In this second part of our blog series dedicated to home care options, we’re taking the basics we shared in our first blog and going a step further to uncover some risk factors you may not be aware of. While it may seem easiest to respond to an ad in the paper posted by an individual person claiming to have years of experience, glowing references, and low rates, there are some crucial differences between hiring a caregiver privately (or through a registry) instead of through a professional home care agency, like Independence-4-Seniors.
Registry/Private Hire vs. the Home Care Agency
Although hiring a caregiver privately or through a registry may seem more affordable than a professional agency at first glance, there are hidden costs and risks associated with the private hire and registry.
- Tax Issues/Worker’s Compensation: A professional agency employs its caregivers and is responsible for all worker’s compensation and Social Security, unemployment and payroll taxes for its employees. When hiring privately or through a registry, you become the employer and are required to pay for all of those items. Additionally, with the private hire or registry model, you would be held liable for any work-related injury that occurs on the job. This can include the cost of all medical expenses and any disability payments that might become applicable.
Even if the caregiver represents himself or herself as an independent contractor, it is your responsibility to make sure this is actually the case, as oftentimes the caregiver will not meet the legal criteria as an independent contractor, in which case the tax and worker’s compensation responsibilities will be yours.
- Supervision: Unmonitored, unsupervised care means a greater chance that care providers can exert undue influence on a frail person for personal financial gain, or the possibility of emotional or physical abuse. A professional agency will provide routine supervision and care monitoring.
To help determine if a company is a registry or a professional agency, be sure to ask the company if their caregivers are employed by the company, if they cover worker’s compensation for their caregivers and if they monitor and supervise their caregivers.
When it comes to providing care for a senior loved one, it’s important to make an informed decision and choose wisely. Independence-4-Seniors is licensed and conforms to all applicable state and federal employment and tax laws. Our caregivers are trained, supervised, and background checked – so you can rest easy knowing that your loved one is safe and well cared for at all times. Call us to discuss how our Chicago senior care can best meet the needs of your family at 630-323-4665.