Home Instead

Home Instead Serving Sonoma County since 1998 w/ services that allow seniors to age in place. The care they need. The home they love.

Home Instead provides safe and consistent care for your loved one as they age, delivered at home with both comfort and transparency. Home Instead provides personalized, non-medical home care for older adults across Sonoma County and surrounding Wine Country communities. We serve families in communities including Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Windsor, Sonoma, Bodega Bay and Guernevi

lle. Our Care Pros provide personal care, companion care, respite care, Alzheimer’s and dementia support, meal preparation, transportation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, chronic condition support, hospital-to-home care, overnight care, and 24-hour care. We create customized care plans to help older adults stay comfortable, connected and independent at home.

08/31/2026

Caring for a parent can bring up a lot of complicated emotions, especially when the relationship has been difficult.

In this Caregiver Chats conversation, Dr. Lakelyn and licensed mental health counselor Rebecca Johnson explore the often unspoken experience of caring for a narcissistic parent, with compassion for the boundaries, grief, and mixed feelings that can come with it.

If this is part of your story, you are not alone. 💚 Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts: https://bit.ly/3V3ebtc

08/21/2026

Dr. Lakelyn welcomes audiologist Dr. Debbie Abel for an important conversation about hearing loss and why recognizing it early can make a tremendous difference in health, relationships, and quality of life.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/4xoaUml

08/19/2026

As a gerontologist, I’ve seen firsthand the difference professional caregivers make for older adults and their families. It’s time we recognize caregiving for what it is: an essential profession deserving of respect, investment and opportunities for growth. - Lakelyn Hogan Eichenberger

08/19/2026

Yvette Nicole Brown recounts her father's Alzheimer's journey and shares an important lesson: Hiding from a diagnosis only prolongs discomfort. Once her family knew what they were up against, her father could get the care he needed, and she could begin the process of acceptance. 🫂

🎧 Watch the full conversation on Caregiver Chats podcast: https://bit.ly/4xKM4NF

08/14/2026

Struggling to hear may be the cause of chronic fatigue in older adults. Listen to the latest episode of Caregiver Chats to learn more: https://bit.ly/4xoaUml

08/07/2026

Do you have a loved one who is withdrawing due to hearing loss? Try these tips for better communication. 👂🏼✨

Listen to the full episode of Caregiver Chats with our host Dr. Lakelyn and guest audiologist Dr. Debbie Abel: https://bit.ly/4xoaUml

08/05/2026

When someone living with dementia does something unexpected, our first instinct is often to blame the person.

Instead, blame the disease.

In this clip from Caregiver Chats, geriatric social worker Mindy Crouch shares a simple mindset shift that can help families—especially children—respond with empathy instead of confusion or embarrassment.

By separating the person from the disease, we can protect their dignity, reduce fear, and create more compassionate moments together.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of Caregiver Chats:

Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4gJIrlU
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4pt1m6E
YouTube: https://bit.ly/4pu8Bv7

It’s hotter than a pepper sprout out there! 🥵And while we’re all reaching for iced drinks and fans, older adults need a ...
08/03/2026

It’s hotter than a pepper sprout out there! 🥵

And while we’re all reaching for iced drinks and fans, older adults need a little extra care to stay safe in the summer heat.

Here’s your caregiver-approved summer safety toolkit for aging loved ones:

💧 Hydrate with variety – Water is essential, but try chilled fruit, herbal iced tea, smoothies, or even popsicles to keep it fun and refreshing.

👒 Dress smart – Light, breathable clothing and wide-brimmed hats help regulate temperature and protect sensitive skin.

🌬️ Cool it down – If there’s no AC, use fans, cold washcloths, or even a bowl of cool water for hands and wrists to provide quick relief.

🌿 Time outdoor activities wisely – Early mornings or evenings are safest. A short stroll, porch chat, or birdwatching can bring joy without overheating.

👂 Connect with care – Sometimes, just being present — listening, sharing a memory, or sitting together — is the best form of comfort.

Let’s keep our older adults safe, seen, and supported this summer.

🔁 Share this post to spread the word about senior summer safety.

07/31/2026

How can we help kids understand the end of life?

In the latest episode of Caregiver Chats, Dr. Lakelyn sits down with geriatric social worker and author Mindy Crouch to explore how caregivers can have honest, age-appropriate conversations with children about death, dying, and grief.

Drawing from nearly two decades of supporting older adults and families, Mindy shares practical guidance for helping children process loss, ask difficult questions, and feel supported through life's hardest transitions.

🎧 Listen to Caregiver Chats wherever you get your podcasts:

Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4gJIrlU
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4pt1m6E
YouTube: https://bit.ly/4pu8Bv7

07/29/2026

"Every parent want's to protect their child from hurt. Unfortunately, that's not life."

In the latest episode of Caregiver Chats, Dr. Lakelyn sits down with geriatric social worker and author Mindy Crouch to explore why helping children understand dementia can reduce fear, strengthen family connections, and build healthy coping skills that last a lifetime.

Drawing from nearly two decades of supporting older adults and their families, Mindy shares practical, age-appropriate strategies for talking with children about dementia, grief, and the changes they may see in someone they love.

If dementia has touched your family, this conversation offers thoughtful guidance on how honesty, compassion, and open communication can help every generation navigate the journey together.

🎧 Listen to Caregiver Chats wherever you get your podcasts:

Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4gJIrlU
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4pt1m6E
YouTube: https://bit.ly/4pu8Bv7

07/27/2026

A photo can spark joy, but for someone living with dementia, it can also be confusing or even distressing.

In this Caregiver Chats clip, explains that recent photos aren't always the best way to connect. Sometimes a person identifies more with an earlier chapter of their life than with how they look today. Meeting them where they are, including through photos from the time they recognize as "themselves," can create comfort instead of confusion.

It's a powerful reminder that dementia care is about entering their reality with compassion.

🎧 Watch the full clip: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/74-navigating-dementia-care-expert-insights-for-everyday/id1684948365?i=1000772838540

💬 Have you found that certain photos, music, or memories help your loved one feel more connected? We'd love to hear what has worked for your family.

Address

1500 Valley House Drive, 210
Rohnert Park, CA
94928

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