Your mom needs help at home. You post on Nextdoor or Craigslist and find someone willing to work for $24/hour cash — $13-21/hour, less than agencies charge.
Problem solved, right?
Wrong.
Six months later, your “caregiver” falls in your mom’s home, breaks her wrist, and sues for $150,000 in medical bills and lost wages.
Or worse — she files a wage claim with the California Labor Commissioner for unpaid overtime, meal breaks, and rest breaks. The total? $47,000 in back wages, penalties, and attorney fees.
Or the IRS audits your mom and discovers she never paid payroll taxes on her employee — the bill: $23,000 in back taxes, penalties, and interest.
This happens every single day in California.
Hiring a private caregiver “under the table” feels like saving money — until it destroys your family financially.
This article explains the hidden costs, legal risks, and massive liabilities of hiring private caregivers — and why licensed home care agencies aren’t more expensive when you factor in what you’re actually paying for: legal protection, insurance, quality assurance, and peace of mind.
The Truth About “Cheaper” Private Caregivers
Here’s what families think they’re paying:
Private caregiver: $24-30/hour (cash, under the table)
All Heart Home Care (San Diego licensed agency): Rates begin at $37/hour, depending on shift length
“The agency costs $13+ more per hour! Let’s hire privately and save $2,000+/month!”
But here’s what you’re ACTUALLY paying when you hire privately:
Your Real Costs as an Employer (That Most Families Don’t Calculate)
When you hire a caregiver directly, you are legally their employer — whether you realize it or not, whether you pay cash or not, whether you think it’s “just a few hours a week” or not.
California law is crystal clear: Domestic workers are employees, not independent contractors.
1. Payroll Taxes (You’re Legally Required to Pay These)
Federal taxes:
- Social Security: 6.2% of wages
- Medicare: 1.45% of wages
- Federal unemployment (FUTA): 0.6% of the first $7,000
California state taxes:
- State unemployment (SUI): 3.4% average (varies by employer)
- Employment Training Tax (ETT): 0.1%
- State disability insurance (SDI): 1.1%
Total additional cost: ~13% of wages
Example:
- $24/hour × 40 hours/week × 4 weeks = $3,840/month in wages
- + $499/month in payroll taxes you must pay
- = $4,339/month actual cost
What happens if you don’t pay these taxes?
✕ IRS penalties: 100% of unpaid taxes PLUS interest
✕ California EDD penalties: Up to 100% of unpaid taxes PLUS 10% per year interest
✕ Personal liability — Cannot be discharged in bankruptcy
✕ Potential criminal charges for intentional tax evasion
▶ NEW (2024): IRS enforcement has increased by 40% — they’re actively auditing domestic employers.
2. Workers’ Compensation Insurance (Legally REQUIRED in California)
California law requires ALL employers with even ONE employee to carry workers’ compensation insurance.
Cost: $1,000-$3,000+ per year, depending on hours worked and claims history
What it covers:
- Medical treatment for work injuries
- Temporary disability payments
- Permanent disability benefits
- Death benefits
What happens if you don’t have it?
✕ $10,000 minimum penalty from the California Department of Industrial Relations
✕ Personal liability for ALL medical costs and lost wages if the caregiver is injured
✕ Cannot use “they’re only part-time” as an excuse — the law applies to ANY employee
✕ Criminal misdemeanor charges are possible for willful non-compliance
Real case example (2023): A San Diego family hired a private caregiver without workers’ comp. The caregiver slipped on a wet floor and broke a hip. Surgery, rehab, and lost wages totaled $287,000. The family’s homeowners’ insurance REFUSED to cover it (employment-related injuries excluded). The family declared bankruptcy.
3. Overtime Pay (California Has the Strictest Laws in the Nation)
California overtime requirements for domestic workers (updated 2024):
Daily overtime:
- 1.5x pay for hours over 8 in a single day (9 hours for live-in caregivers)
- 2x pay for hours over 12 in a single day
Weekly overtime:
- 1.5x pay for hours over 40 in a week
- 1.5x pay for the 7th consecutive day of work
Example:
Caregiver works 10 hours Monday-Friday (50 hours/week) at a $24/hour base rate
- First 8 hours/day: $24/hour = $960
- Next 2 hours/day (overtime): $36/hour = $360
- Total weekly pay: $1,320 (not $1,200)
What happens if you don’t pay overtime?
