Frequently Asked Questions

Apex Care is a privately owned home care agency based in Calgary, Alberta, founded in 2016. We provide home care, disability support, private nursing, and respite care services across Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Airdrie, Okotoks, Cochrane, and many surrounding communities. If you're unsure whether we serve your area, please contact us — we may still be able to help.

Getting started is simple. Contact us by phone, email, or by filling out our online form. A care coordinator will reach out within 2 business hours to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. We'll discuss your loved one's needs, answer all your questions, and outline the next steps — all at your pace.

Most of our home care services have a minimum visit length of 3 hours to ensure both the caregiver and client can establish a quality connection and complete meaningful care tasks. For private nursing visits, minimums may vary based on the clinical services required. We're flexible — speak with your coordinator about your specific situation.

Yes. Apex Care operates 7 days a week, including weekends and statutory holidays. Our on-call team is also available 24/7 for urgent or emergency care situations. We understand that care needs don't follow a calendar.

Our home support workers assist with a wide range of daily living tasks including personal hygiene and bathing, grooming and dressing, meal preparation and feeding, medication reminders, light housekeeping, laundry, companionship, transportation to appointments, and more. We create a customized care plan tailored to exactly what your loved one needs.

Absolutely. We carefully match caregivers to clients based on personality, language, experience, and care needs. Before care begins, we introduce the caregiver to your family so everyone feels comfortable. If at any point you feel the match isn't right, we'll work quickly to find a better fit at no extra cost.

We maintain a trained relief pool so your care is never interrupted. If your regular caregiver is unavailable, we will notify you promptly and arrange a qualified replacement who is briefed on your care plan before arriving. Your continuity of care is always our priority.

Yes. We offer live-in care arrangements for clients who need continuous, round-the-clock support. We also offer overnight care and rotating shift care for 24-hour coverage. These options are ideal for individuals with advanced dementia, post-surgical needs, or complex health conditions.

We support individuals with a wide range of disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, acquired brain injuries (ABI), FASD, intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, and complex/multiple disabilities. Our workers receive specialized training to support individuals with varying needs and behaviours.

Yes. We are experienced in working with the Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program for eligible adults and the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program for families of children under 18. Our care coordinators can help you understand your funding options and navigate the application process.

Yes. We offer employment support services including job search assistance, resume preparation, workplace orientation, and ongoing job coaching. We work collaboratively with clients, employers, and vocational rehabilitation specialists to support successful, sustained employment.

Home support workers assist with daily living tasks (personal care, meals, housekeeping, companionship). Private nurses — Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) — are licensed healthcare professionals who perform clinical tasks such as wound care, medication administration, health assessments, IV therapy, and management of complex medical conditions. Many clients benefit from both services working together.

No referral is required to contact us and arrange a nursing consultation. However, certain clinical tasks (such as IV therapy or wound care protocols) should be coordinated with your physician. Our nursing team is experienced in liaising with your doctor or specialist to ensure care is aligned with your prescribed treatment plan.

Yes, absolutely. All of our Registered Nurses hold active registration with the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) and our Licensed Practical Nurses hold active registration with the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA). You can verify any nurse's registration through their respective college's public registry.

Respite care provides temporary relief to family members who are the primary caregivers for a loved one. It allows the caregiver to rest, attend to their own needs, travel, or manage other responsibilities — while their loved one continues to receive high-quality care from our professional team. Respite care is for anyone who acts as an unpaid caregiver, regardless of whether the care recipient is a senior, a child, or an adult with a disability.

In many cases, we can arrange respite care within 24–48 hours of your request, depending on caregiver availability in your area. For planned respite (a vacation, scheduled surgery, etc.) we recommend reaching out at least 1–2 weeks in advance to ensure the best caregiver match. For urgent situations, please call us directly and we will do our best to respond immediately.

Yes. Most respite care we provide takes place in the client's own home, which is usually the most comfortable and familiar environment for them. We can also support respite in other settings depending on the client's preferences and care needs. Your care coordinator will discuss all options with you.

Costs vary depending on the type of service, the level of care required, and the number of hours per week. Home support workers typically range from $20–$30/hour, while private nursing services range from $35–$60/hour. We provide transparent, written pricing with no hidden fees. Contact us for a personalized quote based on your specific needs.

Alberta Health Services provides publicly funded home care for eligible individuals. However, AHS-funded care is often limited in scope and hours. Many families choose to supplement AHS care — or opt entirely for private care — to ensure their loved one receives the level of support they truly need. We can work alongside AHS care or replace it entirely, depending on your preference.

Many extended health benefit plans through employers include coverage for home nursing care, and some include home support services. We recommend reviewing your plan documents or contacting your insurance provider directly. We are happy to provide itemized invoices and documentation to support your insurance claims.

Yes. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) allows certain medical expenses — including eligible home care costs — to be claimed as medical expense deductions on your income tax return. We recommend speaking with a tax professional to understand what applies to your specific situation. We provide detailed receipts that can support your claim.

Every Apex Care caregiver goes through a rigorous hiring process that includes a multi-stage interview, reference checks, criminal record check (including vulnerable sector screening), health screening, and verification of all credentials and qualifications. Only those who demonstrate both the clinical skills and the compassionate character we require are hired. Less than 20% of applicants are accepted.

All Apex Care caregivers are our direct employees — not independent contractors. This means they are fully insured under our liability policy, receive ongoing training through us, are supervised by our clinical and care management team, and are accountable to our standards of conduct. This protects both our clients and the caregivers themselves.

All caregivers complete our comprehensive onboarding program and receive ongoing professional development throughout their employment. Training areas include safe client handling, dementia and Alzheimer's care, medication management, infection control, LGBTQ+ inclusion, mental health first aid, Indigenous cultural sensitivity, and emergency response. We believe continuous learning is non-negotiable in quality care.