Many people ask if they should use a home care agency or hire an independent caregiver. While there are pros and cons to both, the scales tip easily toward using an agency for most people in most cases. As the owner of a home care agency, my objectivity may be limited, but I’ll share the facts and leave the conclusions to you.
In general, agencies will be more expensive but hiring independent caregivers is riskier and more cumbersome. The primary factors to consider are laid out below.
Hourly Rate
Home Care Agency
Agency rates will be higher than individuals’ rates because agencies provide a more comprehensive service and incur additional costs.
Full Heart Home Care rates account for caregiver wages, training, insurance, taxes, supplies, overtime, nurse supervision and overhead costs that allow us to provide excellent service and individualized client management.
Independent Caregiver
Individual caregivers set their own hourly rates, and they are almost always lower than agency rates. However, you take on substantially more responsibility when you hire individual caregivers as outlined below.
Employment
Home Care Agency
Most home care agencies employ caregivers as W-2 employees. As such, they are responsible for paying employment taxes, managing employee income tax withholdings, maintaining employment records and complying with all labor laws.
Independent Caregiver
When you pay an independent caregiver for services, you are legally his or her employer. Therefore, you become responsible for everything that is required of any employer, which can be both costly and laborious.
Vetting
Home Care Agency
The level of scrutiny applied to hiring caregivers varies by agency, but all home care agencies in Georgia are required to perform fingerprint-based background checks.
In addition to the state requirement, Full Heart Home Care invests in the most thorough background checks allowable by law.
Independent Caregiver
Unless a caregiver comes highly recommended by someone who previously employed that person, evaluating individual caregivers is high-stakes and challenging. Additionally, it would be difficult for you, as an individual, to obtain a thorough background check.
Liability
Home Care Agency
Home care agencies are required to carry comprehensive liability and workers compensation insurance to ensure you, your property and our employees are protected.
Independent Caregiver
What if your caregiver accidentally breaks something in your home? What if your caregiver injures herself while on duty? Scenarios like these could open you up to immense liability.
Logistics
Home Care Agency
The number of variables involved in providing reliable home care services should not be underestimated, but we do our best at Full Heart Home Care to make daily operations look easy.
If your primary caregiver is not available for any reason, we have a roster of employees who can usually fill in to ensure your services – and your life – are not interrupted.
Independent Caregiver
When employing a private caregiver, you might find yourself temporarily or permanently without help when your caregiver gets sick, goes out of town, has an appointment, needs to help a sick family member, has car trouble or encounters any number of other challenges that interfere with working.
When the stars align, arrangements between families and independent caregivers can work beautifully. However, the stars rarely align in this way. Hiring individuals for home care services is often stressful, cumbersome and ultimately unsuccessful.
While not every agency is successful at providing a seamless home care experience, Full Heart Home Care has delivered top-quality care, excellent service, convenience and peace of mind to countless families, and we continually strive to exceed our clients’ highest expectations.