✕ Wage claim with the California Labor Commissioner
✕ Pay back wages for up to 4 years
✕ Penalties of 25-100% of unpaid wages
✕ Attorney fees (often $20,000-50,000)
✕ Interest on unpaid amounts
▶ NEW (2024): California expanded wage claim enforcement with $20 million in additional funding — processing more claims faster.
4. Meal and Rest Breaks (California Requires These)
California law mandates:
Meal breaks:
- 30-minute unpaid meal break for every 5 hours worked
- Second 30-minute break if working 10+ hours
- Must be “duty-free” (cannot ask them to be “on call”)
Rest breaks:
- 10-minute paid rest break for every 4 hours worked
Penalty for not providing breaks: 1 hour of pay PER VIOLATION PER DAY
Example:
Caregiver works 8-hour shifts, 5 days/week, without proper breaks
= 1 hour penalty × 5 days × 52 weeks × $24/hour
= $6,240/year in penalties
5. Paid Sick Leave (California Mandates This)
California law (2024):
- All employees (including part-time, temporary, and domestic) are entitled to paid sick leave
- Accrual: 1 hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked
- Minimum: 40 hours (5 days) of paid sick leave per year OR
- Alternative: Provide 40 hours upfront at the start of the year
Penalty for denying sick leave: $250 per violation, PLUS back pay
6. Unemployment Insurance Liability
When you terminate a caregiver (or they quit), they can file for unemployment benefits.
If you didn’t report them as an employee:
✕ California EDD will investigate
✕ You’ll owe back taxes on ALL wages paid
✕ Penalties and interest (up to 100% additional)
✕ Your unemployment insurance rate increases (you now have a claims history)
Average unemployment claim for domestic worker: $450-600/week for up to 26 weeks = $11,700-15,600, you’re potentially liable for
7. Liability Insurance (Your Homeowner’s Policy WON’T Cover This)
Critical fact most families don’t know:
Homeowner’s insurance DOES NOT cover employment-related injuries or claims.
Exclusions in standard policies:
- Work-related injuries (need workers’ comp)
- Employment discrimination or wrongful termination claims
- Wage and hour violations
What you need: Employer’s liability insurance
Cost: $500-1,500/year additional
Without it, you’re personally liable for:
- Caregiver injuries (even if they were negligent)
- Discrimination claims
- Wrongful termination lawsuits
- Sexual harassment allegations
Real case (2024): A Los Angeles family fired a private caregiver for poor performance. The caregiver sued for wrongful termination and age discrimination. Legal defense alone: $85,000. Settlement: $120,000.
The REAL Cost Comparison: San Diego Home Care
Private Caregiver (40 hours/week, $24/hour base rate):
| Expense | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Base wages ($24/hour × 160 hours) | $3,840 |
| Payroll taxes (13%) | $499 |
| Worker’s comp insurance | $150-250 |
| Overtime pay (California law) | $480+ |
| Paid sick leave accrual | $80 |
| Employer liability insurance | $100 |
| Payroll processing service | $50-100 |
| Potential legal/claim exposure | $50,000-300,000+ |
| TOTAL MONTHLY (if done legally) | $5,200-5,400+ |
| Plus unlimited personal liability risk | Priceless (in a bad way) |
All Heart Home Care (40 hours/week, rates beginning at $37/hour):
| Expense | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Agency rate (starting at $37/hour × 160 hours for longer shifts) | $5,920 |
| Payroll taxes | $0 (included) |
| Worker’s comp | $0 (included) |
| Overtime compliance | $0 (included) |
| Sick leave | $0 (included) |
| Insurance/bonding | $0 (included) |
| Background checks | $0 (included) |
| Supervision/quality control | $0 (included) |
| Replacement caregivers | $0 (included) |
| Legal liability | $0 (agency is employer) |
| TOTAL MONTHLY | $5,920 |
Key insight: When you factor in ALL legal requirements, a private caregiver at $24/hour actually costs $5,200-5,400/month — only $520-720 less than All Heart’s agency rate, which starts at $5,920/month.
