Choosing the right in-home caregiver for your loved one’s needs is incredibly important, as it’s a decision that will affect their comfort, health, and privacy. In this guide for families, we’ll walk you step-by-step through the process of how to hire a caregiver for in-home care. Along the way, we’ll cover topics like different types of caregiving services, average caregiver costs, and tips for finding qualified in-home caregivers.
Step 1: Understand Your Loved One’s Care Needs
Understanding your loved one’s needs is the first step to choosing the right type of caregiving service. Consider whether they need assistance completing household tasks, moving safely around their home, or performing daily self-care like bathing. Think about what their daily routine looks like, how much social interaction they prefer, their level of mobility, and whether they have any health conditions that require medical oversight.
As you assess your loved one’s needs, here are four key questions to answer:
- Do they need help with activities of daily living (ADLs)? ADLs are activities like eating, bathing, getting dressed, and using the bathroom and require a caregiver trained in personal care.
- Would they benefit from emotional support? Companion care is a type of caregiving service that emphasizes social connection and support, helping to alleviate isolation and loneliness.
- How often do they require care? Consider whether your loved one needs 24/7 care, live-in care, daily visits, weekly visits, or another type of arrangement.
- Do they require complex medical care? If your loved one requires home health care or specialized dementia care, look for a home care provider that offers skilled nursing care or memory care.
Step 2: Decide How You’ll Hire: Agency or Private Duty
Next, you’ll need to decide which approach you’d rather take: working with a caregiving agency, which connects families with qualified caregivers, or hiring a private-duty caregiver, which involves finding, vetting, and employing caregivers on your own. Let’s break down how these two options differ and look at some pros and cons of each strategy:
Hiring a Caregiver Through an Agency
Home care agencies generally handle most logistics for you, from licensing, insurance, and tax compliance to conducting background checks and resolving scheduling issues. Agencies also ensure that caregivers are appropriately licensed and have RN oversight with care plans. Some can even provide caregivers with specialized training to meet unique care needs.
Hiring a Private Duty Caregiver Independently
While this approach gives you total control over the hiring process, it also creates significantly more work for you while exposing you to a higher level of risk. You’ll be responsible for conducting background checks, verifying caregiver credentials, conducting interviews, coordinating with medical professionals, and handling issues related to taxes and insurance, along with last-minute scheduling emergencies.
Step 3: Estimate Costs and Budget for Care
The costs of in-home caregiving vary from family to family. Pricing depends on a wide range of factors, including where you live, how many hours of care your loved one needs, and your insurance. That’s why it’s important to estimate your family’s expenses and start planning how to pay for in-home care in a way that’s sustainable for you.
Here are four points to keep in mind as you compare caregiver prices and begin building your budget:
- Type of Care: Medicare and private health insurance typically don’t cover non-medical services, such as companion care. That impacts how much you pay out-of-pocket for in-home caregiving.
- Level of Training or Certification Required: Caregivers who hold professional certifications may charge higher rates that reflect their advanced training and experience.
- Location and Hours Needed: Caregivers generally charge by the hour. That means the number of care hours your loved one requires directly impacts your costs. Average caregiver rates vary by location, but the national median is around $34 per hour for non-medical in-home care services.
- Live-In, Overnight, or Part-Time Arrangements: Overnight and live-in arrangements typically cost more than part-time arrangements that involve shorter, less frequent visits.
Step 4: Define the Caregiver’s Role and Responsibilities
Your goal is to find a qualified caregiver who’s compatible with your family, conducts themselves professionally, and possesses the right set of skills to safely perform their tasks. To reach that goal, you need to set clear expectations about your loved one’s needs and what the caregiving role will involve.
Here are some examples of what to discuss when establishing a caregiver’s job responsibilities:
- Daily Tasks and Required Experience: Provide an overview of the tasks the caregiver will need to perform, such as general companionship or support with ADLs. Note what types of skills and how much experience they should have.
- Schedule and Pay Range: Clearly explain what days and times you need caregiver availability, along with information about your preferred price range for home care services.
- Preferred Caregiver Certifications: State whether you prefer or require any specific certifications, such as CPR certification, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification, or Home Health Aide (HHA) certification.
- Transportation Needs: Indicate whether your loved one needs transportation to and from appointments, errands, or other activities, as this will require a vehicle and valid driver’s license.
- Household Preferences: Remember to mention details like whether your loved one has any allergies, special dietary requirements, or privacy-related requests. You should also indicate whether your loved one has any pets who require care.
