Finding and hiring a caregiver for a relative can be daunting, especially if you’ve never had a family member who has needed care before. It’s important to make the right decision for your family and find a caregiver that will fit the needs of both you and the family member who is being cared for. You’ll want to consider factors like how much help your family member needs, when they will need help, how much you can afford to pay, and more.
What Are the Signs that I Need to Hire a Caregiver for my Parents or Other Relatives?
As people age or deteriorative diseases take over, you’ll notice a decline in the condition of their home and their ability to care for themselves. Warning signs include housework and chores not getting done, food being left to spoil, mail and bills going unopened, personal hygiene declining, and signs of loneliness and depression.
If you notice while visiting your parent or other relative that their house or their person is dirtier or less well-kept than before, you may want to do some investigation to find out if they’re having difficulty or reluctance to perform basic tasks. Some more independent family members may try to hide the fact that they’re having difficulty out of pride or because they don’t want a caregiver, so you may need to look at other evidence if they won’t admit to having trouble.
Classification of Caregivers
There are many types of caregivers you can hire for your loved one to assist in their home. Each type addresses different needs and some types may be used together to provide a more comprehensive experience for you and your family member. Some of the types may also overlap, with one type of caregiver playing or fitting multiple roles.
Family Caregivers
A family caregiver is a member of the family who typically lives with or near the loved one who needs assistance and takes care of daily tasks. This is most commonly a spouse, parent, or child of the family member who needs assistance, but can be any member of the family. Family caregivers may not be paid for their work but care for the family member out of love. They often do the household chores that the other family member is not capable of doing, drive the family member to appointments and social meetings, and run errands.
Long-Distance Caregivers
Long-distance caregivers are usually also family members who live away from the loved one who needs care but still do tasks like taking care of bills and financial matters, scheduling appointments and other caregivers, and providing emotional support to the family member and other caregivers. This is usually a supplementary role used in conjunction with an on-site caregiver who is able to physically be there. However, if the on-site caregiver is not a member of the family, you may be more comfortable having a family member handling matters that may involve sensitive personal information. This can be a less strenuous role that allows family members to help their loved one without overburdening themselves.
Professional Caregivers
There are several types of professional caregivers that can step in and take over an on-site role if no one else is available. These caregivers provide different services based on the type of care they provide, and may suit your needs differently based on the amount and type of care your loved one needs.
- Daytime caregivers stay with your loved one throughout the day, either on a set time frame or from the time that your loved one wakes up to the time they go to bed. This is a good setup if your loved one needs less intensive care and does not need help overnight.
- Live-in caregivers stay with your loved on 24/7 and have their own room in the house where they live. These types of caregivers are best for loved ones who need intensive or constant care, especially overnight, and can provide companionship as well.
- Overnight caregivers may be used in conjunction with daytime caregivers to provide care around the clock in the event that a live-in caregiver isn’t used. Overnight caregivers typically stay up through the night to help with any needs your loved one may have if they wake up and make sure no medical emergencies occur.
What’s the Difference Between Private Duty Home Care and Assisted Living?
The major difference between private duty home care and assisted living is the location of the care. Assisted living typically happens at a facility that your loved one needs to be moved into, which can be difficult for a number of reasons. Home care happens at the home your loved one already lives in, which can help with the transition to caregiving and make your loved one more comfortable with the situation.
However, if your loved one’s home is difficult for them to navigate or cannot accommodate their needs, it may be a good idea to move them to a different home for caregiving or to an assisted living facility. Mobility and accessibility are important factors to consider when deciding where to care for your loved one.
How Do I Know if My Relative Needs a Caregiver Instead of Assisted Living?
If your loved one is reluctant to leave their home or set in their ways, or is at a point in their life where moving to a new location would be too difficult for them, you may want to consider a caregiver rather than an assisted living facility. Staying at home may also keep your loved one closer to friends or communities like churches, which can provide much-needed social interaction.
Your loved one may also be more receptive to the idea of a caregiver rather than an assisted living facility, as staying at home and having a more minimal care schedule can feel less disruptive and invasive. If your loved one is capable, it’s always a good idea to get their opinions on how they would like to be cared for, but ultimately you will need to make the decision based on your knowledge of their situation and needs.
What’s the Best Place to Find a Reliable Private Duty Caregiver?
