In Home care

Belle60

I had in home care through an agency three days a week while I was at work but our caregiver left to work somewhere else so the agency lined us with a new one after a few no shows. Anyway, it was not a good fit. Resulted in the police being called, my DH was aggressive towards her and left the house walking towards the main road. It was not good. He has never done that and I think it was the caregiver and him did not fit well. Her approach to him was much different than his last caregiver. So I am thinking of going private duty and hire my own but not even sure how to go about it.

Any recommendations on how to locate good private duty care? Has anyone used the veteran directed care services?

Victoriaredux

Private hires puts all the background checks and tax finances on you- what will you do if they call in sick ? Take vacations? 3 days a week work won't support most folks so you have to ask - why is that person free agent and not working for an agency that can give them a fuller schedule?

Can you find an adult day care center vs in home for those days?

Belle60

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/261229#Comment_261229

Haven't thought about it that way. He goes to an adult day center two days a week. I still work so I have to drive him to another city where the center is located then go to work. So I can only manage two days a week. Caring for him and working a stressful and demanding job is starting to take its toll so I have decided to retire next year. But wanted more control over the in home care.

Timmyd

I have had success with private care. The tax/finance stuff seems daunting at first, but there are lots of services that help with this for a modest fee. It is really not that complicated once you take the time to learn it.

Some of the services that connect you with private care applicants do some basic background checking such as care.com. From what I have heard from friends using services, I am not convinced the agencies background checks are are any more valuable.

There are lots of pros and cons of each approach. I believe if you are able to find the right private care person, you are going to get a higher quality experience simply because they are being compensated much better than when they work for an agency. I have heard that only 50% of what you pay the agency goes to the employee.

Belle60

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/261270#Comment_261270

Do you have an link to any of the services that help with tax/finance stuff?

Timmyd

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/261364#Comment_261364

Paying private care for a caregiver is handled the same as paying a nanny. There are lots of nanny payroll services. Poppins payroll is popular and reasonably priced. I believe it is about $50 a month, plus the employer portion of income tax social security etc, which is generally about 10% of the wages you are paying.

For example, if your caregiver is working 60 hours a month at $20/hour.

$1200 - monthly cost of wages

$50 - monthly cost of payroll service company (this the fee for making it simple/convenient to pay employee and handle taxes legally).

$120 - monthly cost of employer taxes.

https://www.poppinspayroll.com/

Jgirl57

could you hire someone to drive him to/from the day care the other 3 days? Or a transport service?

tboard

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/261230#Comment_261230

I ended up retiring before I was ready to care for DH. The way I look at it I am saving $120K a year in memory care costs. When I look at it that way it almost feels like a job. :) Good luck. None of this is easy and help is very hard to find.

Victoriaredux

A pure placement agency makes their money off the placement and not the on going service . Ask WHEN was the last background check done on this person - what kind of check? Criminal, prior employers - WHO? Financial? Do they live with criminals?

An in home caregiver is alone with your financial papers and can make copies with their camera . Some of these folks are masters at how to scam . And smarter about probate then a few lawyers I know - fake checks, post dated checks to try for a final post death score, fake notarized documents, new trusts drawn up,using your address as a mail drop - its their profession after all. Sadly that type can provide the best
"care" because their eye is on the money.

At least with an agency as the employer you can sue them if you uncover a scam.

Belle60

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/261369#Comment_261369

Thank you!