Resources for families, caregivers and coordinators

Respite care is about you, the family caregiver. A trained caregiver comes to your home and looks after your loved one so you can rest, run errands or spend time with the rest of the family.

Personal assistance is about your loved one's own daily living. A caregiver helps with personal care, routines, meals and community activities, and supports them in building everyday skills.

Many families use both. If you're not sure, choose "Not sure yet" on our referral form and we'll help you figure it out. Read more about personal assistance.

1. Contact your service coordinator. Every RCOC client has one. Tell them you'd like respite or personal assistance, and why it would help.
2. Discuss it at your IPP meeting. Services are added through your loved one's Individual Program Plan (IPP). You can ask for a planning meeting before your annual review.
3. Be specific. Describe your typical week, when you need support most, and what happens when no help is available.
4. Choose a provider. Once services are authorized, you can ask for Abbi Care by name. We're a vendored provider with RCOC.

Want help preparing? Call us at (949) 209-9008. We walk families through this every week.

If your loved one is a CalOptima Health member, in-home support may be available through your health plan when you meet its eligibility requirements.

• Ask your CalOptima Health care manager whether respite or in-home personal support is available to your family.
• If you don't have a care manager, call the member services number on your CalOptima Health ID card.
• Once a service is approved, you can ask for Abbi Care as your provider.

Eligibility, hours and any costs are set by CalOptima Health. Send us a referral and we'll help with next steps.

If there's someone your family already trusts, like a relative, a family friend or a past caregiver, they may be able to care for your loved one through Abbi Care.

• They apply with us and complete our screening, including background checks and CPR certification.
• After onboarding, we schedule them with your family and handle the paperwork and pay.

Mention their name when you submit your referral.

A little preparation helps your loved one and their caregiver feel comfortable from day one. Have these ready:

• Daily routine: wake-up, meals, naps, activities and bedtime
• Likes, dislikes and what helps when they're upset
• How they communicate, including any signs, words or devices
• Allergies and foods to avoid
• Any behavior support plan or safety plan from their team
• Emergency contacts and how to reach you
• House rules, like screen time, outings and visitors

• Schedule it like an appointment. Regular, predictable visits are easier for your loved one and make sure you actually take the break.
• Use some time for yourself. Errands are fine, but rest, exercise or time with friends matters too.
• Keep the same caregiver when you can. Consistency builds trust. Tell us what's working.
• Use all your authorized hours. Unused hours may not carry over. Ask your coordinator how your authorization works.

We hire caring, dependable people across Orange County. Requirements include being 18 or older, passing federal and state background checks, CPR certification, and reliable transportation. Experience with developmental disabilities is welcome but not required.

See pay, schedules and how to apply.

• Read your client's care notes and routine before you arrive
• Save the family's contact and the Abbi Care scheduling line, (949) 209-9008, in your phone
• Plan your route and arrive a few minutes early
• Check in with the family: how the day has gone and anything to watch for
• Log your hours and share how the visit went at the end of each shift

All Abbi Care caregivers need current CPR certification. Not certified yet? Tell us when you apply, and we'll point you to an upcoming class.

Classes in Orange County are offered by the American Red Cross (opens in a new tab) and the American Heart Association (opens in a new tab).

Our scheduling team is your first stop for schedule changes, timesheets and pay questions. Call or text (949) 209-9008 or email scheduling@myabbicare.com.

• In-home, non-medical respite care and personal assistance
• Vendored with the Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC) and serving CalOptima Health members
• Serving all of Orange County from our Laguna Hills office
• Background-checked, CPR-certified caregivers; families can bring a caregiver they already know
• Member of the Cal Respite Association

Use our online referral form, which takes about two minutes, or call (949) 209-9008.

Send authorizations, POS documents and case files to scheduling@myabbicare.com through your usual secure channel. Please don't put diagnoses or UCI numbers in the online form.

1. We review the referral and contact the family.
2. We confirm the service, hours and authorization with you.
3. We match the family with a caregiver and confirm the start date.
4. We keep you updated, including any changes in schedule or service.