Ask Madeline - FAQs

Why hire SHA?

Because over 80% of individuals are interested in staying in their homes as they grow older, commonly known as “aging-in-place”.

There are many reasons to hire Safely Home Again.

One of the primary reasons, we take care of you, and your loved ones while coordinating your transition from a health care setting back to your home during a frightening and upsetting time in your life.

Reading, understanding and implementing the instructions found on the discharge plan received from the hospital, skilled or rehabilitation facility for some, can be quite challenging.

Well guess what? Safely Home Again has you covered! We organize this process and the home so that the individual arrives home with their personal, medical necessities and luxuries either already in place or being put into place within 24 hours of the request. We become your personal case manager, VIP style!

You can then remain focused on your own families’ weekly schedules, routines and your personal matters knowing that. We handle all of the concierge services such as organizational needs; delivery of durable and mobility medical equipment, appointment scheduling, staffing arrangements, safety and home modification needs, and all of the miscellaneous pieces in between, all which will be done with insight, & purpose.

Another reason to hire us is This concept has never been so popular as it is today!

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines aging in place as:

“The ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably regardless of age, income or ability level.”

This is another specialty area of Safely Home Again.

We provide a detailed 240+ point home and fall risk safety assessment, conducted by a Certified Senior Home Safety Specialist who looks at the entire property for potential hazards, but also takes it to the level of the process by providing our Clients solutions to the hazards found. For more on the Assessment, see Home Safety Assessment services

There are so many reasons to hire us, above are just two of them.

Remember: Working with us is an investment in your loved one's livelihood, longevity, and continued independence.

Contact us to find out more about creating your personalized care plan for so you and or your family can safely age in place.

Yes I can. Safely Home Again is using the term loved one throughout the site in it’s descriptions and explanations. It is being used as a general term to mean all of the following; mom, dad, grandmother/father, and other family members. It also possibly can refers to one’s self, mom, dad, other family members, friend, a trustee, or anyone who is being represented by the client. It is also possible that the client could also be representing him/her self.

Not at all. Individuals can and should request the services in advance of a hospitalization if possible.

Implementing just a few of our recommendations will maintain one’s independence for the long run! When our safety recommendations are identified and corrected, when services, equipment and home modification can be added and done calmly, thoughtfully and without panic, clients are ahead of the game by being prepared.

Many individuals want to, and should try to prepare themselves and their home both organizationally and structurally before an accident, hospitalization or surgery occurs by adding or improving current safety features in their home.

It’s a game changer!

No there is not. The services are available to anyone who needs them.

On the contrary, we do not think so. Not at all. Individuals can and should request the services in advance of a hospitalization if possible.

Many individuals want to prepare themselves and their home both organizationally and structurally before an accident occurs by adding or improving current safety features in their home. Implementing just a few of our recommendations will maintain one’s independence for the long run! When our recommendations are corrected, when services, equipment and home modification can be added and done calmly, thoughtfully and without panic, clients are ahead of the game by being prepared.

Feel free to ask Madeline about the Home Safely Assessment Tool which identifies hazards in and around the home and provides solutions to the risks and dangers found.

Yes we do. Safely Home Again gets involved in a few ways.

The first, we are called by the client or the health care institution to assist the client with the discharge process. We assure that all of the post hospitalization and physicians orders are understood, then we continue on to the home. At this point, we usually are retained on and help with the organization of the return home; finding and scheduling delivery of durable medical equipment, meal preparation, scheduling of appointments, finding caregivers, and so much more.

The second way is by going to our website and completing the Message Form found on the Contact Page. When notified about the discharge day and time, Safely Home Again will make arrangements with you and meet you at the discharging institution or at the home. and begin to prepare for the homecoming by securing our lifestyle Services, choosing and delivery of medical equipment, caregiver selection, conducting a home and fall risk safety assessment, along with having certified vendors to complete the aging-in-place home modifications.

Initially, we can determine safety issues is by conducting the Home Safety and Fall Assessment. This is a detailed safety survey tool that identifies hazards in and around the home (or any location such as a office, or boat) and provides solutions for each hazard found.

