Understanding In-Home Care: A Guide to Supporting Seniors at Home

Sunday, January 4, 2026

In this episode of Navigating Eldercare, host Laura Daniels sits down with Arthur Pike, founder of River City Home Care, to demystify the world of in-home care services. With nearly 20 years of experience in San Antonio, Arthur explains the critical differences between in-home care and home health, highlighting how personalized caregiver support helps seniors maintain independence and safety.

The conversation covers essential topics for families, including identifying the "red flags" that a loved one needs help, the importance of professional oversight and background checks, and how to navigate the transition from hospital to home to prevent re-admission. Whether you are curious about respite care for family caregivers or curious about how long-term care insurance works, this episode provides a roadmap for supporting seniors in the place they love most—their home.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 – Introduction to Navigating Eldercare Laura Daniels introduces the mission of Care Advocates and the purpose of the podcast.

• 00:45 – The "Why" Behind Care Advocacy Laura shares her inspiration for helping families navigate the confusing elder care process.

• 01:43 – Meet Arthur Pike of River City Home Care An introduction to Arthur Pike and his 20-year legacy of locally-owned care in San Antonio.

• 02:13 – Defining In-Home Care What is it exactly? A breakdown of assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and companionship.

• 03:10 – In-Home Care vs. Home Health Arthur explains the crucial differences between medical home health (insurance-based) and supportive in-home care.

• 04:59 – A Labor of Love: The Story of River City Home Care Arthur discusses starting his business to fill a gap in local senior resources.

• 07:11 – Signs Your Loved One Needs Help Red flags to look for during the holidays, from dying plants to expired food and un-opened mail.

• 08:34 – Respite Care for Family Caregivers How in-home care provides a much-needed break for spouses and family members.

• 09:20 – Debunking Common Misconceptions Addressing fears about long-term contracts and the "loss of independence."

• 10:25 – The Risk of Private Hiring vs. Professional Agencies Why background checks, oversight, and professional scheduling matter for safety.

• 13:09 – The Onboarding Process What to expect during the initial assessment and creating a customized care plan.

• 15:15 – Preventing Hospital Re-admissions The importance of the first 72 hours back at home and how caregivers bridge the gap.

• 18:13 – Technology in Care: The Family Room Portal How families can stay connected and monitor care notes from anywhere in the world.

• 19:20 – Essential Questions to Ask an Agency Key vetting tips: Licensing, bonding, and strict background check policies.

• 21:04 – How to Pay: Private Pay & Long-Term Care Insurance Navigating the financial side of care and the role of LTC policies.

• 21:59 – A Story of Impact Arthur shares a touching success story of a client who regained her mobility and returned home.

• 23:52 – Closing & Contact Information How to reach Laura Daniels and River City Home Care for support.

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