A caregivers agency is a professional home care provider that screens, hires, and trains its employees to provide senior care. They also handle many of the paperwork and regulatory issues that can make hiring a caregiver difficult.
Hiring a caregiver through an agency can be more expensive than using a registry, but it offers benefits you can’t get with a private individual or website.
Benefits
Caregivers agencies are a convenient way to find caregiving services. They assess your needs and present you with a list of caregivers who can meet your specific requirements.
They usually handle all the necessary taxes and insurance, as well as on-going specialization training. They also provide backup if the primary caregiver falls sick and can send in a substitute to manage care.
Home care agencies are often a good choice for clients who need constant, around-the-clock care. However, they do have a higher cost than individual private caregivers.
The agency can also help you find supplemental services, such as assistive technology, durable medical equipment, transportation, chore services, or legal and financial consultations.
Agencies that hire caregivers are bonded and insured and follow all state and federal labor laws and regulations. They can also help you develop a caregivers policy and offer resources for employees and supervisors.
Cost
Home care agencies can be a good option for families. They often charge less than private caregivers and can help with scheduling and paperwork. They also handle payroll taxes, insurance and other costs that families may not be comfortable dealing with.
In addition, agency-based caregivers often have training and certifications. These can be a great benefit for families who want to ensure their loved one is receiving the highest quality of care possible.
Another advantage of working with a home care agency is that they can provide backup caregivers. This means if your regular caregiver can’t make it on a shift, the agency will send you another aide so you don’t have to worry about a gap in care.
Before you decide to work with a home care agency, conduct a thorough market research study. This will give you a clear picture of the average rates in your area.
Insurance
Caregiver insurance can help you pay for home care services. It may be part of your long-term care insurance policy, or it could be paid for through Medicaid or Medicare.
The cost of in-home care can be relatively low, especially if you plan ahead and get the insurance coverage that you need. But remember that many long-term care policies require that the service be provided by a licensed home care agency or another licensed provider.
Caregivers may also be able to use their life insurance policies to pay for home care. However, this is a risky move, and it’s best to discuss your options with your agent or broker before you make the decision.
CM&F’s caregiver companion malpractice insurance offers superior professional liability protection that protects you from financial loss, your license and your reputation. This program is designed to help you focus on what matters most: providing the care that is necessary for your clients.
Reputation
In the home care industry, a solid reputation is critical for keeping clients happy and caregivers engaged. A well-recognized agency will have a robust training program and use technology to help keep their staff up to speed with the latest care-related developments.
It’s also a good idea to look for an agency that makes the most out of their employees by offering them opportunities to learn new skills, enhance existing ones and advance in their career within the agency. This could include staff education programs on topics like safely transferring larger clients or COVID-19 safety protocols that caregivers need to know before entering a client’s home.
The best way to ensure that you’re on the right track is to ask questions of your potential employees in person or online. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn about a potential employer’s culture by talking to people directly. This is especially important if you’re considering working for a franchised home care agency, where standardized policies and procedures may limit your options.
