For many families in Santa Cruz County, finding dependable, compassionate in-home care can feel overwhelming. It’s a challenge Laura Ruiz knows well — not just professionally, but personally.
For more than a decade, Ruiz worked on the front lines of caregiving throughout Santa Cruz County, serving as a Home Health Aide with Hospice of Santa Cruz County, a Certified Nursing Assistant at Dominican Hospital, and an RNA in skilled nursing facilities. Across every role and setting, one principle guided her work: caring for people with dignity, respect, and compassion.
“Caregiving is about more than completing tasks,” Ruiz says. “It’s about listening, building trust, and creating a sense of safety — not just for clients, but for their families as well.”
Seeing a Need — and Answering It
Through years of hands-on experience, Ruiz began to notice a recurring gap. Families often struggled to find consistent, high-quality non-medical care they could trust. At the same time, caregivers frequently lacked the structure, resources, and support needed to do their best work.
That realization led Ruiz to found Capitola Home Care LLC, a locally owned home care agency built around a clear mission: to provide trusted, compassionate in-home care while fostering a calm, supportive environment for both clients and caregivers.
The agency is guided by five core values — Trusted Care, Peace of Mind, Happiness, Dignity, and Listening — which shape every interaction and decision.
“I wanted to create something that truly supports people on both sides of caregiving,” Ruiz explains. “Not just those receiving care, but the caregivers who dedicate themselves to this work every day.”
Personalized Care That Starts at Home
Capitola Home Care specializes in non-medical, in-home services designed to help individuals remain safe, comfortable, and independent in their own homes. Services are personalized to each client’s needs and may include assistance with daily activities such as bathing, grooming, and mobility, companionship and meaningful engagement, light housekeeping and meal preparation, medication reminders and safety checks, and respite care for family caregivers.
At the center of it all is peace of mind — for clients and their loved ones.
“Our goal is to ease stress, not add to it,” Ruiz says. “We want families to feel supported and confident every step of the way.”
Supporting the Caregivers Who Make It Possible
Because Ruiz spent years working directly as a caregiver, she understands the emotional and physical demands of the profession. That perspective shapes Capitola Home Care’s approach to staffing, training, and communication.
Caregivers are prioritized through ongoing support, clear expectations, and open communication — an investment Ruiz believes directly translates to better care.
“Our caregivers are the heart of our agency,” she says. “When they feel supported, our clients receive the best possible care.”
Finding Joy in the Everyday
At Capitola Home Care, happiness isn’t defined by big moments, but by the small, meaningful ones: familiar routines, shared conversations, quiet mornings, and simple acts of kindness.
Caregivers are encouraged to approach each visit with patience and presence, helping create a sense of calm and connection in the home. Whether it’s assisting with a favorite activity or simply listening, the focus remains on preserving quality of life.
A Local Commitment to Santa Cruz County
Today, Capitola Home Care continues to serve families across Santa Cruz County with the same values that inspired its founding. Rooted in lived experience and driven by community care, the agency is dedicated to helping clients live comfortably at home while building a strong, compassionate caregiving network locally.
To learn more or schedule a free consultation, call (831) 227-3983 or (831) 421-1517, visit www.capitolahomecare.com, or follow Capitola Home Care on Facebook.
