Older or disabled adults living at home often need daily assistance with personal care and basic daily living tasks. These might include help with bathing, meal preparation, medication monitoring, providing transportation to doctor appointments, and light housekeeping.
Some are fortunate enough to have a family member step in to help, or a friend from the community or a church parish member they trust.
Others need to hire a local caregiver because they don’t have family nearby or they don’t want to trouble friends and neighbors, or they simply want to maintain privacy with regards to receiving help with personal care.
Those looking to hire a caregiver should understand that while hiring privately may seem like a less costly option, there are some real risks associated with placing an ad for a caregiver (via local newspapers or Craigslist) and that those risks can be mitigated by partnering with a professional caregiving company.
Top 4 things to consider before hiring a caregiver.
Tax and liability: Hiring a private caregiver means that you become an employer and assume responsibility for managing payroll and tax records, as well as withholding social security, Medicare, unemployment taxes…and making sure those you hire can legally work in the United States. You also become liable for any incidents that happen in your home should a caregiver employee be injured on the job. Professional caregiving companies, like Take My Hand At-Home Care in Lynden, WA are bonded and insured—they assume these types of risks on behalf of their clients.
Safety of your loved one: There are lots of safety issues to consider when it comes to allowing someone inside your home and letting them care for the most vulnerable members of your family while you’re away. A licensed caregiving company uses verification services to ensure caregivers don’t have a criminal history, false references, a padded resume or any other red flags. Those hiring caregivers privately would be responsible for thoroughly checking the background and references of individuals they hire.
High turnover rate: You finally found someone you like and trust to care for an aging loved one, then after a short period they decide to move on or take another job. It takes time to find a replacement—you’d be responsible for providing care until a new hire comes on board. Partnering with a local caregiver company means you never have to find replacement caregivers—the caregiver service is responsible for all employee recruitment activities.
Personal accountability: Do you have a back-up plan if the caregiver calls in sick, has a family emergency, or car trouble? A professional caregiving company has available resources and will be able to send someone to take care of your loved one in these situations—they are responsible for filling all shifts. Those hiring privately would be responsible for finding replacements when their primary caregiver is sick or taking a vacation.
Take My Hand At-Home Care is a locally owned and operated caregiver services that serves the needs of Whatcom County seniors—we are licensed, bonded and insured.
Our team provides complimentary home care assessments to gain a better understanding of specific needs and expectations for you and your loved one. Call us today at 360.543.5777 if you have any questions or concerns about the benefits of hiring a caregiving company vs. managing caregiving services privately.