Step 5: Interview and Screen Candidates Carefully
Especially if you’re hiring in-home caregiver services independently, it’s essential to verify credentials, check professional references, and perform criminal background checks. You’ll also need to conduct interviews, which should include questions like:
- What is your employment history, and what were your duties in previous roles?
- Why are you interested in this position?
- How long have you been providing in-home care services?
- Do you have a vehicle, a valid driver’s license, and proof of insurance and registration?
- How do you approach caring for people with specialized needs like mobility issues or memory loss?
If you hire a caregiver through a reputable home care agency like BrightStar Care®, you won’t have to worry about conducting your own screenings, since all caregivers are thoroughly vetted in advance. We’ll also take care of matching your family with a caregiver who fits your requirements and preferences, and we can even help you find a new caregiver if you need to make adjustments.
Step 6: Finalize the Care Plan and Hiring Details
Agencies handle caregiver contracts and client care plans, which is part of the service and convenience they provide. If you hire an independent caregiver, you’ll need to create your own legal agreements, which should always be reviewed by an attorney before finalizing. You’ll also be responsible for managing all coordination with your loved one’s healthcare providers. Here’s what to know about moving forward with each option.
If You Hire a Caregiver Through an Agency
Agencies take care of creating caregiver care plans, eliminating the need to write your own. At BrightStar Care, we understand that your loved one’s needs can change quickly, meaning you may need to increase or decrease services depending on new circumstances. We provide flexible care plans that can be adjusted any time to address changing needs.
If You Hire a Caregiver Independently
When creating a caregiver contract on your own, be sure to include points like what duties the caregiver will perform, how and when payment will be made, how caregiver travel will be reimbursed, and reasons for termination of the agreement.
For Both Options
Whichever route you choose, transparency and clear communication are essential from day one. Be sure to review all caregiver contracts carefully before signing, ideally with assistance from an experienced attorney.
Step 7: Evaluate and Adjust Over Time
Your loved one’s care needs can change over time—so can their schedule, their living arrangements, or their personal preferences. It’s important to regularly communicate with caregivers and home care agencies, especially when there are new developments, so that your loved one’s care plan can be adjusted accordingly.
It’s also important to periodically review and reassess the caregiver’s performance, which will help you decide whether their skills and personality continue to remain a good fit for your loved one’s needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring an In-Home Caregiver
Do caregivers provide medical care or just daily assistance?
No, caregivers cannot provide medical care. In-home caregivers, such as CNAs and HHAs, can provide companionship, personal care, and help with errands and some household tasks, but they are not licensed to provide healthcare. Skilled nursing care, such as wound care or medication management, should only be performed by licensed healthcare professionals like registered nurses (RNs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs).
How do I handle taxes when hiring a private-duty caregiver?
Hiring a private-duty caregiver could subject you to the “nanny tax,” which is a nickname for various Social Security and Medicare taxes, like federal unemployment tax (FUTA). That’s because the IRS might classify you as the caregiver’s employer, which means you’ll need to provide your caregiver with Form W-4 (Employee’s Withholding Certificate), withhold income, and file additional tax forms. You can avoid nanny tax hassles and give yourself peace of mind by hiring a caregiver through an in-home care agency like BrightStar Care, which takes care of payroll tax compliance for you.
What kind of insurance should caregivers or families have?
Various types of insurance can help your family pay for in-home care, including medical expenses related to in-home dementia or memory care. Examples include private health insurance, Medicare Advantage, Medigap plans, veterans benefits and long-term care (LTC) insurance coverage.
What happens if the caregiver can’t come one day?
If you hire a caregiver independently, and they fail to report when scheduled, you’ll be responsible for handling last-minute replacements. Hiring your caregiver through an accredited home care agency like BrightStar Care can help prevent this scenario, as the local team will work to find a replacement caregiver for you.
How do I balance privacy with oversight when someone new is in the home?
Hiring your caregiver through a reputable, accredited agency is the best way to protect your family’s privacy and security, while ensuring your loved one receives the highest quality care.
Find the Right Caregiver for Your Family with BrightStar Care
Each independently owned and operated BrightStar Home Care® location is required to achieve and maintain Joint Commission accreditation. This ensures rigorous caregiver screening, strict safety protocols, and nurse-led care plans. Additionally, our in-home caregiving service has earned multiple awards recognizing our commitment to excellence, including the Home Care Pulse® Best of Home Care® Provider of Choice.
If you’re ready to hire a caregiver for your loved one’s care, find a BrightStar Care near you or contact us to schedule a free consultation.