When aging parents begin to need support, adult children often find themselves in unfamiliar territory—balancing love, responsibility, and a growing list of concerns. At Just Like Family Home Care (JLF), we understand those worries. Since 2010, we’ve grown to nearly 50 locations across Canada—including six in Alberta—by offering families something different: compassionate, consistent, and truly personalized home care rooted in trust.

As a Certified Social Enterprise, we reinvest most of our profits into better care, education, and advocacy. That means our focus is never on sales targets or call center scripts. Instead, we prioritize people—ensuring real conversations, real relationships, and real support when your family needs it most.

For many adult children, navigating care for an aging parent can be overwhelming. Questions arise about quality, affordability, consistency, and even guilt around how much help they can or should provide. We meet families wherever they are in the journey and walk beside them, offering care that’s professional, personalized, and deeply human.

What Makes Just Like Family Different?

While many home care companies offer similar services—companionship, personal care, homemaking—our approach goes beyond checklists. It’s centered on quality, continuity, a genuine connection.

● Care Providers are carefully selected and trained. They are certified, compassionate, and supported by an experienced management team that includes a Community Health Manager (a licensed nurse) who oversees complex or palliative care cases. We hire employees—not contractors—ensuring accountability, consistency, and commitment.

● Flexible care tailored to real life. Whether your loved one needs a few hours a week, daily support, or 24/7 care, we adapt with you. Families receive guidance and support that evolves with changing health conditions, from early-stage assistance to end-of-life comfort care.

● Clear communication through our Care Portal. Families can access real-time updates, care plans, and notes from Care Providers, creating transparency and peace of mind—especially important for those living far from their aging loved ones.

● A commitment to relationships. We prioritize consistent staffing so your parent sees the same familiar faces. That stability builds trust and allows our Care Providers to notice subtle changes in health and mood, often before families or other health professionals do.

● More support for Care Providers. Our Calgary location was the first in Alberta to be recognized by the Alberta Living Wage Network. Fair pay ensures our Care Providers feel valued and supported—and that translates directly into better care. Our Care team is backed by experienced management, so when questions arise about Care Plans or concerns come up around client behaviours, our leadership is there to help. We offer free training, one-to-one support, and employee recognition programs that celebrate the incredible work our Care Providers do every day.

A Holistic Model That Goes Beyond Tasks

Home care should support the whole person. That’s why Just Like Family’s services go far beyond the basics. In addition to personal care and housekeeping, our wrap-around approach supports mental, emotional, and social well-being.

Our services include:

● Personal care (bathing, grooming, dressing) is provided with a focus on dignity, comfort, and safety. Our Care Providers are trained in best practices for hygiene and mobility, while also using kind, respectful communication that helps clients feel at ease and in control. The goal is simple: support routines in a way that protects both physical health and emotional well-being—while always treating clients with the respect they deserve.

● Companionship and emotional support — Many older adults experience a loss of purpose when they’re no longer able to work or manage the household as they once did. Our Care Providers are trained to offer more than just company—they encourage engagement by inviting clients to participate in light tasks like folding laundry or setting the table. These moments support dignity while fostering connection and activity in a safe, supported way.

● Light housekeeping — As people age, it may become difficult for them to maintain their home, especially if they previously had a spouse or partner who took care of these responsibilities. Tasks like cleaning, doing laundry, or managing household chores can become overwhelming and physically challenging. Our Care Providers assist with light housekeeping and laundry, ensuring the home remains safe, comfortable, and functional.

● Transportation services are not only for medical appointments or errands—they can also be thoughtfully incorporated into Person-Centred Care Plans to enhance quality of life. This can mean escorting a client to a day program, attending a community event, or enjoying a scenic drive to a neighbouring town for lunch. It’s about enabling clients to remain active and connected to the world around them.

We also recognize that home care is just one piece of a larger puzzle. That’s why we’ve developed meaningful partnerships to support every aspect of well-being:

● Nutritious meals through Nurish’d: This Calgary-based company prepares ready-made meals based on the “food is medicine” philosophy.

● Support for vision impairment: As the exclusive national partner of Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada, we train our staff to understand and assist clients with vision loss—empowering them to live safely and independently at home.

● Living safely at home: JLF is also a partner with Lifeline, offering many different safety and medic alert options with cost savings on activation fees.

● Free education for families: Our online education modules are available to help families understand and support loved ones living with dementia or other diagnoses.

● Community engagement: We host virtual classes, group activities, and connect clients to local resources to combat isolation and loneliness or to offer other services.

● Client Directed Home Care Invoicing (CDHCI): We’re an approved provider that helps offset the cost of private home care services.

The Care Provider Advantage: Stability, Skill, and Heart

Staff turnover is one of the biggest challenges in the home care industry. At JLF, we invest in our team—because we know that who provides care matters just as much as what they do.

Our Care Providers are employees, not contracted workers. They receive ongoing training, health and safety support, and are part of a team culture that values growth and empathy. Many stay with us for years—and refer their qualified co-workers to work with us.

Families benefit from that stability. When a Care Provider and client form a consistent relationship, it leads to better outcomes. Clients feel safer, routines are easier to maintain, and early signs of health changes don’t go unnoticed.

We’ve seen the risks of hiring untrained individuals privately—confusion around medications, safety hazards, even emotional strain on the client. JLF offers an alternative: professional care that respects your loved one’s dignity and relieves the burden from family members
trying to do it all alone.

Starting Care Before It’s Urgent

Many families wait until there’s a crisis—like a fall or hospital admission—before considering home care. But planning early makes the transition smoother and less stressful for everyone.

Even a few hours a week of support can:

● Help your loved one build trust with their Care Provider
● Create healthy routines around meals, medication, and mobility
● Ease loneliness and encourage independence
● Give family members a much-needed break

Home care isn’t a loss of independence—it’s an investment in preserving it.

We encourage families to think of home care not as a last resort, but as a proactive step toward aging well. Whether your parent is just starting to need help or already facing complex needs, we’re here to create a plan that works for your family.

Real Stories, Real Impact

Our families often tell us the same thing: “We wish we had started sooner.”

Here’s what one adult daughter shared:
“My mom was reluctant to accept help at first, but now she looks forward to seeing her Care Provider. The consistency, kindness, and care have made such a difference—not just for her, but for all of us.”

Another son shared:
“JLF gave us peace of mind. We couldn’t be there 24/7, but we knew someone kind, capable, and familiar was. That made all the difference.”

Another family wrote:
“Was very impressed with this company from the initial visit from the coordinator who asked a lot of questions so she felt versed in my mother’s needs to finding the right Care Provider familiar with my mother’s illness. The chosen Care Provider has been thorough in reading my notes and accomplishing all tasks while meeting all my mother’s grooming needs etc. In addition, the follow-up
phone call after a week tells me enough to say they care that they are providing the needs we asked for. Well done!!”

We’ve also had Care Providers share their stories:
“This job has become more than work—it’s a relationship, a responsibility, and a privilege.”

One of our clients living with dementia attends a local day program. Each morning, her Care Provider arrives to help her get ready, gently guiding her through routines that bring comfort and consistency. They then drive her safely to the program, ensuring a smooth, dignified transition into her day. It’s these small but powerful moments that make a big difference—for her, and for her family.

A Partner in Your Family’s Journey

Caring for an aging parent can feel isolating—but it doesn’t have to be. Just Like Family is more than a care provider. We’re your partner, your guide, and your support system. From that first phone call to creating a personalized care plan, to adjusting as needs evolve,
we’re here to help you every step of the way.