Hiring a caregiver for an adult is challenging at any time, but especially in the midst of a pandemic when even nursing homes are finding it difficult to hire and retain qualified nursing assistants. One route to take is to hire an agency to provide caregivers for your adult loved one.
Part One of AARP’s recent article entitled “How to Hire a Caregiver” explains that when evaluating an agency that provides caregiving and home health services, you should schedule a consultation.
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 when looking for a caregiver for your loved one:
- 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, we can provide for recommendations for agencies with whom we or our clients have worked.
Reference: AARP (Sep. 27, 2021) “How to Hire a Caregiver”
