregiver will improve the home care experience. If your loved one needs extra hours or more days of care throughout the week, it might be best to have 2 or 3 caregivers to satisfy this requirement. Each caregiver will be much more alert during their shifts to keep your loved one happy and content.

We always strive to send the best possible caregiver. However, sometimes the chemistry is not there and our Care Managers will undertake to change caregivers until we find someone who fits the role.

Can I change or discontinue services for my loved ones at any time?

We understand that the care situation can change or fluctuate very quickly. Therefore, we are flexible based on your loved one’s needs. You are never locked into a long- or short-term contract with Equinoxe Lifecare and you can discontinue services at any time.

I need someone instantly. Can I get a caregiver tomorrow?

In most cases, we can provide a caregiver on short notice. It will depend on the availability of the caregivers and how far they are from the clients. Sometimes, it takes about 2-3 days to match a caregiver with a client. However, we always do our best to meet your requests as fast as possible.

What is your minimum shift?

Our caregivers take time to travel and want to make sure they have enough time to work with our client. Caregivers will require time to complete all their tasks prescribed for each visit. Because we want to do an exemplary job, we require a minimum of 4 hours per shift.

What other languages do your caregivers speak aside from English?

Equinoxe LifeCare hire caregivers from different ethnic backgrounds which is a great asset to our team. We will always do our best to meet your requirements. Many of our caregivers speak French, Spanish, Greek, Farsi and more.

What happens if my caregiver gets sick?

Should your caregiver get sick, we can cancel the shift and/or undertake to find a replacement from our team of caregivers.

Are you available 24/7?

Our coordinators are available during regular office hours by phone, e-mail or chat. We offer after hours on-call assistance 24/7 (evenings, week-ends and statutory holidays) with a human voice.

I am a new client and would like to pay my bills. What are the available payment methods?

The easiest way to pay us is through pre-authorized payments, which are automatically debited from your bank account. We also accept payments by credit card, although a convenience fee is applied. Alternatively, you can make a payment through your financial institution. Please contact our billing team at the following e-mail: accounting@equinoxe.ca.

How much will care services cost?

Each care plan is personalized to suit your care. Rates differ based on the type of needs required and the city where you’re located. Please call us at 1 877 935 2600 to determine your care, and our Care Managers will confirm an applicable rate based on a initial assessment of the client’s needs. If the case becomes more complex, Equinoxe Lifecare will reassess the rate and level of service.

Are home care services tax deductible?

Based on some conditions, health care services are tax deductible:

In addition, there are different insurance policies in the market to cover home care services. You can discuss this in more details with your tax advisor. Please do not hesitate to contact our Care Management team for any questions you may have.