Learn the costs of hiring a private Caregiver and what you need to know before hiring them as an independent contracted employee.  This article discusses the critical questions to ask when seeking care for yourself or a loved One. The toughest decision families make is who is going to be responsible for the care of a loved one. How does one make that decision?  Below are some critical questions families need to ask and answer:

• How do I verify the caregiver has the legal right to work in the United States of America?  The employer is obligated to determine this under federal law. The employer, either you or an agency, needs to use the I-9 form and/or the E-Verify system to avoid potential fines and other legal consequences.

• Does the caregiver applicant (if an individual) understand that employment is “at will”, with you being able to terminate employment at any time?  This is very important. If you are hiring an individual, if you do not terminate “for cause,” you will likely be required by EDD to pay for an unemployment insurance claim. You also need to ensure you are in compliance with the California Labor Laws for Wage and Hour.

• Should we expect the caregiver to have a recent TB test?  Yes, you should. This is a very serious disease, and for elders with lowered immune systems, it is certainly something to require from any caregiver or in-home care agency. It is recommended to be checked every 2 years.

• Who is going to be the caregiver’s employer?  There are only two legal answers: the family or an employer-based home care agency. Note that referral agencies are not employer.  Someone will need to be responsible for paying: payroll taxes, workers’ comp insurance, and unemployment insurance, etc.

• Does the family need protection in terms of liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, bonding, and back-ground checks?  The answer is yes. If hiring an employer-based agency, ask for their Certificate of Insurance. If not the family will be responsible for purchasing a multitude of policies. In most cases homeowner’s insurance policies will not cover domestic employees.

• How are we going to ensure the quality of the ongoing care provided?  Does the family have the ability to monitor care and ensure that quality remains high, if hiring an individual? If hiring an agency, what is their quality control process?

• What is this going to cost?  There are minor differences in cost with a family member being the employer of record and hiring a home care agency. In the case of a family member hiring an independent (non-agency) Caregiver at $14 or $15 per hour (if you’re lucky) With payroll taxes, insurances and other expenses, the cost would run between $20 – $25 per hour for a typical 4 to 8 hour shift. On average a home care agency will cost from $21 – $26 per hour depending on the level of skill that is required for the client’s care.

We hope you enjoyed this article on the costs of hiring a private Caregiver. If you are interested in learning more about the exciting home care services available at All Heart Home Care, contact us today at 619-736-4677.  We offer free in-home consultations and can explain all of the benefits obtained from using a home care service!