A fundamental truth is that any time you contract with an agency to provide care for your loved one, you can be assured the agency has been regulated by the government legislations. The risk of hiring someone who will mistreat or neglect your loved one is less if you go with a licensed, certified agency that scrutinizes their carers.
That said, there are pros and cons regardless of which route you take. Let’s look at a few.
Independent caregivers
Most people who go into this business are dedicated to helping others. On the flip side, when you contract with an independent caregiver, they’re less likely to carry professional liability insurance, which puts you at a disadvantage. These caregivers also don’t usually provide a background check, which you must perform yourself before hiring.
Another consideration when hiring an independent caregiver is you have no backup recourse when the caregiver is sick or otherwise incapacitated. In addition, you’re more than likely responsible for managing payroll and taxes.
Home care agencies
The benefit of contracting assistance from a home care agency is that they perform all the checks and balances for you. For example, each caregiver in their employ must pass a rigorous background check, and the agency takes care of payroll, taxes, and more for their caregivers.
You need not worry about professional liability insurance because that is covered by the home care agency. You also have access to other caregivers if yours is sick or can’t work for another reason.
It’s also easier to find and hire someone from a home care agency. You can work with management and other supervisory personnel to create a schedule that works best for your loved one. Don’t attempt to rely on an individual carer to show up when and where you need them.
Final thoughts
You may be plenty surprised to discover that a home care agency is more cost effective than an independent caregiver. It all comes down to forecasting the costs of each to determine which solution best fits your needs.
One thing that most people don’t take into consideration is their time and effort spent finding the right caregiver. Also the time needed to schedule visits and manage the administrative parts like payroll, taxes, and more is significant.
The key to determining if an independent caregiver or an agency is better suited to meet your needs comes down to the services offered. Go with the option that provides you the support services your loved one needs, when and where he or she needs them. Look for the best “bang for your buck” in terms of services provided for fees charged. For example, some agencies offer a variety of services you can’t get with an independent caregiver. In such case, consider your loved one’s quality of life when considering necessary services and from whom to purchase them.
If you don’t want to manage payroll, perform background checks, and search for alternatives if your independent caregiver calls off work, stick to a caregiver agency. They’ll manage all those headaches for you so you’re assured your loved one is cared for expertly in their own home and to their preferences and desires. There’s something to be said for convenience and comprehensive care as compared to cheaper care that requires more of your time and effort to manage.
If you’re uncertain about the best scenario for your loved one, contact My Guardian at 1800 694 827. We’ll walk through all your options and help you choose the one that best meet your preferences and your budget.
