When it comes to bringing a caregiver into your home, the decision is deeply personal and significant. Many families consider hiring privately, hoping to save money or move quickly. But what often seems like a cost-effective solution can come with unexpected risks: from inconsistent training and lack of background checks to legal liabilities, unreliable scheduling, and no accountability if something goes wrong.
On the other hand, working with an accredited home care agency means peace of mind. You’re not just hiring a person—you’re partnering with a team that’s been vetted, trained, insured, and backed by professional standards. These agencies follow strict hiring protocols, ensure ongoing caregiver education, and provide oversight, so your loved one receives reliable, compassionate care tailored to their needs.
Discover the real dangers of hiring privately—and why choosing an accredited agency is not just the safer choice, but the smarter one for your family’s well-being.
Why Hiring From an Accredited Agency is the Safest Choice for Your Loved Ones
When it comes to caregiving for elderly loved ones, the decisions we make can have a lasting impact. While hiring a private caregiver might seem like an easy solution, the dangers that come with it often go unnoticed—until it’s too late. Whether it’s neglect, abuse, or a lack of proper training, families can find themselves in dire situations when they hire caregivers without the backup, oversight, or resources that an accredited agency provides.
In this article, we’ll explore real-life examples of the risks families face when hiring privately and contrast them with the many benefits of hiring through a trusted, accredited home care agency. The difference is clear—reliable, professional, and accountable care is a phone call away.
Why Choosing an Accredited Agency is the Right Choice
The stories above highlight some of the harsh realities that can arise when hiring privately—leaving families in crisis and loved ones vulnerable. But the solution is clear: hiring through an accredited home care agency offers peace of mind, ensuring your loved one is cared for in a safe, structured, and reliable environment.
First-hand accounts reveal significant and sometimes tragic risks when hiring privately: abandonment, abuse, neglect, and legal exposure. Accredited agencies offer structured support, screened, trained staff; backup plans; and legal protections that help keep loved ones safe and ensure families aren’t left scrambling in an emergency.
Ready for Reliable, Safe Care?
If you’re ready to bring in a little help for your loved one, we’d love to chat with you. You can schedule your free consultation today by visiting our contact page.
BrightStar Care of Las Vegas’s team of professionals will assist you in finding the right caregiver for your loved one. Contact us today to learn more about caregiving services! Our office is at 4775 S. Durango Dr., Suite 200, Las Vegas, NV, 89147. You may also call us at (702) 982-2273.
We look forward to hearing from you!
https://seniorsite.org/resource/why-caregiver-agencies-are-better-than-private-hiring-a-family-guide/
https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Health/beware-agencies-finding-caregiver-mom-dad/story?id=16782863
https://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-relative-caregiver-20110709-story.html
https://revealnews.org/article/caregivers/
https://niemanstoryboard.org/2020/09/22/how-reveal-investigated-the-systemic-abuse-of-americas-caregivers/
https://www.marylandnursinghomelawyerblog.com/marylands-nursing-home-crisis-highlighted-by-long-island-caretaker-arrest/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-charges-two-bay-area-caregivers-elder-abuse-and-fraud?utm_source=chatgpt.com
On the other hand, working with an accredited home care agency means peace of mind. You’re not just hiring a person—you’re partnering with a team that’s been vetted, trained, insured, and backed by professional standards. These agencies follow strict hiring protocols, ensure ongoing caregiver education, and provide oversight, so your loved one receives reliable, compassionate care tailored to their needs.
Discover the real dangers of hiring privately—and why choosing an accredited agency is not just the safer choice, but the smarter one for your family’s well-being.
Why Hiring From an Accredited Agency is the Safest Choice for Your Loved Ones
When it comes to caregiving for elderly loved ones, the decisions we make can have a lasting impact. While hiring a private caregiver might seem like an easy solution, the dangers that come with it often go unnoticed—until it’s too late. Whether it’s neglect, abuse, or a lack of proper training, families can find themselves in dire situations when they hire caregivers without the backup, oversight, or resources that an accredited agency provides.
In this article, we’ll explore real-life examples of the risks families face when hiring privately and contrast them with the many benefits of hiring through a trusted, accredited home care agency. The difference is clear—reliable, professional, and accountable care is a phone call away.
