It has become more common for seniors to continue to live at home through their retirement years than in previous generations. Aging in place is the top choice for many, with friends and family often stepping in to provide assistance with daily tasks around the house. However, as time goes on, some seniors may require more care than what their loved ones can reasonably provide. Rather than transitioning to an assisted living facility or nursing home, many are turning to the increasingly popular option of home care.

Home care provides seniors and adults with professional support in the comfort of their own homes, addressing both personal care needs and assistance with household tasks. There are many types of home care services available that cover a wide range of needs, including medical and non-medical care. If you or a loved one has decided that home care is their preferred option, it is important to assess their specific care needs and research the different home care options so you can decide which type of home care will best accommodate their unique needs.

In this guide, we will explain the various home care options available and what you can expect from each one to help you make the best choice for your loved ones.

What is Professional Home Care?

Professional home care is care provided by professional caregivers in the homes of the care recipients. Home care services are available that provide all levels of support, from skilled medical care to non-medical care and help around the home. All home care services can be categorized into either non-medical or medical home care:

• Non-medical care: Most home care services are non-medical in nature and include help with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, transferring, and other personal care and grooming tasks, as well as housekeeping, meal preparation, transportation, and companionship. Non-medical home care is typically provided by a home health aide from an agency or a homemaker.
• Medical care: Medical home care is skilled care that is performed by a licensed medical professional, such as a nurse or a physical, occupational, or speech therapist, and this type of care is prescribed by a doctor. Medical care services include wound care, dispensing medication, and physical therapy or speech therapy.

Depending on your loved one’s care needs and health condition, they may need a combination of both medical and non-medical home care.

Home Care Agencies

Home care agencies are licensed organizations that employ skilled professional caregivers who are both bonded and insured. These agencies carefully assess their clients’ unique needs to develop personalized, comprehensive care plans. They also handle all aspects of caregiver management, including salaries, scheduling, and matching clients with caregivers based on compatibility and expertise. If the initial caregiver assigned is not compatible with the care recipient, the home care agency can assign a different caregiver, and they can provide a replacement caregiver if the regular caregiver is sick or cannot make it.

Home care agencies can provide a wide range of home care services including basic home care that consists of help with activities of daily living (ADLs), transportation, and household tasks, as well as more specialized home care services such as Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Those seeking home care generally choose to work with home care agencies over independent caregivers because caregivers from an agency must complete training and pass a background check so they can be trusted in the homes of care recipients.

Independent and Freelance Caregivers

Independent and freelance caregivers are caregivers who do not work for a home care agency and instead are hired directly by the family of the care recipient. While these caregivers are generally less expensive per hour than caregivers from a home care agency, it is important to consider that many independent and freelance caregivers may lack training in elder care skills, such as CPR and how to transfer an adult in and out of bed. They are also likely to be uninsured, which can result in liability issues.

The main difference between independent caregivers and freelance caregivers is how they are classified for tax purposes. Independent caregivers are considered household employees by the IRS, meaning that the family is responsible for payroll taxes, withholdings, unemployment insurance, and other employer responsibilities. Families also set the schedule for the caregiver and determine their main responsibilities.

Freelance caregivers are considered independent contractors which means that they are responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and other business expenses. Because they are self-employed, they have more flexibility in their schedule, rates, and the clients they choose to work for, and they can work for multiple clients. Families who hire freelance caregivers must file a 1099 form with the IRS.

Choosing Between Home Care Agencies and Independent and Freelance Caregivers

Many families may be drawn to the idea of hiring an independent or freelance caregiver because of the lower cost and the increased control over the scheduling and duties of the caregiver. However, you will also be responsible for payroll and taxes which can be complex to navigate without the assistance of an accountant or lawyer. The other risk of hiring an independent or freelance caregiver is that their past and credentials may be unknown. You will have to check their credentials and perform your own background checks to ensure that they are qualified and can be trusted.

When you work with home care agencies, you can trust that every caregiver they employ is licensed, bonded, and insured, and has completed additional training and passed a background check. The agency also manages the scheduling and pays the caregivers’ salaries, which means that your family is only responsible for paying the fee for home care services.

The other major advantage of home care agencies is that they are more involved with care planning. They start their home care services with a thorough evaluation of your loved one’s needs and then work with you to create a care plan and schedule that best accommodates their needs. The home care agency will also resolve any issues with the caregiver and assign a different caregiver if necessary to ensure that your loved ones receive the best possible care.

5 Myths of Senior Home Care

There are several common misconceptions that many people believe regarding home care. It is important to understand the truth behind these myths:

Professional caregivers don’t really care about those they serve.

Professional caregivers are not only committed to providing the best possible care for their clients, but they also connect and engage with their elderly care recipients to be their companion as well as their caregiver.

Home isn’t enough for someone who needs 24/7 help.

Home care services can cover the needs of someone who requires around-the-clock care. 24-hour care services involve multiple caregivers who rotate shifts so that a caregiver is always awake in the home and ready to provide assistance 24 hours a day.

There’s no need to hire an outside caregiver if there is a family caregiver.

Caring for a family member is a demanding job and those who act as caregivers for their loved ones need time off to rest and manage their own health and personal matters. An outside caregiver can provide respite care which allows family caregivers to take time off.

Home care is unaffordable.

Families have many options when it comes to paying for home care services, including private insurance, long-term care insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and government assistance programs. Veterans who receive VA benefits can also put these benefits towards the cost of home care.

Professional caregivers may not always meet expectations.

Unfortunately, there is always a risk of misconduct when someone is responsible for the care of elderly individuals. However, such incidents are rare, and the likelihood is even lower when your loved ones receive care from a reputable home care agency.

Call Assisting Hands Home Care for Professional Home Care Services

Assisting Hands Home Care is a trusted home care agency that is committed to providing quality, compassionate home care for seniors and adults in Schaumburg, IL and the surrounding areas. You can expect our caregivers to accommodate your loved one’s unique needs while also forming a genuine personal connection with them to be their companion as well as their caregiver. Our home care services will help your loved ones maintain their independence and improve their quality of life so they can live safely and comfortably at home.

If you have any questions regarding our home care services, please, contact Assisting Hands Home Care at (847) 448-0844.