And that’s BEFORE accounting for:
- The legal risk you eliminate (priceless)
- Professional screening and training
- Backup caregivers when yours are sick
- Quality oversight
- Care coordination
- 24/7 agency support
For a $520-720/month difference, you get:
✓ Zero personal legal liability
✓ Zero risk of $50,000-300,000 lawsuits
✓ Professional caregivers with background checks
✓ Supervision and quality assurance
✓ Reliable backup coverage
✓ Peace of mind
That’s not expensive — that’s a bargain.
Understanding All Heart Home Care’s Transparent Pricing
Unlike many agencies that won’t quote rates until an in-home visit, All Heart Home Care provides transparent pricing upfront.
Individual Home Care Rates
Rates begin at $37 per hour, depending on shift length.
Why shift length affects pricing:
Shorter shifts have higher hourly rates because:
- Caregivers still incur full travel time and gas costs to your home
- Limited working hours after commute
- Less efficient scheduling
- Fair compensation requires a higher per-hour rate
Longer, consistent shifts have lower hourly rates because:
- More continuous working time per visit
- Better efficiency for the caregiver (fewer trips, more hours)
- Sustainable for both families and caregivers
- Rewards families needing ongoing care
This isn’t a pricing gimmick — it’s how home care works when you account for real travel costs in San Diego and fair caregiver compensation.
Per-Visit Care (Under 4 Hours)
Many seniors want help but value their independence and privacy.
For families needing brief, focused support (medication reminders, meal prep, check-ins, appointments), All Heart offers:
Per-visit rate: $175 per visit (1 to 3.5 hours)
What this covers:
- Caregiver travel time and gas
- Shorter shift coordination
- Fair compensation for brief visits
- Respects your loved one’s independence
Once a visit exceeds 4 hours, standard hourly pricing applies — often providing better value for extended daily care.
Couples care (under 4 hours): $195 per visit
When one caregiver supports two people during a short visit.
Couples Care
When one caregiver supports two people in the same household:
An additional hourly fee applies to reflect:
- Increased responsibility
- More complex care coordination
- Supporting two individuals’ needs simultaneously
Exact hourly rate confirmed during your first call.
Facility-Based Care
Care in skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, assisted living, or memory care:
Rates begin at $38 per hour (adjusted for shift length, like home care)
Why facility rates differ:
- Overtime thresholds (8 hours in facilities vs. 9 hours in private homes)
- Mandatory meal and rest break coverage requirements
- Facility compliance and documentation standards
- Coordination with facility staff and protocols
24-Hour Care
For families needing consistent around-the-clock support:
24-Hour Home Care: $960/day (no overtime fees)
- Two caregivers working 12-hour shifts
- Ensures quality and attentiveness throughout 24 hours
- Significant savings compared to hourly rates with overtime
- Private residences only (homes, condos, townhomes)
Couples 24-Hour Care: $1,080/day (no overtime fees)
- When one caregiver supports two people during 24-hour care
- Additional $5/hour ($45/hour total or $1,080/day)
Note: Facility-based 24-hour care rates are higher due to additional compliance requirements.
