Pin When it comes to caring for aging parents or spouse, there are a lot of decisions to make. One of the biggest is whether to hire a private caregiver or go through an agency. Here are some things to consider when making your decision. Making the decision to hire a caregiver for an aging parent can be difficult. There are many factors to consider, such as cost, type of care needed, and whether or not you will be able to find a qualified caregiver. This blog post will explore the pros and cons of hiring a private caregiver versus an agency caregiver. “My parents are getting older, and my sister and I want to be sure that if anything happens, they’re comfortable at home until the end.” “What are the pros and cons of hiring a private caregiver vs hiring a caregiver from an agency?” “I work full-time and have a family I can’t do it all, where can I get some help?” “I don’t live close to my parents but I need to know someone is looking out for them.” Have you or someone you know said one or more of these statements? Private caregiving has grown in popularity over the last few decades. Many family members live away from their parents. They may travel extensively for work. It’s also expensive to hire an agency caregiver and many private caregivers charge less than agencies do. But there are some downsides of private care, too. When you hire your own private caregiver, the number one thing you get is convenience. You don’t need to go through a background check or any other vetting process but this can be a double-edged sword. Many private caregivers have not been screened by a professional private caregiver agency. Bad private caregivers are everywhere and you’re taking a big risk if you don’t do your due diligence in checking that they’re certified, bonded, drug tested and trustworthy. You can expect to pay $15.00 to $25.00 per hour $300-$400 per week for full-time or for a private caregiver with an agency it may run $20.00 to $40.00 an hour depending on where you live. Live in care may run $120-$200 per day. I had a client with Alzheimer’s that was paying a little over $2000.00 per week to provide 24/7 care. Another major downside to private caregiving could be the lack of continuity or it could be a benefit to help guarantee continuity. Families should anticipate having to switch private caregivers or build a pool of caregivers to choose from. A client of mine hired a private caregiver due to the cost being less expensive but it came with many challenges. They were not certified nursing assistants for one, did not have experience with caring for Alzheimer’s patients and one day the caregiver sent her daughter instead of her because she had something to do and the daughter had never been in the home before! The family felt trapped as they needed the care and was last minute so the daughter stayed and “winged it” so to speak. Not the best-case scenario. Make sure you have in writing how to handle these types of situations. There are benefits to private caregivers such as stress relief for the family and more flexibility in scheduling. Another client of mine was cared for by private caregivers in his home until he passed away peacefully at age 93. He worked with one caregiver who helped him in all aspects of his life in the morning, allowing his mother-in-law a truly needed break. We do recommend if you do hire private caregivers and want continuity have at least 2 if not 3 caregivers the rotate to develop a rapport and get familiar with your loved one. If one of the caregivers get ill or go on vacation, the private caregiver agency will provide a replacement. Often private caregivers may be someone who already knows your loved one. This is a big benefit especially if that person may have some form of dementia. Another benefit of hiring a private caregiver is that they can do the tasks you need them to perform. Some agencies do not allow their caregivers to drive your family member somewhere. Make sure if you use an agency, you ask if they can drive your loved one and whose vehicle has to be used. If they are taking your loved one to a doctor appointment and they get into an accident what is your liability?  Private caregivers can do what you instruct them to do and you have more leeway such as with medications both set-up and administration. One drawback of private caregivers is that they often charge more, as the agency rates vary depending on location and company. Another downside to private caregiving is that it may be difficult for your loved one to get used to the private caregiver if he/she has been used to an agency you do not find yourself without a caregiver! With an agency it may be less or more expensive. What you will get with an agency is the headache of scheduling off your plate. If someone calls in sick, they are responsible for finding another caregiver to take their place. If private caregiving, you are responsible for hiring someone new, training them and ensuring they are familiar with your loved one. Hiring private caregivers is best if someone in the family wants to get involved with their loved one’s care or if you need extra help around the house. The agency also is responsible for training, background checks and drug testing, and often have a nurse connected to the case that provides supervision and oversees your case. A private caregiver may provide a lower level of care, which means they take less responsibility over the day-to-day care of your loved one. For example, hiring private care means your family member will need to be present when medications are given, and medical decisions need to be made if the … Continue reading Should I Hire a Private Caregiver, Is it Worth the Risk?