Finding quality Caregivers can be challenging. There are two primary options families can take to finding and hiring a Caregiver; private versus Home Care Agencies. Rather than wait until a crisis leaves the family in the precarious position of finding an immediate Caregiver for a loved one, weigh the advantages and benefits of the two options of finding and hiring Caregivers in advance.
Home Care Agency Services vs. Private Caregiver
PCAs and CNAs provide assistance with non-medical tasks, such as helping the client bathe, prepare meals and groom. Registered nurses or certified medical assistants are qualified to check vital signs, change wound dressings, and administer medications, among other tasks. Home Care Agencies employ PCAs and CNAs to provide the client with the care they need and require.
Determining whether the client requires home care or home health care points families in the right direction. Home health care agencies retain a staff of licensed professionals who are trained to provide a limited number of medical services. Home Care (non-medical) agencies also retain a staff of trained PCAs and CNAs that provide non-medical care. Private Caregivers may or may not have the training or certifications that Home Health or Home Care agencies require.
Comparison Factors – Private Caregiver vs. Home Care Agency
1. Hiring
Checking references and conducting initial screenings are critical to hiring the right Caregiver. Using a Home Care Agency saves time because they conduct background and references checks on their caregiving professionals.
Whether you use a private Caregiver or go with a Home Care Agency, interviewing the Caregiver to check for compatibility with the care recipient is a must.
2. Flexibility
Families can entrust a greater number of tasks to a private Caregiver. Flexibility in services provided is the desired result.
Working with a Home Care Agency guarantees flexibility, because a care plan is developed by a professional, prior to the start of care and can be altered as the client’s care needs change over time. Professional Caregivers are chosen and adhere to the care plan to provide the necessary level of care.
If a family employs a private Caregiver, they will need to research the rules and regulations in their state to determine what services the private Caregiver can and cannot perform, because each state regulates the activities of a private Caregiver and some states prohibit Caregivers from dispensing medicines, for instance.
3. Insurance
Home Care Agency Caregivers are insured. The significance of insurance is key for families, since any accidents that befall a Caregiver in the home are covered by the Home Care Agency. The Home Care Agency also protects against losses that occur due to the Caregiver stealing or causing damage to the client’s property.
Private Caregivers are most often uninsured or under-insured. Numerous risks are associated with uninsured Caregivers. If the Caregiver has an accident in client’s home, the client is financially liable. Alternately, in instances of theft or abuse by the Caregiver, the client has little to no recourse.
4. Contracts
Contracts are important when hiring a Caregiver. The document usually outlines all responsibilities to be performed as well as scheduled workdays and meal hours. Confidentiality clauses should be included in the contract. With private Caregivers the family is responsible for drawing up such a contract and enforcing it as needed.
A contract from a Home Care agency is written up by experienced agency representatives. In addition to provided services, items that may be outlined in the contract include pirating clause, direct hiring clause, payment options the family has access to and others.
5. Administrative Tasks
The Home Care Agency takes the stress out of the administrative duties when families hire professional caregivers through an agency. All state and federal regulations in regard to Caregiver employment are also strictly adhered to by Home Care Agency administrative personnel.
Families who choose to hire a private Caregiver are responsible for ensuring all payroll and taxes are accurate and paid. Plus, prior to contracting a private Caregiver, the family should be aware of the industry’s average wage rates and overtime pay rates and rules.
6. Vacation
Time off for sickness, emergencies and vacations are part of any job. When a private Caregiver takes days off for an unexpected illness, the family is left scrambling for a temporary replacement. Situations like these can cause stress for everyone involved.
A Home Care Agency provides replacement Caregivers when a professional takes an unexpected leave of absence. The only drawback to this option is that the client must get used to a new Caregiver for a short time.
7. Pricing
Costs can differ when it comes to paying for a Caregiver. Hiring a private Caregiver usually costs less than hiring a Home Care agency. However, these savings may end up costing the family more in the long run.
Assisting Hands Richmond
Hiring a Home Care Agency offers numerous advantages. Assisting Hands Home Care Richmond, Virginia, offers comprehensive Home Care plans tailored to meet the needs of the clients in their care with the objective of keeping the client healthy, happy and at home.
Our non-medical services include assistance with the activities of daily living, such as bathing, grooming and transportation. The professional Caregivers on our staff are skilled in hospice care, 24-hour care, live-in care, dementia care and respite care. We also provide fall prevention services to keep your loved one safe.
Free Consultation
Assisting Hands Home Care is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and their loved ones in Richmond, Virginia, and its surrounding communities. Contact us for a free consultation at (804) 500-9787 to ensure your loved one receives the most compassionate in-home care.