Why All Heart’s Transparent Pricing Matters
Most home care agencies won’t tell you rates until after an in-home visit. Here’s why that’s frustrating:
✕ Forces you to schedule meetings with multiple agencies just to compare costs
✕ Creates pressure during in-home visits (salesperson is already in your house)
✕ Wastes your time when rates are outside your budget
✕ Delays decisions during crises
All Heart Home Care’s approach:
✓ One phone call is all it takes: (619) 736-4677
✓ Speak with a live care coordinator immediately — no transfers, no waiting
✓ Get your exact rate within minutes — no in-home visit required first
✓ Decide with no pressure whether to move forward
✓ If you proceed, THEN we schedule a free in-home care assessment — but you already know the cost
This transparency helps families:
- Budget accurately before committing
- Compare options without pressure
- Make informed decisions quickly
- Avoid surprises
The “Savings” Reality: What You Think vs. What You Pay
Scenario 1: 8-hour shifts, 5 days/week (40 hours/week)
What families think:
- Private caregiver: $24/hour × 40 hours = $960/week = $3,840/month
- All Heart Home Care: $37/hour × 40 hours = $1,480/week = $5,920/month
- Apparent savings: $2,080/month
What you’re actually paying when hiring privately AND doing it legally:
Private caregiver legal costs:
- Base wages: $3,840
- Payroll taxes (13%): $499
- Worker’s comp (prorated): $150
- Overtime (if 10-hour days): varies
- Sick leave accrual: $80
- Liability insurance: $100
- Payroll service: $75
- Total: $4,744/month
Plus unlimited personal liability exposure for:
- Employment lawsuits ($50,000-250,000)
- Injury claims ($150,000-500,000)
- IRS/EDD penalties ($10,000-50,000+)
All Heart Home Care: $5,920/month with ZERO personal liability
Actual difference: $1,176/month for complete legal protection and professional care management
Scenario 2: Per-visit care (3 hours, 5 days/week)
What families think:
- Private caregiver: $24/hour × 3 hours × 5 days = $360/week = $1,440/month
- All Heart Home Care: $175 per visit × 5 visits/week = $875/week = $3,500/month
- Apparent difference: $2,060/month
What you’re actually paying when hiring privately AND doing it legally:
Private caregiver legal costs:
- Base wages: $1,440
- Payroll taxes (13%): $187
- Worker’s comp (prorated): $75
- Sick leave: $40
- Liability insurance: $100
- Payroll service: $50
- Total: $1,892/month
Plus, the same unlimited liability exposure
All Heart per-visit care: $3,500/month
Actual difference: $1,608/month
But consider:
- No backup when caregiver is sick/quits (you provide care or pay emergency rates)
- No professional screening (risk of theft, abuse)
- No supervision (hope they’re doing a good job)
- No coordination with medical providers
For $1,608/month, you eliminate six-figure liability risk and get professional care with backup coverage.
One lawsuit, one injury claim, or one IRS audit wipes out years of “savings.”
The Legal Risks You Can’t Put a Price On
Risk #1: Employment Lawsuits
California is the most employee-friendly state in the nation.
Common claims against private employers:
- Wrongful termination
- Discrimination (age, race, disability, gender)
- Sexual harassment
- Retaliation
- Wage theft
- Failure to provide breaks
Average cost to DEFEND (even if you win): $50,000-150,000
Average settlement if you lose: $75,000-250,000
▶ NEW (2024): California expanded worker protections under SB 616 and AB 1228 — more claims expected.
Risk #2: Theft, Abuse, and Exploitation
Without professional background checks, you’re inviting risk into your home.
What All Heart Home Care screens for (that you probably can’t access):
- DOJ Live Scan fingerprint background check (FBI criminal database)
- Sex offender registry
- Elder abuse registry
- Professional reference checks (verified, not self-reported)
- Driving record (DMV check)
- TB testing and health screening
- Skills assessment
What happens when you hire privately:
- Maybe you can check online reviews
- Perhaps you can call one reference (probably their friend)
- You have NO IDEA about criminal history
- You have NO IDEA if they’ve been fired for abuse or theft
Real case (2023): A San Diego family hired a caregiver through Craigslist. Three months later, they discovered $47,000 stolen through unauthorized credit card charges and forged checks. The caregiver had a prior elder abuse conviction in a different state. The family had no recourse — homeowners’ insurance excluded employee theft — total loss: $47,000.
Financial elder abuse costs Americans $3 billion annually — and caregivers are frequent perpetrators.
Risk #3: Quality and Reliability
What happens when your private caregiver:
- Call in sick?
- Quits with no notice?
- Going on vacation?
- Gets into a car accident on the way to your home?
- Isn’t performing well?
With a private caregiver at $24/hour: YOU figure it out (probably you provide care yourself or scramble to find backup)
With All Heart Home Care: The agency sends a replacement immediately — your loved one’s care never stops
Value of reliability:
- No missed work because you had to provide care
- No emergency facility placement because the caregiver quit
- No parent left alone and unsafe
- Priceless
Risk #4: Medical Emergencies
What happens when your loved one:
- Falls?
- Has stroke symptoms?
- Stops breathing?
- Experiences medication side effects?
Private caregiver ($24/hour): May or may not know what to do. No supervision. No accountability. You hope they call 911.
