Hiring home care aid

M5M

The time is coming when I will need some in home assistance, at first just a companion/sitter type person. I'm wondering about experiences, pros/cons, of hiring someone directly vs through an agency. Obviously there is the concern of background, theft, etc, I realize there is some protection in using a licensed agency. ....whichever, what do you do with your "valuables"?...whatever they might be, from jewelry to financial information, etc? What else?

Since this is a new venture for me, I'm interested at this point in open discussion about what can happen.....