Good Neighbor Podcast: Orange County

Home Care Heroes

• Rachel Fyffe & Juan Crespin

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Caring for aging loved ones at home shouldn't mean sacrificing quality of life – yours or theirs. Juan Crespin, owner of Griswold Home Care for Laguna Hills, joins us to share how professional home care creates independence and dignity for seniors while giving family caregivers essential support.

Juan's journey into caregiving began at a young age, evolving from personal experience caring for family members into a fulfilling career spanning nursing assistance, memory care direction, and healthcare administration. His firsthand understanding of caregiver burnout drives Griswold's mission to provide compassionate, personalized care that helps seniors thrive in their own homes.

We tackle persistent myths about home care – from the belief that families should "do it all" themselves (leading to inevitable burnout) to misconceptions about cost. Juan explains how home care often proves more affordable than assisted living facilities, especially with part-time care, and outlines payment options including long-term care insurance and VA benefits that many families overlook. As an LGBTQ+ owned and operated organization serving South Orange County communities from Irvine to Dana Point, Griswold Home Care exemplifies their core philosophy: "Whether you're receiving care or providing it, you are welcome here, just as you are."

Looking for peace of mind knowing your loved one has skilled, compassionate support? Connect with Juan through Facebook at facebook.com/GriswoldLagunaHills, visit griswoldcare.com/laguna-hills, or call 949-524-1807 to learn how their skilled caregivers provide everything from personal care to companionship, meal preparation, and respite services that transform the home care experience.

Speaker 1:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Rachel Fyfe.

Speaker 2:

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Now are you in need of home care with a compassionate touch? Well, that resource is closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, juan Crespin, with Griswold Home Care for Laguna Hills. Juan, how's it going, and did I pronounce your last name correctly?

Speaker 3:

Yes, you did. Thank you so much.

Speaker 2:

Okay, good.

Speaker 3:

Yes, first off, I would love to thank you guys for inviting me to this podcast. I greatly appreciate this opportunity, so thank you.

Speaker 2:

Well, we are excited to learn all about your business. So tell us about your company.

Speaker 3:

So Griswold Home Care for Laguna Hills is a non-medical home care provider dedicated to helping seniors and adults with disabilities maintain their independence and quality of life at home. We offer compassionate personalized care services, including personal care, companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping and respite care for families. As part of the national, respected Griswold Home Care Network, our Laguna Hills office is proud to serve families throughout the South Orange County with a local, community-focused approach. We are also an LGBTQ plus owned and operated home care organization. Our service areas are Irvine Lake Forest, laguna Woods, laguna Hills, alicio Viejo, laguna Niguel and Dana Point. Our caregivers are fully skilled and background checked. We also have compassionate caregivers treating each and every single client with dignity, respect and kindness. Our mission is to give families peace of mind by delivering dependable, affordable home care that helps loved ones thrive in the comfort of their own homes.

Speaker 2:

How wonderful. Now I got to ask you how did you get into this business?

Speaker 3:

So I started at a very young age as a caregiver. Then I went into getting my certified nurse's assistant license and then after that, that's where I fell in love with the industry, because I knew at that point I wanted to care for people and provide the utmost. At a very young age I knew how difficult and overwhelming it could be to be able to care for an ill parent, because I did it myself or caring for my own family members. So I wanted to provide that support and peace of mind to those that were going really through the same thing that we're going really through the same thing.

Speaker 3:

I've worked in many different facilities by skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, memory care units, behavioral health facilities. So I have a really good background health care background and that's really where I shine in providing that high quality of care in those types of settings. I also, you know, love the healthcare so much that I went and got my master's degree in healthcare administration, which helped me pave my career as being a memory care director and an administrator for an assisted living facility. So that's kind of really how I got into the business. Just, you know, by nature I've always just loved the healthcare industry and I just enjoy caring for people.

Speaker 2:

That is wonderful, that's really beautiful. Now, what are some maybe myths or misconceptions that you think are in your industry?

Speaker 3:

myths or misconceptions that you think are in your industry. Well, one myth that would be certain in certain cultures feel that families should be able to do it all right. The truth of the matter is is that family caregivers often burn out trying to manage everything. So really just hiring a caregiver doesn't mean that you're careless. It just means that you're giving your loved one better, more consistent support while also taking care of yourself. Another myth is non-medical home care is expensive. So that's something that a lot of our clients and families really say. But home care is often more affordable than assisted living or maybe some nursing homes, especially if you know only part-time care is needed. Many families or clients use long-term care insurance, va benefits, and some of them pay out of pocket from their savings, and there may be other options and other programs that may be able to help pay for those services, so to speak. So that's kind of how you know there's a lot of misconception or myths that could happen with families and clients.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, okay, now we know. You know marketing is really the heart of every business. So who are your target customers and how do you attract them? How do you find your customers?

Speaker 3:

Well, we have a pretty big network and we go out to skilled nursing facilities, rehabs. We partner up with senior care advisors, elder care attorneys, dialysis, anyone and anyone, everyone and anyone that really has a parent loved one that needs our services. You know that's pretty much our target audience. It's for those that are struggling. Maybe you know a family caregiver that needs our support and our assistance. So we, you know, go to a lot of events. You know there's so many things that we do within the community, so it's just really about partnering up professionally as well and getting our name out there.

Speaker 2:

Wonderful. Have you ever thought of doing your own podcast?

Speaker 3:

No, I have not, but now, seeing how easy it is, I might just do it. I think I have the personality for it.

Speaker 2:

Well, you do you do you do Now. Okay, so now outside of work. What do you like to do for fun?

Speaker 3:

Well, there's a lot of things that I love to do. I mean, I'm a very spontaneous type of guy. I like going to the beach. I mean, I'm a very spontaneous type of guy. I like going to the beach. I like to antiquing, going to thrift shops, spending time with my partner, we go to Disneyland, or we love to travel to places that we've never seen before. You know, I started recently getting into pickleball, which is fun and it's a great way to get exercise.

Speaker 2:

Wonderful. Now, Juan, please tell our listeners one thing they should remember about Griswold Home Care for Laguna Hills.

Speaker 3:

Well, we really care about all people. I think I mentioned that we are proud to be an LGBTQ plus owned and operated company that values inclusion, individuality and respect. Whether you're receiving care or providing it, you are welcome here, just as you are. I truly, firmly believe that, and you know we want everyone to feel comfortable and in a space where they can get home care. You know we're honored to be a part of the community and we're not just an ordinary business. We're highly involved in different events walks. You know we just want to give back and be a resource to our community.

Speaker 2:

How can our listeners learn more about Griswold Home Care for Laguna Hills?

Speaker 3:

Well, in order for you to stay connected with us, we have many different ways. We're located on Facebook at facebookcom forward slash Laguna Hills, griswold, laguna Hills, and to basically stay up to date in what we're doing. You can also learn more about our services by visiting our website at griswoldcarecom forward slash Laguna, hyphen Hills, or you can give us a call at 949-524-1807. Whether you're looking for care for a loved one or you feel that you want to make a difference with our compassionate caregivers, we would love to hear from you.

Speaker 2:

Well, juan, I really appreciate you being on the show and you know we wish you and your business the very best moving forward.

Speaker 3:

Well, thank you so much for having me, Rachel. It's been a very pleasure.

Speaker 1:

Wonderful. Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnporangecountycom. That's gnporangecountycom, or call 714-941-862.