Home Care Agency vs. Independent Personal Attendant
Caregiver Backup for Emergencies
- Home Care Agency: We are ready and able to fill the need with one phone call.
- Independent Personal Attendant: None. Home care backup is extra stress for your family.
Bonding, Liability & Workers’ Comp. Insurance
- Home Care Agency: Our staff are bonded and insured, giving you peace of mind that if the caregiver is hurt in your home, they would not sue your homeowners insurance policy.
- Independent Personal Attendant: Usually none. It's your responsibility to investigate any insurance held by these individuals. Private individuals can sue your homeowners insurance policy if hurt on the job.
Quality Control & Supervision of Home Care Staff
- Home Care Agency:
- All cases are carefully monitored and supervised by our Geriatric Case Managers and management team.
- Random visits made regularly.
- Family members kept informed on a regular basis.
- Independent Personal Attendant: These individuals are completely independent and lack formal supervision.
Continuing Caregiver Training
- Home Care Agency: We provide continual mandatory in-service caregiver training.
- Independent Personal Attendant: These individuals may or may not continue to build upon their knowledge and skills.
Payroll, Taxes, and IRS
- Home Care Agency: We assume responsibility.
- Independent Personal Attendant: You are responsible for reporting and remitting state, federal, and FICA taxes to the proper tax authorities.
Criminal Background and Reference Checks
- Home Care Agency: Our employees are carefully screened at the time of hire with several layers of thorough background checks. Approximately 90% of applicants do not meet our high standards.
- Independent Personal Attendant: It is your responsibility to check the background of the individual.
Flexibility of Home Care Services
- Home Care Agency: Your home care service requirements will rarely stay the same. If the skill level or amount of care you require increases or decreases, we can accommodate your needs.
- Independent Personal Attendant: Skills are fixed to the particular individual, and you pay for the skills they can perform rather than the skills you need.
Experience
- Home Care Agency: Our caregivers have been delivering quality home care to satisfied clients for an average of over seven years.
- Independent Personal Attendant: Variable.
General Availability
- Home Care Agency: We can provide home care services to you and your family 24 hours/day, 365 days/year. Caregivers are available on weekends and holidays.
- Independent Personal Attendant: One person means limited days and hours. You are responsible for staffing a replacement for sudden sickness, time off, emergencies, and vacations. Employment transitions mean that you start all over again.
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