Deciding on Hiring a Home Care Agency vs Private Caregiver is an unfamiliar experience for many seniors and this may be the first time you introduce a caregiver to your home. Do you choose to hire a private caregiver or work with an agency?
The ultimate goal is to make the experience work well for everyone involved in the final decision. When providing proper care and companionship with professional and compassionate caregivers, you want to ensure that your loved one’s independence and peace of mind continue.
Promyse Home Care, as an agency, wants to alleviate any stress or anxiety that you may feel should you decide to hire our caregivers. We have a senior care manager and potential caregiver meet with you and your loved-one to introduce themselves and discuss any client-specific training to deal with your specific needs as well as any Specialized Care requirements such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care, Stroke Recovery Care, Diabetes Care or Parkinson’s Care.
There are pros and cons to both decisions, so let’s take a look and compare the two options so that you can make an informed decision for yourself and your loved ones.
Hiring a Private Caregiver
Advantages:
Cost: Private caregivers often charge lower rates than home care agencies because there are no overhead costs or agency fees.
Disadvantages:
Administrative Burden: You manage payroll, taxes, and legal obligations, including background checks and employment contracts.
Lack of Backup: Finding a replacement on short notice can be challenging if the caregiver is sick or unavailable.
No Supervision: There needs to be more professional oversight to ensure the caregiver is performing their duties correctly and safely.
Hiring a Home Care Agency
Advantages:
Professional Management: Agencies handle administrative tasks such as payroll, taxes, insurance, and background checks.
Reliability: Agencies can provide a replacement caregiver if the assigned one is unavailable due to illness or other reasons.
Training and Supervision: Agency caregivers are usually trained and supervised by healthcare professionals, ensuring higher standards of care.
Disadvantages:
Higher Cost: Agencies typically charge higher rates due to administrative costs and service fees.
A Personal Testament of Promyse Home Care Services
“Promyse came highly recommended by several members of our medical team for 24/7 care. Marie and Ashley were professional and thorough in their intake process, ensuring that all our needs and questions were addressed. Christine and Mia were superb – knowledgeable, caring, competent and confident. As caregivers, they did their job well and willingly, demonstrating their expertise not only in personal care but also in nutrition, exercises for seniors, enrichment activities, and reassurance techniques. If you need any care services, contact Promyse first. You will be glad you did.” Elizabeth.
Below is a chart with more details about the differences between working with a home care agency and hiring a caregiver privately.
|
Which Choice Provides Peace of Mind for Your Loved One? |
|
Comparisons of Liability and Costs |
Promyse Home Care Agency |
Hiring a Private Caregiver |
|
Screening |
Each caregiver is thoroughly screened by our staff and must pass background and reference checks. |
Family members in charge of hiring will need the time to screen and verify references and credentials. |
|
Training |
Promyse Home Care interviews and carefully screening caregivers. Then, they receive a thorough introduction to our company’s policies and approach to care. We provide training and continuing education for their caregivers. |
Training varies and may need verification; no ongoing education is provided unless arranged by the employer. |
|
Liability |
Our caregivers are bonded and insured and covered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). This means they cannot sue you for medical bills, loss of income, or pain & suffering damages as this is covered by WSIB. |
If you hire a caregiver directly they are legally an ‘employee’ who follows your directions as their employer, uses your home and equipment not independent contractors.The family is responsible for insurance and any potential liabilities as an employee. |
|
Legal Responsibilities (Income taxes and Social Security and Medicare taxes.) |
The caregiver is an agency employee, and we withhold these taxes from the caregiver’s paycheck and pay them to the government. |
They are directly managed by the employer, requiring knowledge of legal and employment standards. As the employer you must withhold the taxes from the caregiver’s pay. |
|
Valuables Missing |
We are not concerned with missing valuables as all of our caregivers are bonded and must pass a screened background check. In the event of a missing item, we take full responsibility |
As an employer, you would need to check with your insurance provider to verify if any missing items are covered in the policy. |
|
Replacement Staff |
To alleviate any stress of staff unable to make their shift, we work together with our caregivers to find a replacement immediately. |
If a private caregiver doesn’t show up for a shift, the family is responsible for finding a replacement or covering the shift themselves. |
Having a Choice is Important
The choice between the two depends on your specific needs, budget, and preference for administrative involvement versus professional oversight.
At Promyse Home Care we respect your independence and right to choose. We create a team-based approach to your care so we can ensure your needs will be met. We don’t have long-term financial contracts; we keep in touch with your family and other community caregivers, and we will always listen to you.
We offer a range of home care support for seniors, from personal care and home support to companion care, nursing care and nurse case management to ensure the safety and comfort of living at home. We also offer an array of specialized care services.
