Could you tell me where I can find private caregivers who provide senior care in my home without going through an agency?
You can find your caregiver in many different ways. Ask someone who has used a private caregiver to help you. There are two types of caregivers. You can either hire an independent one or someone who an agency introduces to you. If you wish to hire a private caregiver independent of any institute or agency, keep in mind that there are some disadvantages. For example, as an employer, you have to consider taxes and wages laws. You’re entirely responsible for the caregiver’s payment and insurance. Payroll taxes and the amount of income tax withheld from the paycheck must be reported. The point is that usually, private caregivers are not known as independent contractors. So, violating legal laws may put you in real danger.
Plus, as the caregiver lives in your house as a tenant, you may get into trouble when terminating his job. Another thing is that a private caregiver may provide light services such as house chores, transporting the elderly, preparing meals, and health care.
However, when you hire an agent from an official agency, he may cover higher services such as incontinence and Alzheimer’s care. Regarding hiring a caregiver from an agency, you should ask some questions. For instance,
The shifts and working hours must be precise.
The payment and expenses must be clarified.
All of the needed services must be written down in the contract.
Some agencies have specific rules regarding cancellation or deposits. Be careful about each agency’s policies. Also, the agencies are entirely responsible for legal taxes, bonds, and insurance. So, be careful not to accept caregivers who are independent contractors.