1. Neglect and Lack of Backup: Mrs. Henderson's Story
When Mrs. Henderson’s private caregiver had a family emergency and disappeared without notice, there was no backup plan. Her daughter spent a sleepless night, frantic for help, demonstrating how families hiring privately can be left in crisis if a caregiver is suddenly unavailable.2. Unsupervised and Untrained Care: Granberg Family's Experience
The Granberg family hired several private aides for their elderly father after his heart transplant. Most were kind but unskilled, one didn’t know how to care for basic hygiene needs, and others left him unattended. The lack of agency-provided training or supervision meant family members were forced to intervene to protect their loved one.3. Violent Assault Captured by Hidden Camera
An elderly woman in Long Island suffered unexplained bruises. A guardian installed a hidden camera and captured the caregiver violently striking the 83-year-old. Authorities arrested the caregiver on felony assault charges. This abuse came to light only because a family member took independent action, highlighting the lack of oversight when caregivers are hired privately.4. Safety and Legal Liabilities: Ann's Story
A daughter learned her privately hired caregiver, Ann, was leaving her mother (who had dementia) in a hot car for hours. The family only discovered the neglect via a neighbor’s tip. Careless or insufficient screening dramatically increases vulnerability for loved ones, and the absence of agency oversight made it easy for Ann to hide her actions.5. Wage and Labor Abuse Without Agency Protection
Caregivers working privately, or in unregulated settings, have also faced wage theft, harassment, and threats of retaliation if they complained about working conditions or pay. In some reported cases, employers skipped conducting required background checks, leading to unsafe or even abusive individuals working in vulnerable homes.6. Caretaker Charged with Elder Abuse
California’s Attorney General recently filed felony elder abuse and Medi-Cal fraud charges against caregivers in an unlicensed residential facility. These individuals had been providing care through informal private arrangements and failed to meet basic standards—some treating residents in biohazard-level conditions.Why Choosing an Accredited Agency is the Right Choice
The stories above highlight some of the harsh realities that can arise when hiring privately—leaving families in crisis and loved ones vulnerable. But the solution is clear: hiring through an accredited home care agency offers peace of mind, ensuring your loved one is cared for in a safe, structured, and reliable environment.
Benefits of Hiring Through an Accredited Agency
- Backup and Reliability: Agencies provide immediate replacements if a caregiver gets sick or quits, ensuring no lapses in care.
- Thorough Screening: Accredited agencies conduct extensive background checks, contact references, and verify experience, greatly lowering the risk of hiring unqualified or dangerous individuals.
- Training and Oversight: Agency caregivers are regularly supervised and follow protocols. Families can trust in consistent, quality care and have recourse if problems arise.
- Legal and Financial Protection: Agencies handle taxes, insurance, and legal compliance, reducing the risk of lawsuits, wage disputes, or unexpected costs for families.
- Peace of Mind: Perhaps most importantly, families feel secure knowing their loved ones are cared for by thoroughly vetted, accountable professionals.
First-hand accounts reveal significant and sometimes tragic risks when hiring privately: abandonment, abuse, neglect, and legal exposure. Accredited agencies offer structured support, screened, trained staff; backup plans; and legal protections that help keep loved ones safe and ensure families aren’t left scrambling in an emergency.
Ready for Reliable, Safe Care?
If you’re ready to bring in a little help for your loved one, we’d love to chat with you. You can schedule your free consultation today by visiting our contact page.
BrightStar Care of Las Vegas’s team of professionals will assist you in finding the right caregiver for your loved one. Contact us today to learn more about caregiving services! Our office is at 4775 S. Durango Dr., Suite 200, Las Vegas, NV, 89147. You may also call us at (702) 982-2273.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Source List:
https://globalonehomecare.com/risks-of-hiring-a-private-caregiver/https://seniorsite.org/resource/why-caregiver-agencies-are-better-than-private-hiring-a-family-guide/
https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Health/beware-agencies-finding-caregiver-mom-dad/story?id=16782863
https://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-relative-caregiver-20110709-story.html
https://revealnews.org/article/caregivers/
https://niemanstoryboard.org/2020/09/22/how-reveal-investigated-the-systemic-abuse-of-americas-caregivers/
https://www.marylandnursinghomelawyerblog.com/marylands-nursing-home-crisis-highlighted-by-long-island-caretaker-arrest/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-charges-two-bay-area-caregivers-elder-abuse-and-fraud?utm_source=chatgpt.com