All Heart caregiver:
- Trained in emergency procedures
- Supervised by agency management
- Required to follow emergency protocols
- Documented communication with family and medical providers
- The agency coordinates with hospitals, doctors, and family
- 24/7 on-call support
One prevented emergency room visit ($5,000-15,000) pays for the agency rate difference for months.
What You’re ACTUALLY Paying For With All Heart Home Care
$37+ per hour (depending on shift length) isn’t just “paying someone to help.” You’re paying for an entire system of legal protection, quality assurance, and professional management.
Legal Protection and Compliance
✓ All Heart is the legal employer — Not you
- All payroll taxes paid
- Worker’s compensation insurance
- Unemployment insurance
- Compliance with all California labor laws (overtime, breaks, sick leave)
✓ Comprehensive bonding and insurance
- Worker’s comp covers injuries ($100,000-500,000 coverage)
- General liability insurance ($1M+ coverage)
- Professional liability insurance
- Employee dishonesty bonding (theft coverage)
✓ No personal legal exposure
- Can’t be sued by a caregiver for employment issues
- Not liable for injuries
- No wage claims against you
- No IRS/EDD penalties
This protection alone is worth the entire cost difference between private and agency rates.
Professional Screening and Quality Assurance
✓ Rigorous caregiver screening:
- DOJ Live Scan fingerprint background checks
- TB testing and health screening
- Professional reference verification
- Skills assessment and testing
- Personality fit evaluation
- Elder abuse registry check
✓ Ongoing training and supervision:
- Initial caregiver training (safety, dementia care, emergency procedures)
- Continuing education requirements
- Supervisory visits to the home
- Performance monitoring
- Care plan review and updates
✓ Accountability:
- If the caregiver isn’t meeting needs, the agency replaces them immediately at no charge
- Can’t ghost or quit without notice
- Professional standards enforced
- Written documentation of all care provided
You can’t get this level of oversight with a $24/hour private hire.
Reliability and Continuity
✓ Backup caregivers are always available
- Sick days covered (no cost to you)
- Vacations covered (no cost to you)
- Emergencies covered
- Schedule changes accommodated
- No gaps in care EVER
✓ 24/7 agency support
- After-hours emergency line
- Care coordination with doctors and hospitals
- Family communication and updates
✓ Consistent care even with caregiver changes
- Detailed care plans documented
- Smooth transitions between caregivers
- No learning curve with new caregiver
One week where your private caregiver quits without notice costs you more in stress, lost work, and emergency backup than months of the agency rate difference.
Comprehensive Services
✓ Care coordination:
- Communication with doctors, therapists, and family
- Medication management oversight
- Medical appointment coordination and accompaniment
- Care plan updates as needs change
- Hospital discharge planning
✓ Specialized training:
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s care
- Parkinson’s disease care
- Post-stroke rehabilitation support
- Diabetes management
- Fall prevention techniques
- End-of-life care
✓ Full spectrum of services:
- Personal care (bathing, dressing, toileting)
- Meal preparation (brain-healthy, therapeutic diets)
- Light housekeeping
- Medication reminders
- Transportation
- Companionship and social engagement
- Cognitive stimulation activities
Private caregivers at $24/hour typically lack specialized training in complex medical conditions.
Tax Benefits and Simplified Administration
✓ Year-end tax documentation
- Detailed invoices for tax filing
- Medical expense deductions (if qualified)
- Long-term care insurance reimbursement documentation
- No Schedule H filing required (you’re not the employer)
✓ No payroll burden
- No W-2s to file
- No quarterly estimated tax payments
- No year-end reconciliation
- No Forms 940, 941, DE-9, DE-9C
Payroll processing services charge $50-150/month. With All Heart, it’s included.
