Using A Home Care Agency Vs. Hiring Directly
In general, a home care agency has reviews, provides certification & background checks on employees, is 100% bonded, and does provide insurance.
Why hire through an agency?
Why would I hire an Assisting Hands Home Care caregiver versus a private caregiver for my family?
If you hire privately, you become the employer of the caregiver. The following are just a few of the things you must consider when hiring privately.
- Once you hire a caregiver privately, you are responsible for all state and federal payroll taxes.
- How will you pay for any claims of disability if they are filed against you? You must obtain Worker’s Compensation Insurance or make sure your private caregiver comes with insurance. If not, you could be responsible for any injuries claimed to have happened while working at your home.
- What happens if the private person doesn’t show up for work? Are you prepared to stay home and take care of your loved one?
- If the care is for you, are you prepared to be left alone without care if the caregiver does not show up?
- Are you capable of running a comprehensive, national criminal background check?
- Is the private caregiver bonded against theft?
- Who will supervise them?
- These are only some of the challenges of hiring privately. With Assisting Hands Home Care, you do not worry about these issues.
Home Care Agency Vs. Hiring Directly
Remaining at home with the assistance of a caregiver is the preferred living arrangement for many seniors and others who need some help but wish to retain their independence.
To find the right caregiver, most people turn to a full-service home care agency like Assisting Hands which screens, hires, and trains its employees.
Families sometimes believe they will save money by hiring a caregiver directly rather than working with an agency.
When they hire someone directly, they become the employer and are fully responsible for their caregiver employee.
Decisions to consider:
Before making this important decision, people should be aware of important considerations.
- A home care agency that employs caregivers is bonded, insured, and covers their employees under worker’s compensation. Independent (direct hire) caregivers who do not work for an agency do not carry their liability insurance or worker’s compensation. If an accident or other incident occurs on the job, the employer (the client) would likely be responsible, costing the client hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
- A home care agency will offer a replacement if the caregiver cannot make it to work. If an independent caregiver calls off or doesn’t show up, the client will need a backup plan since there won’t be an agency to send a replacement.
- Independent caregivers cannot be bonded. Bonding provides theft protection for the client.
- If hiring directly, the client is the employer and is therefore responsible for training, disciplinary action, and terminating the caregiver if necessary. If using a home care agency, the agency handles these responsibilities.
- If hiring a caregiver directly, the client needs to be able to assess the quality and skill level of the caregiver. This is especially important if the client requires hands-on personal care, has limited mobility, dementia, or Alzheimer’s. A quality home care agency trains and tests their caregivers and can attest to their skill levels.
- By law, the client (employer) is responsible for filing payroll taxes tax forms and verifying that the employee can legally work in the U.S.
Benefits of Assisting Hands Home Care:
The team at Assisting Hands understands that in today’s tight economic times, saving money and using resources wisely is more important than ever.
However, the client should carefully consider the risks of hiring a caregiver directly instead of working with a home care agency.
