September 21, 2026

“You Can’t Teach Kindness”: Lia Smith on Home Care in San Diego

Choosing home care means trusting someone with a loved one's daily routines, comfort, and sometimes complex medical needs. Families want to feel confident in the person walking through the door and the team supporting that person.

For Lia Smith, that trust starts with experience, clinical support, and kindness.

In this episode of Care Across America®, Valerie VanBooven RN BSN speaks with Lia, CEO of TruCare Nursing & Home Care Solutions, about her four decades in caregiving, the San Diego agency's new name, and how her team brings home care and skilled nursing together.

From CNA to Home Care Leader

Lia began her career at 22 as a certified nursing assistant in a skilled nursing setting. While expecting her first daughter, she moved into private duty care and discovered how much she loved working with clients one on one.

That experience shaped everything that followed.

She eventually moved into an agency office, working as a receptionist before taking on recruiting, staffing, marketing, and management. By the time she was leading a home care business, she understood the work from both the client's home and the office coordinating care.

As Valerie observed during the interview, that background gives Lia an understanding of the challenges faced by people throughout her organization.

For Lia, the purpose has remained consistent: helping people continue living in the homes they love, with support that respects their needs and routines.

Why the San Diego Agency Became TruCare

In 2000, Lia founded A Better Solution. Initially, the business helped other home care agencies fill staffing gaps so clients could continue receiving care.

Relationships with local professionals eventually led to requests for Lia to serve clients directly. Over time, she also developed a franchise system under the A Better Solution name.

During the interview, Lia explained that the San Diego agency adopted the TruCare name to distinguish the local operation from the franchise network. She emphasized that the San Diego office is not a franchise location and that the familiar staff remained through the transition.

The new identity also reflects the agency's combination of everyday caregiving and nursing support for people with more complex needs.

Bringing Caregiving and Nursing Together at Home

Companion care and daily caregiving remain central to TruCare's work. Lia also described the agency's registered nurse oversight and licensed vocational nursing services.

That combination matters when a person needs assistance with daily life alongside skilled clinical care.

In the interview, Lia discussed nursing support for needs such as wound care, feeding tubes, and prescribed IV antibiotics at home. These clinical services involve licensed nursing professionals and are separate from the everyday assistance provided by nonmedical caregivers.

Valerie, drawing on her own nursing background, highlighted the value of having a clinician who gets to know the person receiving care. A nurse can assess changes, help families understand concerns, and communicate with the person's healthcare providers.

Lia also described how nurses support the caregiving team by helping evaluate client needs, guide caregivers, and assess whether a caregiver is a good fit.

For families preparing for a loved one's return from the hospital, the conversation highlights practical questions: What help will be needed at home? Which needs require a nurse? Who will coordinate communication as the situation changes?

Find a Home Care Provider Near You

Search the Care Across America directory to connect with trusted home care agencies serving your city and state.

Browse the Home Care Directory

What Lia Looks for in a Caregiver

When Valerie asked what makes a great caregiver, Lia's answer came quickly:

"You can teach a skill set. You can't teach kindness."

Experience matters. Lia said the agency requires a year of experience and hires approximately one out of every five people it interviews. But she also pays close attention to character, helpfulness, and how applicants treat the people around them.

She wants caregivers who take pride in their work, notice when someone needs help, and understand the personal responsibility of entering another person's home.

Her hiring standard comes back to whether she would trust that person to care for her own mother.

For a client, that kindness shows up in ordinary moments: a patient conversation, a thoughtfully prepared meal, or respectful help with a personal routine. Those moments shape what receiving care feels like every day.

Starting With Care Needs and a Realistic Budget

Lia explained that TruCare offers a free assessment to understand a person's needs before determining cost.

The amount and type of assistance, physical support required, location, and need for nursing all help shape the care discussion. A useful plan begins with understanding the individual and the family's situation.

When families have a defined budget, Lia's team looks at how to organize support around their needs and available resources. She also discussed connecting families with community services, including meal programs, that may supplement privately paid care.

Veterans were another focus. Lia described helping veterans and their families explore potential benefits and navigate the steps involved in seeking care. The goal is to help people understand which options may apply to their circumstances.

If you are weighing the same question, our guide to how to pay for home care walks through the options state by state.

Staying Connected to the Community

Lia's commitment extends beyond her own agency. During the interview, she discussed her involvement with CAHSAH, the San Diego Regional Home Care Council, and SCORE, where she mentors business owners.

She sees industry involvement as a way to share knowledge, stay informed, and advocate for older adults and people with significant care needs.

That commitment reflects the same perspective that has guided her career: good care depends on capable people, strong relationships, and a willingness to help.

Meet Lia Smith on Care Across America®

Lia's journey offers families a useful perspective on choosing home care. Experience, nursing capabilities, communication, and caregiver character all deserve a place in the conversation.

Watch the full Care Across America® interview with Valerie VanBooven RN BSN and Lia Smith to hear more about TruCare's approach.

For home care and nursing support in San Diego, visit TruCare Nursing & Home Care Solutions or call (619) 585-9011.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the San Diego agency change its name to TruCare?

Lia Smith founded A Better Solution in 2000 and later built a franchise system under that name. The San Diego office adopted the TruCare name to distinguish the local operation from the franchise network. It is not a franchise location, and the familiar staff stayed through the transition.

Does TruCare provide nursing care as well as caregiving?

Yes. Alongside companion care and daily caregiving, the agency provides registered nurse oversight and licensed vocational nursing services. In the interview Lia describes nursing support for needs such as wound care, feeding tubes and prescribed IV antibiotics at home. Those clinical services involve licensed nursing professionals and are separate from the everyday assistance nonmedical caregivers provide.

What does TruCare look for when hiring a caregiver?

A year of experience is required, and Lia says the agency hires about one of every five people it interviews. Beyond the skill set she looks at character, helpfulness and how applicants treat the people around them. Her standard is whether she would trust that person to care for her own mother.

How does TruCare determine the cost of care?

The agency offers a free assessment to understand a person's needs first. The amount and type of assistance, the physical support required, the location and whether nursing is needed all shape the discussion. Where a family has a defined budget, Lia's team looks at how to organize support around that, and can point families toward community services such as meal programs that may supplement privately paid care.

Can TruCare help veterans understand their options?

Lia described helping veterans and their families explore potential benefits and work through the steps involved in seeking care, with the goal of helping people understand which options may apply to their circumstances.

Written By

Valerie VanBooven RN BSN

Valerie VanBooven RN BSN is a registered nurse, wife, mom, and published author of several books on long-term care and elder care. She is the Founder and Co-Owner of Approved Senior Network® and the founder of Care Across America®.