I want to give a big shout out for West Marin Physical Therapy. I recently had the opportunity to…read morereceive physical therapy from Owner, Freda Weitzer, DPT. She was professional, obviously experienced and wise beyond her years. I got my strength back and more. When my series of sessions were over, I was sent off with an ongoing home exercise program. I highly recommend West Marin Physical Therapy.

Let me start out by saying that this is one review. Since there are no other reviews as of yet,…read moreit's going to have a lot of weight, but remember that one person's experience may not be the same as your own. I saw Amy Schliftman three times for treatment of a very atypical condition. Ultimately she was unable to help me, which I don't hold against her; the orthopedic doctor and MRI technician have been unable to identify exactly what the problem is either. However, I do have some issues with the way she conducts her practice. Number one: She uses methods that have no evidence behind them Number two: She is averse to questions My first complaint is that much of what she does has no basis in evidence. She did try some typical physical therapist approaches, looking at range of motion, response to stretching, alignment. But she also heavily relies on "energy work." With this, she tried to diagnose a problem in my lower half by placing a hand on my head and "feeling for restrictions" in my energy. She would then move her hands to different parts of the body to narrow down where this "restriction" is. At the end of my first appointment I asked her if she could explain to me what she's doing or point me toward resources to educate myself on this "energy treatment." Which leads me to my second complaint: she gets very defensive and aggressive when questioned. I knew that people can be very sensitive about these alternative therapies so I made sure to approach the subject in an open-minded and gentle way. Still, I was stunned at the vitriol of her reaction. She insisted that she didn't have time to talk to me right now, became very impatient, and when I kept begging her to just tell me what it was called, she finally held up a book by Jean-Pierre Barral. With some sleuthing, I discovered that Jean-Pierre Barral pioneered the "Barral method." This article does a pretty good job of explaining it: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/visceral-manipulation-embraced-by-the-apta/ When the author above says that she "won't even attempt any evaluation of the literature, because there's nothing worth evaluating," she's not kidding. I looked both in journals and at the Barral Institute's posted bibliography and found almost nothing worthwhile. The one study I found that actually had a control group demonstrated nothing but the placebo effect! (Both the group treated with Barral methods and the group treated with a fake "Barral" treatment improved over the control group but not statistically differently from each other.) Now, I'm not saying that there is nothing to this. Maybe there is some good in the Barral method and we just haven't demonstrated it formally yet. What I am saying is that I cannot find any sound evidence for it at this point. Personally it strikes me as a waste of time and resources. I would rather spend my money on a massage or going to a pool. Anyway... The pattern of using unsupported methods and being very aggressive and impatient when asked questions (even something as simple as, "Are there any stretches or exercises I should do at home this week?") continued. As I walked out after my third visit, I realized that I had just allowed this person to perform a chiropractic manipulation on my neck because her magical fingers had told her it would help a soft tissue injury in my pelvis. (!) I will not go back to her. (Thankfully my orthopedic doctor determined that she hadn't pushed hard enough on my neck to actually change anything. The neck pain that lasted for a week after was just inflamed/sore muscles and nothing permanent.) I gave Amy a 2 rather than a 1 star review because a friend of mine who had a more straightforward issue (recovery after a common surgery) had a fine experience with her. She used evidence-based methods, gave him tried-and-true exercises to use, and he had no complaints. Bottom line: If you have a straightforward injury, she does have the training to address it. If you live locally and don't want to drive all the way to Petaluma, Novato, Mill Valley, etc, then you might consider seeing her. Personally, I still wouldn't, but it's not the worst idea in the world. If you have something where the diagnosis isn't clear, I suggest going to someone who will use evidence-based methods to help you.

Home Instead is an excellent service for anyone in Marin who needs caregiving at home, be it…read moretemporary and light, or permanent and complex. I broke my foot badly and realized I needed extra care to live independently while I healed. Home Instead, which is based in San Rafael, came to my home and explained their services. They were amenable and flexible to a schedule that met my needs and my budget. All of the caregivers they sent to my home were outstanding. Cleaning, cooking, driving, wellness assistance at any level. My elderly Mother also uses Home Instead in another region of California, so they have a good track record. If you get a caregiver who isn't a good fit, you just call the Home Instead office and they immediately find another caregiver. Licensed, insured, and highly professional, I can recommend Home Instead for caregiving. I also find it comforting to know that if I have a health emergency in the future that requires caregiving at home, I have an established relationship with Home Instead for quick service.