When you know what you need from a caregiver and are ready to hire one, you should do some independent research to find local agencies and registries that will provide one or more caregivers to you. You may also choose to ask friends who have used caregivers if they have recommendations. There are most likely local boards or groups that can recommend caregivers or give you reviews on caregivers you are considering.
Ultimately, because caregiving is a local task, you’ll need to look locally and do your own research to find the right caregiving service for you and your loved one. Looking online for reviews as well as visiting agency and registry websites is a good tactic to better understand the benefits of each. You can also contact your local Area Agency on Aging and Disability to get help with finding and selecting a private duty caregiver for your loved one.
Should I Use an Agency or an Independent Caregiver?
There are pros and cons to both options, and which one you choose will depend on your needs and preferences. Agencies take care of most of the work for you, which can be helpful if you have very little time to arrange the details of the caregiving and need a third party to do that for you. Agencies pre-screen their workers, take care of scheduling and payroll, provide replacements on days when caregivers can’t show up, and handle any concerns you may have with the caregiver.
On the other hand, agencies usually charge higher prices for less qualified workers, as they need to take a cut of the cost to maintain their business. They also typically choose the caregiver for you, who may or may not mesh well with your loved one. They also typically require a minimum number of hours of care, making it hard to arrange a part-time schedule if your loved one needs less care or you have a family caregiver available.
Picking an independent caregiver from a registry or a friend’s recommendation gives you much more freedom to choose someone with the personality, interests, or specific skill sets that you’re looking for to personalize your loved one’s experience. You’re also not paying any agency fees, which means you can typically pay less but still get a more highly trained individual. You have the freedom to work out hours and a schedule that work for both you and the caregiver, and you can set your own rules.
However, all of the tasks that an agency takes care of fall to you with an independent caregiver. This means screening the worker on the front end, dealing with any problems that arise, handling payroll, and scheduling backups in the event that they don’t or can’t show up for work. It can also take a great deal of time to find and arrange an independent caregiver, while an agency can typically provide someone as soon as the next day if you have a need arise suddenly.
What Questions Should You Ask a Private Duty Caregiver or Caregiver Company?
The interview process is the most important part of determining whether a caregiver is right for you. You’ll need to make sure that they are qualified to care for your loved one and have the skills to deal with emergency situations, should anything happen. While you would ask these questions of an independent caregiver specifically, if you’re asking an agency, you may ask them generally of all their caregivers or request a caregiver with the specific skills you’re looking for. Good questions include:
- Are you/your caregivers trained in CPR or other medical assistance techniques?
- Do you/your caregivers use tobacco or nicotine products?
- Are you/your caregivers comfortable with pets?
- How far away do you/your caregivers live?
- Could you/your caregivers provide care on short notice?
- Are you/your caregivers able to lift heavy objects or support someone moving from a bed/chair to a wheelchair?
- How do you/your caregivers feel about caring for those with mobility issues?
- How do you/your caregivers feel about caring for those with memory problems?
- How do you/your caregivers care for those who may be antagonistic or afraid?
- What other types of patients have you/your caregivers cared for?
- What kind of records do you/your caregivers keep? What records are sent to me/the rest of the family?
- Are you/your caregivers willing to do household chores such as cooking and cleaning?
- What kind of food do you/your caregivers cook?
- Are you/your caregivers comfortable calling emergency services if necessary?
- Is there anything in the job description that you/your caregivers are not comfortable doing?
- When are you/your caregivers available to start working?
What Should I Look for in a Caregiver?
Each person will need something different in their caregiver, depending on the needs and independence of their loved one. Overall, you should look for someone who is patient and knowledgeable. Medical experience is a plus, as is experience with patients who are similar to your loved one. For example, if you’re looking for a caregiver for an elderly parent with memory issues, you may want to hire a caregiver who has taken care of this type of patient before.
However, the specifics of what you need will be independent to you and your loved one. You may need a caretaker who knows a second language such as Spanish or sign language to effectively communicate with your loved one, or you may need someone who is physically small or less imposing to help allay the fears of an easily scared loved one. You’ll want to consider your needs as you’re hiring the caregiver and make sure they meet your criteria.
Can a Family Member Get Paid to Be a Caregiver?
