The first step to hiring an in-home caregiver is to understand your loved one’s care needs and budget. Next, decide whether you’ll hire directly or work with an agency. Then, interview candidates, create a contract, and develop a care plan. The last step is ongoing: regularly evaluate whether and how well your loved one’s needs continue to be met, and communicate any needed changes with the caregiver.
Is home care the right fit?
Let our free assessment guide you to the best senior living options, tailored to your needs.
The first step in hiring an in-home caregiver is knowing what you’re looking for. Take stock of your loved one’s daily needs and make a detailed list of the tasks they require help with. The more specific your list is, the easier it will be to find home care that meets the need.
Home care offers opportunities for personalization, explains Lori Eberly, a consultant for A Place for Mom and former owner-operator of a home care franchise. From part-time companionship to 24/7 assistance, in-home care aides provide different services based on each family’s unique needs.
To help determine your loved one’s care needs, consider the following questions:
Knowing your loved one’s needs will also help you estimate how much in-home care will cost, which is typically charged by the hour. While rates vary from state to state, the national median cost for a nonmedical in-home caregiver is $33 per hour.[01] If you hire a home health nurse, the cost will vary depending on the nurse’s education and experience.
Agencies simplify the process by taking care of administrative tasks such as background checks, payroll, and scheduling. Families who hire a private caregiver act as the caregiver’s employer and are responsible for all hiring and management tasks.
Families often find independent caregivers through personal connections, staffing services, and private registries. Hiring an independent caregiver may give you more control over personality and schedule, but it can also add an extra level of responsibility and present some risk and liability.
Agencies take care of all caregiver hiring tasks, but if your family decides to hire a private caregiver, writing a job description will help you communicate what you’re looking for in a caregiver. Consider including the following topics and requirements in your job description:
You may want to consult a local attorney as you draft your job description to learn more about legal requirements, rules, and local or state laws.
When choosing a home care agency, it’s important to leverage your local network of trusted sources, friends, and family for referrals. Additionally, A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors can provide you with a list of local agencies that fit your loved one’s budget and care needs. You can then speak with home care agency representatives to learn more about their services, procedures, and availability.
Is home care the right fit?
Let our free assessment guide you to the best senior living options, tailored to your needs.
If your family has chosen to hire a caregiver through an agency, you may want to meet with a few agencies to get a sense of what’s available. When you meet, ask questions aimed at understanding their staff, policies, experience, and past performance. Once you settle on an agency, you’ll likely meet with a director or care coordinator who will gather information about your loved one. This may include an assessment of your loved one’s needs and their living situation to help match them with a caregiver.
If you’re hiring a caregiver directly, you’ll need to hold interviews and compare candidates. You’ll also need to verify the caregiver’s experience, certifications, and availability, as well as conduct a background check.
Before interviewing, it’s a good idea to speak to an attorney to understand laws and regulations related to fair hiring practices.
The Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) recommends asking these specific questions when interviewing an independent caregiver:[02]
In addition, you should request the following items from caregiver candidates:[03]
If you’re hiring a caregiver directly, you’ll need to write a contract and have it reviewed by an attorney. If you work with an agency, they’ll contract with the caregiver, and you’ll have a contractual agreement with the agency.
Agencies will most likely have a standard contract and other documents for you to complete and sign prior to starting service. Make sure to read all documents in their entirety. You may want to have a lawyer review these documents before you sign them.
A contract for caregiver services typically includes the following information:
The contract formalizes your agreement and defines both parties’ obligations. It should be signed by both you and the caregiver, and it should be notarized. If disputes arise, the contract can offer potential solutions, which may save you from having to go to court.
If you’re unsure about creating a contract yourself, consider hiring a local attorney to draft a contract. Legal experts may be able to provide specific suggestions to protect yourself and your loved one.
Families should also consider consulting with an accountant to learn about the tax procedures when hiring and paying an independent caregiver.
Read more:Can a Hired Caregiver Sue Your Family?
Home care questions? Get expert help
Tell us your care needs to receive personalized guidance from our advisors.
A care plan summarizes a person’s specific care needs and highlights their current services. It can help organize and prioritize caregiving activities and create clear expectations between the caregiver, the care recipient, and the family.
In many states, home care agencies are required to create a care plan, which may take place during the first meeting. The agency will provide all the necessary care plan documents, and many will write care plans in partnership with the client and their family.
Care plan requirements differ for independent caregivers depending on where your loved one lives. As the caregiver’s employer, you will be responsible for providing all necessary care plan documents. Consulting with a lawyer will help to ensure you have the correct documents.
Whether you’re working with an agency or hiring a caregiver directly, a care plan should at minimum include the following information:
Communication and trust between families and caregivers are essential to building a strong relationship. A care plan should clearly outline when and how updates will be communicated with the family and their loved one. It’s also important to make sure the care plan is updated annually or even more frequently, if your loved one’s needs change.
If your family chooses to work with a home care agency, it’s important to maintain regular communication with the caregivers and the agency. This is an important step because it helps ensure that everyone involved understands the goals and has the same information. It will also help you stay organized and keep everyone informed of any changes that occur with your loved one.
Families who hire caregivers directly conduct orientation and training themselves. As the employer, it’s essential for you to maintain regular communication with the caregiver to ensure expectations are clear and any questions are addressed.
As time goes on, your loved one’s needs will likely shift. If their care needs increase, you’ll need to revisit the care plan and ensure your caregiver is still qualified to provide the necessary care. Checking in on the care plan regularly — whether that’s annually or more often — with your caregiver or the agency can help you make sure the right services are provided and help keep your loved one safe and healthy.
It can be overwhelming to navigate available in-home caregiver options, but you’re not alone. Contact one of the Senior Living Advisors at A Place for Mom for a free consultation about your loved one’s unique care needs. These advisors can provide local solutions and personalized in-home care referrals, all at no cost to you or your family.
This article was optimized by Susanna Guzman.
Yes, in many states, qualified Medicaid recipients can use funds they receive for care to pay a family member for care services instead of hiring a caregiver through an agency or independently. However, you’ll need to check your state’s requirements to make sure you qualify.
Yes, caregiver duties may include managing household chores like cleaning, vacuuming, and doing laundry. As a flexible care option, home care can support a senior’s needs in a variety of ways.
Many families rely on Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits, and Social Security benefits — including Social Security Disability Insurance — to cover the cost of in-home care.
The Eldercare Locator is a national service that can help you find senior care. Local area agencies on aging are another resource, as are local senior centers and community centers.
A Place for Mom. (2024). Cost of long-term care and senior living.
Family Caregiver Alliance. Hiring in-home help.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
Home Care options tailored to your needs