I was recommended to Home Instead from By the Bay Health. Christy came to my house right away and…read moreset me up with Rudney. Rodney came in the afternoon and worked with the hospice nurse to take care of my husband in his final hours. He was great.

Rude Pushy like used car salesman…read moreWon't assist unless you have check in hand and want to move in same day Tout employees don't get paid commission which is a cover up as their agency receives up to 40% of 1st month's rent. You've never heard of them for a reason Another predatory business harming vulnerable seniors and families Beware!!

Cannot say enough positive about the service and care my Father received from your Organization…read more The compassion and thoughtfulness was amazing! Your Staff was always communicating and sensitive to our family and how you could make his transition comforting and peaceful. I wish I could give 10 Stars! God Bless!

Loree and Mark are incredibly kind, helpful, and efficient. They respond quickly and consistently…read moreprovide outstanding caregivers. Their professionalism, prompt communication, and dedication to quality care truly set them apart. I highly recommend their services! They gave my family and I peace of mind.

Called this outfit in an emergency need (missing scheduled caregiver for next day). Mark said he'd…read morebe glad to help. Minimum 8 hours at $35/hour, weekdays. Less than 8 hours the charge is $50/hour. Since my sister lives in an adjacent town to San Rafael they also charge 2 extra hours for travel there (an extra $100). So a 4 hour morning care would cost her $300! I kept looking.

At Home Caregivers was fabulous in every respect. They sent a caregiver out to my wedding to assist…read moremy father during the event, and they worked hard before hand to accommodate my requests regarding my wedding. They were very professional and easy to reach. And they were willing to send a caregiver out for this single event, where many companies will only work with you if you sign a contract for weekly service. The caregiver himself was excellent--I feel like he was the perfect person for the job. He was easy to be around, respectful, and not pushy in any way. He knew what my father needed and he stayed close to him, while also keeping a low profile and allowing my dad to maintain his dignity. My dad, in turn, was very comfortable with him and appreciative. Hats off to At Home Caregivers. If my dad is in the area again, I will definitely use their services, and I will recommend them to anyone in the area who needs a caregiver.

My initial review was heavily focused on how wonderful Melody was in helping me when I needed…read moreguidance on rehab therapy and home health care. In hindsight, I would have paid for Melody and not have hired the services of At Home Caregivers. Not only was there an enormous amount of over promising and under delivering, most caregivers were more trouble than help. The real problem was the office staff. Scheduling acted as if they were doing me a favor by having someone come to work. The contract allows for cancellation or changes with 24 hours notice. When I gave them several days notice, they went ballistic! I told Melody, who was at our house and our neighbor's house many times, that I was going to scale back care as soon as possible. But the schedule person was very rude. What prompted my update--I paid their invoices. No questions. I didn't follow the instructions on the invoice to input my bank details as a warning popped up that it was not secure. I entered the details in my bank bill pay received confirmation that the payments had been received by At Home. Remember, I am caring for an extremely ill husband. The account manager calls and yells at me. I send proof of payment and ask her to check with the bank. She starts asking me about whether I am aware that they have new owners! I keep telling her to call her bank. She's so rude that I just want off the phone. I obtained proof from my bank that the payments were sent to At Home Caregivers. I send the paperwork to Melody. She said she would take care of it. Today, I got a call from someone who was accusing me of not paying. This is no way to run a business. I checked my bank and it said At Home Caregivers refused to accept payment. I just mailed checks to the office address that was given to me. I don't recommend using them. Other than Melody, we had a couple of okay caregivers and the rest were not helpful. The office staff was very unhelpful and aggravating. It is a case study in how not to do business. Over promising and under delivering, not following policy, being told that caregivers would run errands but that wasn't true. They were supposed to support my husband and provide respite care for me. But if I asked for anything, even something for my husband, they refused. He had to request anything himself.

North Bay Home Care has been wonderful with helping my mom over the past few months. The caregivers…read moreare kind, patient, and truly care about her comfort. They always show up on time and keep me updated on how she's doing. It gives me real peace of mind knowing she's in such good hands. Couldn't ask for better support.

We had a team of amazing, loving and dedicated caregivers from North Bay Home Care take care of my…read moredad around the clock for 9 months before his passing. Even the Hospice nurses commented about how well he was cared for. There was no turnover, they were there on time, they were flexible if we needed something extra. 2 caregivers helped to fulfill my dad's wish to visit our ranch one more time and they came with us! Thank you!