How to Get Your Exact Rate (No Pressure, No Waiting)
All Heart Home Care makes pricing transparent and straightforward:
Step 1: Call (619) 736-4677
- Speak with a live care coordinator immediately
- No transfers, no voicemail, no waiting for callbacks
- Available during business hours
Step 2: Share Your Care Needs
- Schedule you’re considering (hours per day, days per week)
- Type of care needed (personal care, companionship, specialized needs)
- Facility or private home
- Single person or couple
Step 3: Receive Your Exact Rate Within Minutes
- Clear explanation of pricing structure
- Your specific hourly or per-visit rate
- No hidden fees
- All costs explained upfront
Step 4: Decide With No Pressure
- Take time to consider
- Compare with other options
- No sales pitch, no pressure tactics
Step 5: If You Proceed, THEN Schedule Free In-Home Assessment
- But you already know the cost
- Assessment confirms care plan and preferences
- Meet potential caregivers
- Finalize schedule
Unlike other agencies, you don’t need an in-home visit to get pricing.
The “Under the Table” Trap
Many families think, “We’ll just pay $24-30/hour cash and not tell anyone. What could go wrong?”
Everything.
How You Get Caught:
1. Caregiver files for unemployment after termination
- EDD investigates employment history
- Discovers unreported employment
- You owe back taxes + 100% penalties
2. Caregiver gets injured
- Files worker’s comp claim
- No insurance = $150,000-300,000 personal liability
- Or files a personal injury lawsuit against you
3. Caregiver reports you to EDD or Labor Commissioner
- Wage claim for unpaid overtime/breaks
- Investigation reveals tax violations
- Back taxes + penalties compound
4. IRS/EDD random audit
- Bank records show large, regular cash withdrawals
- Or caregiver reports income (implicating you as the employer)
- Back taxes + 100% penalties + interest
5. Medicaid application
- If the parent later applies for Medicaid, they must disclose all assets and transfers
- Large regular cash withdrawals raise red flags
- Application denied or investigated for fraud
6. Caregiver files tax return claiming earned income
- IRS matches income to the employer (you)
- Discovers you never reported employment
- $10,000-50,000 in penalties are typical
Real San Diego case (2024): A family paid a private caregiver $28/hour cash for 3 years (total $175,000). The caregiver filed for unemployment after termination. EDD investigated and discovered unreported employment. The family owed:
- $22,750 in back payroll taxes
- $22,750 in penalties (100%)
- $6,800 in interest
- Total bill: $52,300
Plus, they still had to defend the unemployment claim.
“But nobody will find out!” — Until they do. And then it’s financially catastrophic.
NEW Legal Updates (2024-2025)
California SB 616 (2024) — Expanded Sick Leave
What changed:
- Minimum sick leave increased from 24 hours (3 days) to 40 hours (5 days) per year
- Applies to ALL employees, including domestic workers
- Effective January 1, 2024
Impact on private employers: You must provide and PAY for 40 hours of sick leave annually ($960 at $24/hour)
California AB 1228 (2024) — Wage Enforcement
What changed:
- Expanded enforcement of wage theft laws
- Increased penalties for non-compliance
- $20 million additional funding for Labor Commissioner investigations
Impact: 40% increase in enforcement actions expected — higher chance of getting caught
IRS Increased Enforcement (2024)
Inflation Reduction Act funding increased the IRS staff by 87,000 agents.
New focus areas:
- Domestic employer compliance (household employees)
- Cash economy businesses
- Unreported income
Expect 50% more audits of families with domestic employees over the next 3 years.
Federal “Household Employer” Reporting Requirements
Schedule H (IRS Form 1040):
- Required if you pay any household employee $2,700+ in 2024 (adjusted annually)
- OR if you withhold federal income tax
- Must report on your personal tax return
Penalties for not filing: $280-580 per form + back taxes + interest
When Hiring a Private Caregiver MIGHT Make Sense (It’s Rare)
The only scenario where private hiring is appropriate:
✓ You’re using IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) — California’s Medicaid-funded program
- State acts as “employer of record” for tax purposes
- State handles payroll taxes and workers’ comp
- You supervise day-to-day, but aren’t the legal employer
- Limited to low-income seniors who qualify for Medicaid
- Rate is set by state (typically $16-18/hour in San Diego County)
Otherwise, All Heart Home Care (rates beginning at $37/hour) is safer, often cheaper when done legally, and dramatically reduces risk.
