Caregiver Option - Direct Hire

Article submitted by Philip Senff, Comfort Keepers.
For more information, he can be reached at 602-441-4256, or by e-mail: info@595.comfortkeepers.com.

Make Sure You Understand Your Caregiver Could Cost you BIG.

How can this be you ask? Well let's look at what an Agency does and pays in order to place that Caregiver in your home.

Most people think that if they hire the caregiver direct that they can cut the rate per hour that they have to pay out, but as many have found out that is not really true. More and more people have found that hiring that person without going through an Agency has cost them a great deal more then they thought and sometimes it can cost them everything they have worked all of there lives to save and build.

A good Agency does an extensive background check. This should include checking SSN, credit, driving record, references and criminal. The criminal check should use the SSN report to check all of the places the potential Caregiver has lived for at least the last 7 years. If the Agency does not do these checks, they are adding an un-necessary risk to you. As you look for a caregiver you should do these checks yourself to eliminate any risks for yourself.

After the Caregiver passes these background checks and is hired by the Agency the protection of the Agency kicks in. The Caregiver is insured, bonded and all of the necessary payroll functions are handled, and this is where you could lose everything if you try to hire the Caregiver direct.

Most people do not know that the Government is very strict about how and who pays someone a wage. If you are paying a person a regular wage, even if it's only for a few hours a couple times a week, you should do all of the things that an employer is required to do including withholding all the taxes, Federal Income tax, Social Security, Medicare and State Income tax. You will also have to pay the employer side of these taxes. You would also be required to pay Workers Compensation Coverage and both Federal and State unemployment tax. You will also need to make sure, that your home owners insurance policy will cover any potential problems that might come up. Most of them will not.

Where this can hurt you is, if the caregiver you hire direct happens to get hurt while they are working for you, you ARE responsible for all of their medical bills, and their lost wages until they can get back to work. Using an Agency will eliminate all these problems. You should ask a potential agency if they cover all of these things.

Also you should watch out for Agencies, that don't really hire the caregivers themselves. They are hired as Independent Contractors. If the Agency you are thinking of does this, they are not protecting you. Always use an Agency that does the most extensive background checks, hires the Caregiver on their payroll, and includes Workers Compensation, bonding and has good liability insurance.

With an Agency that provides all of the protection, the price is really cheaper than you think.