How Do I Hire a Caregiver from an Agency?

Part One of AARP’s recent article entitled “How to Hire a Caregiver” explains that when you have a list of promising agencies, you should schedule a consultation.

It doesn’t matter if your family member is eligible for Medicare, Medicare's Home Health Compare can be a terrific tool for finding and researching home health agencies in your area.

It provides detailed information on what services they provide and how patients rate them.

Working with an agency has its pros and cons. The pluses include the following:

• Background checks. Caregivers must pass a background check.
• Experienced caregivers. Agencies are likely to have a number of caregivers who cared for other seniors with the illness or condition affecting your loved one.
• Backup care. If the primary aide is sick or doesn't work out, an agency typically can quickly find a replacement.
• Liability protection in the event that a caregiver is injured while at the home.
• No paperwork. The agency takes a fee, pays the aide and does the payroll and taxes.

Here are some of the corresponding minuses of working with an agency:

• Greater expense. You’ll pay more for an agency-provided caregiver.
• Little choice. The agency chooses the worker, and he or she may not fit well with you or your family member.
• Negotiation is limited, and individuals are generally more flexible about duties, hours and overtime than agencies.
• There are agencies that don’t permit a part-time schedule.

In addition, you can contact an experienced elder law attorney and ask for recommendations.

Reference: AARP (Sep. 27, 2021) “How to Hire a Caregiver”