Many family members end up taking on the role of caregiver without being paid, in the case of a spouse or child sometimes because they already live with the loved one who needs care and can take care of them while still going about their regular life. However, there are some situations in which family members must interrupt their lives to care for a loved one and move in with them or quit their jobs to care for them full time. In this situation, you could consider paying the family member for their time the same way you pay a professional caregiver. However, if you’re paying them anyway, you may want to consider getting a professional caregiver instead to allow that family member to live their life normally.
How Much Should I Pay a Daytime Caregiver?
Independent daytime caregivers are paid by the hour or by the day, but the price for the day should still offer a fair wage per hour spend. In most areas, caregivers with moderate experience get paid between $11 and $12 an hour, or about $100 a day. You can expect to pay up to $15-20 an hour for caregivers with medical experience or who are assisting with processes like bathing and using the bathroom. Prices will be higher with an agency, who take a cut of the money and pay the rest to the caregiver, so expect in the $25-30 per hour range for a regular caregiver if you are using an agency.
How Much Should I Pay a Live-in Caregiver?
Live-in caregivers are typically paid the same hourly rate as daytime caregivers, which averages around $11 and up to $25-30 for more advanced personal care. Because they are there 24/7 and sleeping some of the time, live-in caregivers are sometimes paid by the day or on salary rather than by the hour. You can also calculate the hours they’re actually working and pay at a reduced rate while they are sleeping, if they’re not expected to be up at night and can get at least 8 hours of sleep in a night. If they are expected to be up at night, you may want to consider hiring two caregivers, one for the daytime and one to be awake at night.
How Much Should I Pay an Overnight Caregiver?
Overnight caregivers do not sleep, or only sleep minimally while staying alert for any sign that their help is needed. This means that an overnight caregiver should be paid as much or more than a daytime caregiver per hour. Expect to pay at least $23-30 an hour to an overnight caregiver, especially if they’re expected to help with activities like using the bathroom or giving medical assistance if your loved one has a tendency to wander around at night and potentially get injured.
Does a Live-in Caregiver Pay Rent?
Live-in caregivers do not pay rent, but the price of their room and board is typically factored into their pay so that you are paying for their services and subtracting the cost of living from that. Live-in caregivers may also pay for their own food or be given an allowance for household groceries to share with the other inhabitants of the household if they are expected to take care of tasks like grocery shopping anyway. If your loved one rents their house or apartment, a live-in caretaker does not count as a tenant and is not liable to pay rent.
Does Medicare Pay for Caregivers?
Medicare is designed to pay for situations in which someone gets ill or injured, not necessarily long-term situations that require home care, so there are many gaps in coverage in this area. However, Medicare Advantage may pay for some home care provided by a Medicare-certified agency. This rules out independent nurses, certain agencies, and may limit your options when it comes to getting home care for your loved one.
How Do I Get Medicare to Pay for a Caregiver?
Only Medicare Advantage will pay for home care. To qualify for coverage, your loved one must be homebound and be deemed so by a medical professional such as a doctor or a registered nurse. The doctor must also certify that your loved one is in need of intermittent therapy or skilled nurse care within 90 days before or 30 days after you begin the home care. That doctor must approve the home care plan and review it regularly to remain eligible for Medicare coverage. Finally, the agency used for home care must be approved by Medicare.
How Do I Get Medicaid to Pay for a Caregiver?
Medicaid will differ from state to state, as it’s a combination of federal and state programming that provides medical assistance to those below the poverty line. All states offer some kind of home care coverage, but what coverage you can get and the requirements for qualifying for that coverage will be different based on your state. You may also need to be enrolled in a specific plan in order to be covered for home care for your loved one. Family members can also be paid by Medicaid if they are acting as a full-time caregiver for their loved one. You should investigate your options based on the state you are in and the Medicaid plan you are under to understand the steps to take to get home care covered.
How Do I Get Insurance to Pay for a Caregiver?
Insurance providers will pay for certain types of home care, usually only if you take out a health insurance policy with home care or extended care included. You will need to consult your individual medical insurance agency to find out what kinds of home care will be covered and what you need to do to get it covered. Typically, the process is the same as or similar to Medicare’s process, though private insurance may pay for different services and may pay for an independent caregiver where Medicare does not. Check the terms of your loved one’s plan or contact a customer service representative to find out what aspects will be covered and how to qualify.