Michelle has referred me to three new physicians in the Bay Area, which have resulted in amazing…read morenew relationships in the beauty field, cosmetic and surgical. After two decades of working with practitioners around the country, I now have the best support right here, thanks to Michelle. Since I was new to the area, I invested in my relationship with Michelle, and it has been one of the best decisions of my life. Michelle's acumen assures clients receive the best care, with the most qualified practitioners and she walks you through the process, step by step. She doesn't just deliver the names of the best of the best in their respective field, she also advocates for you from the outset, sorting through priorities, finances, resources. She is warm, kind, direct, and if you work with her she will make sure expectations are managed, which is pretty amazing because the results have each time surpassed my expectations. Also, the relationships she has are so specific so that, for example, the best surgeon for rhinoplasty is not the same surgeon to perform a different surgery and, similarly, the best person to do fillers for one area may be unique to one practitioner, while another practitioner might be better at something else. Her referrals are that specific. Also, the doctors she refers to are not just skilled in their work, but are also open, receptive to their patients, kind, humble. I have also benefited from the after care services with Michelle when she helped me through a recent difficult surgery. She helped us to get access to better pain relief, made soup, helped with bandaging and organized a list of drug store needs that helped me to feel better fast. If you are investing ongoing with cosmetic needs and/ or considering a big surgery, I recommend working with Michelle. It is ultimately the best use of your resources to make sure you are planning strategically and have a coherent plan, and a good team to support you along the way.

Michele took care of me after a facelift. I am so glad she was there since the first couple of days…read morewere a bit overwhelming. Having someone who has been through the operation and has helped others post surgery was a tremendous relief. It allowed me to focus on adjusting to my limitations and learn to fend for myself. I would highly recommend others sign up for her services, not only post surgery but also as you search for the right doctor for you. She can help you understand what you really want and how to communicate those desires to a plastic surgeon.

Top notch. Five stars. Somersaults. Seriously…read more After my parents passed away in 2016 and 2017, the handling of their trust assets was assigned to a fiduciary in Sonoma County, where they'd lived. After years of having limited dealings with the fiduciary and regular static on the occasions when I did need her assistance or required information, I was finally able to select a new fiduciary to take over the role. Several recommendations came my way and Enlow Fishler were included among those. My expectations were low, but when I spoke with Melissa initially and realized I was going to get to speak to a real person, right off the bat - no dodges or complications, that was a good start. I kept the other recommendations in mind, but moved forward and set a meeting with Enlow Fishler to see what they were about. The two women who met me at my local bakery were considerate, present and honest. At no point did they project anything that wasn't authentic and which they weren't prepared to back up with action. They didn't promise perfection, but they were ready to stand by their ethics, prioritization of the best interests of their clients and the joint power of their smarts and hearts. They've delivered - in spades. Within months, they not only had the tangle of the trust accounts straightened out and transferred over from the previous fiduciaries, but they'd discovered accounts the other fiduciary lost track of which more than covered all the legal fees for their services and the transfer of trustees. (I'm sure this cannot possibly be the case under ordinary circumstances, but it speaks to their thoroughness and value.) It isn't too much to say they've changed - not only my life, but the lives of my sons as well. After meeting with me, prior to taking us on as clients, they insisted on sitting down with my sons as well, as we're all beneficiaries of the trust. They've shown compassion and a deep interest in supporting each of us - as individuals, toward our various goals. They've routinely stated "it's not our money, it's yours." Since the trust stipulates that my sons won't receive their portions until they turn 35, I've known the relationship with our fiduciary(ies) would stretch into the future, making our trust in that entity all the more crucial. Knowing those now carrying that title and responsibility are women I trust implicitly lifts a weight that's been on my shoulders for years. I have never felt such a strong obligation and privilege to recommend a business before, but should you be looking for professional fiduciaries worth their weight in gold, look no further.

From the owner: As Professional Fiduciaries, Melissa and Alice provide financial and/or personal oversight, support…read moreand advocacy, as well as services ranging from basic bill paying to estate and investment management. Fiduciaries practicing in the state of California are required to be licensed by the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau under the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Examples of Fiduciary Services Include: Trustee/Successor Trustee, Executor, POA (Financial & Healthcare/AHCD), Conservator/Guardian (Person & Estate) Please give us a call at 415.927.2411 or visit our website at effiduciary.com for more information.