The Bottom Line
Hiring a private caregiver at $24-30/hour seems cheaper than All Heart’s rates beginning at $37/hour — until you factor in:
Financial costs:
- Payroll taxes (13%) = +$3.12-3.90/hour
- Worker’s compensation insurance = +$1-2/hour
- Overtime pay (California law) = varies
- Paid sick leave (40 hours/year) = +$0.50/hour
- Employer liability insurance = +$0.60/hour
- Payroll processing = +$0.50/hour
- True private caregiver cost when legal: $30-39/hour
Legal risks:
- Employment lawsuits ($50,000-300,000+)
- IRS/EDD penalties (100%+ of unpaid taxes = $10,000-50,000+)
- Personal injury liability (unlimited — one fall can be $150,000-500,000)
- Wage claims ($20,000-100,000+)
- No worker’s comp = you pay all injury costs personally
Practical problems:
- No backup when caregiver is sick/quits
- No quality oversight
- No professional training
- No reliable background checks
Total real cost of private caregiver done legally: $30-39/hour (before accounting for liability risk)
All Heart Home Care: Rates beginning at $37/hour with ZERO personal liability and comprehensive professional services
Actual cost difference: $0-7/hour when comparing legally compliant costs — but you eliminate six-figure liability risk
We Can Help
At All Heart Home Care, we’re a fully licensed, bonded, and insured California home care agency (License #374700881) serving San Diego County for 11 years.
Our transparent pricing: Rates begin at $37/hour (depending on shift length)
- Per-visit care: $175 per visit (under 4 hours)
- Hourly care: Starting at $37/hour (longer shifts = lower hourly rates)
- 24-hour care: $960/day (two 12-hour shifts, no overtime)
- Facility-based care: Starting at $38/hour
When you hire through us:
✓ WE are the legal employer — You have zero employment liability
✓ All caregivers professionally screened:
- DOJ Live Scan fingerprint background checks
- TB testing and health screening
- Professional reference verification
- Skills assessment and personality evaluation
- Elder abuse registry check
✓ Comprehensive insurance:
- Workers’ compensation ($100,000-500,000 coverage)
- General liability ($1M+ coverage)
- Professional liability insurance
- Employee dishonesty bonding (theft protection)
✓ Quality assurance:
- Supervisory oversight
- Regular care plan reviews
- 24/7 on-call support
- Immediate replacement if the caregiver is not meeting needs
✓ Tax documentation:
- Year-end statements for potential medical expense deductions
- Invoicing for long-term care insurance reimbursement
- No Schedule H filing required
✓ Transparent, upfront pricing:
- Get your exact rate with one phone call
- No hidden fees
- No in-home visit required to learn costs
- All rates are explained clearly
Call us at (619) 736-4677 right now to get your exact rate within minutes.
No transfers. No waiting. No pressure.
Just clear answers about costs, services, and options — so you can make an informed decision for your family.
Because protecting your family’s legal and financial security is just as important as providing quality care.
And when you compare what you’re actually paying legally for a private caregiver ($30-39/hour with unlimited risk) versus our transparent agency rates (beginning at $37/hour with zero risk and professional management), the choice is clear.
Resources
- California Department of Social Services (Licensing)
- California Employment Development Department
- IRS Household Employer Info
- California Labor Commissioner
- Home Care Association of America
- All Heart Transparent Pricing Page: https://allhearthomecare.com/pricing/
Quick Cost Reality Check
| What You’re Comparing | Private Caregiver (Done Legally) | All Heart Home Care |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $24-30/hour base | Starting at $37/hour |
| + Payroll taxes (13%) | +$3.12-3.90/hour | Included |
| + Worker’s comp | +$1-2/hour | Included |
| + Overtime compliance | Varies | Included |
| + Sick leave | +$0.50/hour | Included |
| + Liability insurance | +$0.60/hour | Included |
| + Payroll service | +$0.50/hour | Included |
| + Background checks | Minimal (you can’t access the FBI database) | DOJ Live Scan included |
| + Quality oversight | None | Included |
| + Backup coverage | None (you figure it out) | Included |
| + Legal protection | YOU are liable | ZERO personal liability |
| TOTAL REAL COST | $30-39/hour + unlimited risk | $37+/hour, zero risk |
Conclusion: All Heart’s transparent rates are competitive with legally compliant private hiring and eliminate six-figure liability risk while providing professional care management.