This is highly recommended for individuals who have recently returned from a hospital stay, with broken hips/femurs for example and/or who have had any type of debilitating condition, such as a cerebral accident, balance issues or fear of falling, and who want to prepare their home to safely age in place.

“100% of ER doctors agree that an annual Home Safety Assessment is important to keep seniors safe at home.” according to Age Safe America.

Furthermore, we obtain data is from the actual discharge plan that is written by the discharging health care institution.

What is being recommended by the medical team? The physician? by the rehabilitation team? etc.

Mobility equipment, such as a walker, grab bars, and wheelchairs? or needs such as a hospital bed and oxygen concentrators.

Ask us about the Senior Home Safety & Fall Risk Assessment Tool. It is strongly suggested to be used in tandem with the hospital discharge plan.

That is a nationally recognized certification administered by Age Safe America, LLC., a national membership, training and advocacy organization committed to fall prevention, senior home safety and aging-in-place home modifications since 2015.

Madeline is certified as a Senior Safety Specialist®(SHSS), and renews her certification annually.

Hiring the right person to care for your loved one is an important step in the transition process, which can be a stressful undertaking. The founder of Safely Home Again, Madeline, has expertise in recruitment of healthcare professionals and recognizes the characteristics to look for in caregivers so that the right match can be made between the client and the caretaker.

We will interview certified nursing assistants, therapists and caregivers, including staff from home health agencies. We do our best to make quality matches between the Client and caregivers. There is always an option for changing caregivers within the same company if you are not satisfied the person assigned to you.

The client is responsible for signing the contractual agreement(s) and payment made with the Agencies for caregiving services rendered.

Contact Madeline for further details on the caretaking coverage questions that are on your mind.

Each client and their circumstance are so different from one another and individual situations can change so quickly that it’s difficult to give a definitive answer. Generally, the biggest determination of our time spent together is the extent to which you want to keep the case management services active, any home modifications that you want completed, and if caregiving staff needs to be found, interviewed and hired. If your loved one has lifestyle services and activities that need to be reactivated or initiated that too can take time to organize and schedule.

Usually after the 1^st or 2^nd meeting an initial estimate can be provided

Safely Home Again was created by Madeline Fry, a former Skilled Nursing Facilities Administrator and Executive Director in Assisted Living communities in the Santa Monica and West Los Angeles areas. Now she wants you to age-in-place safely and calmly.

Born and raised in West Los Angeles, Madeline grew up in Brentwood CA, and went to the local public schools growing up and for her college years. She spent her working and leisure days in the sunshine of the same surrounding neighborhoods that she now feels compelled to serve in her business. She sees no reason for you to move from your beautiful homes unless it becomes necessary.

As a lifelong caregiver with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, and a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Health Care Administration, the creation of Safely Home Again is a natural extension of who I am. It is built around the passion I feel towards helping people live their lives to the fullest, safest and with the inclusion of their family and friends. Family has always played a significant role in my life, and I believe that having the ability to stay at home for as long as possible is the best for everyone.

Madeline is personally responsible for every client, and truly wants to make this process easier for you. When you contact Safely Home Again, you are contacting Madeline.

Yes. Safely Home Again can help your family find, tour and chose a community that best suits the needs of the individual and the family. Should the choice be made to move from the home into an institutionalized setting, Safely Home Again can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of making a such a move. This includes, but is not limited to community location, current and future clinical services provided and needed, current and future costs, socialization activities and most importantly, the residents happiness!!

Let’s tour together

Yes I can. However, please note, that in addition to the cost of our lifestyle services that are chosen by the client, additional costs for overnight and out of town work includes, transportation car/gas or air fare, meals, lodging, rental car, and miscellaneous expenses related to the cost of doing business for the Client.

Of course, this concept holds true for those loved ones living in the same state but want an impartial party monitoring the care at the time of commencement of services.

No, not yet. By Winter 2025 notary services will be available.