Hiring a Home Care Agency
Using a Licensed Home Care Agency Vs. Hiring Directly
Remaining at home with the assistance of a caregiver continues to be the preferred living arrangement for many seniors and others needing some help and wishing to retain their independence. To find the right caregiver, many families turn to a full-service home care agency like Assisting Hands® Dana Point, where caregivers are fully vetted, trained, and insured W2 employees.
Families sometimes believe they will save some money by hiring a caregiver directly rather than working with an agency. Many are not aware that by hiring directly, they become the employer and are fully responsible for their caregiver employee. There are important considerations that people should be aware of before making this important decision.
Benefits of Using a Home Care Agency
There are many benefits to hiring a home care agency, including:
- A home care agency with W2 caregivers is bonded, and insured and covers their employees under worker’s compensation. Independent (direct hire) caregivers who do not work through an agency do not carry their own 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 to provide 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 back-up plan since there won’t be an agency involved 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, or has limited mobility, or cognitively impaired. A quality home care agency trains and tests its caregivers, and can attest to their skill levels.
- By law, the employer is responsible for filing payroll taxes, and tax forms, and verifying that the employee can legally work in the U.S. If hiring directly, the client may be assuming these responsibilities.
As a leading provider of in-home care, Assisting Hands® Dana Point, is committed to providing exceptional in-home care for seniors. As a state-licensed, non-medical caregiving agency, we understand the importance of having fully vetted, highly trained, knowledgeable and reliable caregivers to meet the diverse needs of our clients. Our caregivers undergo both standard and advanced training to ensure that they are equipped to handle a variety of situations with professionalism, compassion, and expertise.