At Home Caregiver
Care for Senior.org
a resource for family caregivers
Perhaps you live a distance from the family member you are a family caregiver to, or you the task has become more difficult or time consuming. Maybe there is a medical condition that goes beyond your area of expertise, or the day-to-day tasks of care you are providing has simply become outside your comfort level. Whatever the situation, you may find yourself in need of outside caregiver support. We provide these caregiver services to help identify your needs:
A Private Caregiver, is generally recognized as a person you hire on your own. They can work part time, full time, or be a "live-in," meaning they will live at the residence of the person in need of care. An In Home Caretaker is generally someone hired through an agency.
Private caregivers are responsible, professional companions for the elderly, new moms, or those with limited mobility. Trained and experienced, most private caregivers are qualified as nurses or certified by an agency, though some choose to be private contractors.
There is a training process wherein the caregiver needs to accumulate a certain number of hours both under supervision and independently before a state certification is granted.
A private caregiver can be on call. Some of the duties that these caregivers provide are:
- Activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, feeding, medication support, and dressing.
- Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), which include shopping, scheduling medical appointments, planning meals, and transportation.
Caregivers are wonderful companions for people who need basic medical supervision but do not want to leave their homes for another living situation.
One factor to consider is that you become the employer of the caregiver, which alters your tax information. Some agencies take care of this for you, but it is always a good idea to research how this service will impact your financial situation. However, they are also more inexpensive as opposed to nursing homes or residential settings. Based on the area of the country where you live and the type of services you seek, pay rates will be different, but on average the caregiver makes $8 to $30 an hour.
Unlike an elderly person, a senior is someone who is older but not as reliant on another person to help them with day to day tasks such as shopping, cooking, or cleaning. A senior is also someone who has the general ability to take care of themselves as it apply's to taking medicine, personal hygiene, and overall health and well-being. A Senior Caregiver may be needed provide assistance in the day to day completion of these tasks.
Medical conditions, such as falling down, depression, or more serious illness, can change the requirements of the senior caregiver. If the need exceeds that of a Senior Companion, than a Senior Caregiver may satisfy your needs. These types of caregivers are available as a visiting or live in service.
Unlike a senior citizen, an elderly person tends to be more reliant on outside help to accomplish daily tasks as it applies to household chores, cooking, and shopping.
They may also need assistance with daily hygiene and bodily functions. I some cases they may have limited ability to move around, and could need help with tasks such as going to the bathroom.
Someone looking for an Elderly Caregiver may find this to be an acceptable, and more economical alternative to visiting nurses, assisted living, continued care, nursing homes, or Home Health Aids.
Live in caregivers are an option for individuals who need on call care at all times and who need extra support until they regain independency. In this setting, caregivers usually work with another live in caregiver to split up the load. This way each caregiver gets time off and has hours scheduled for personal business, vacation time, and days off throughout the week.
Live in caregivers should expect to be provided for with room and board, and often they are reimbursed for travel costs. They typically make around $250 to $450 a day.
Cancer caregivers can be the lifeline for a cancer patient. More than any other kind of caregiver, the cancer caregiver is expected to be responsible for the majority of at home, routine medical care. Caregivers are sometimes untrained family members who have devoted their time to a relative or friend. Additionally, A cancer caregiver is especially sensitive to end of life care.
Studies have shown that this is an especially taxing situation for the caregiver, given the responsibility the caregiver has to provide, and there is always a “burnout” factor. As some cancer caregivers are family members, they may not expect to make little to any money at all. Salaries for outside family contractors are usually the same as any other caregiver’s income.
A medical caregiver has slightly different responsibilities. There is a greater emphasis on basic medical treatment. There is also some controversy about the dispensation of marijuana for medical purpose by medical caregivers, as in some states this is legal and others illegal.
The medical caregiver may be used only for a short time when an individual is recovering from surgery or extensive treatment, or they may be on bed rest.
Thus, not all medical caregivers are live in caregivers. They may also be called Home Health Aids. The typical rate for a medical caregiver varies, but falls in the same average rate.
Caregivers who specialize in Alzheimer’s face unique challenges. Alzheimer’s patients can be stubborn, scared, and confused. Communication and ADL tasks like bathing, eating, and dressing could be difficult in some cases. Caring for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients requires patience and understanding. The caregiver must be creative with planning everyday activities.
They have to be sensitive to common problems like delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia, and risks like wandering. There are independent certification organizations that will specially train the caregiver in Alzheimer’s care. Alzheimer’s caregivers can expect to make a similar salary to live in caregivers, as the lines between the two roles often blur.
Using a caregiver agency to help you find the perfect caregiver for your situation offers many advtanges, but come with additional expenses. Obiously, caregiver agencies have experience which could be a valuable resource.
They are familar with the process of hiring, screening, and doing background and credential checks. They can also help you to negotiate rates, and if you so desire, they can manage hired personal daily.
A Caregiver Service can also handle and manage all of the responsibilities associated with hiring an employee, including payroll raxes and insurance related to injuries on the job. Hiring an In Home Caregiver is hiring a full time employee, so be sure to not overlook your responsibilities as an employer.
An Agency Caregiver is significantly more likely to accept medical insurance plans or long term care plans. Rates vary in different parts of the country, but these rates are provided as a starting point:
- Private Caregiver can range between $9-$21 per hour.
- An Agency Caregiver can cost between $12-$35 per hour.
We hope you have found this information helpful and useful as you take your next steps toward providing for your loved one.
Additional Links of Interest
- The Alliance for Caregiving - The National Alliance for Caregiving is a non-profit coalition of national organizations focusing on issues of family caregiving.
- Web MD Insights for Caregivers - A getting started with caregiving guide including a worksheet to asses your indivual needs.
- The Offical US Government Site for Medicare - Medicare.gov provides information about the parts of Medicare, what's new, and how to find Medicare plans, facilities, or providers.
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This page was last updated: 5/8/2013
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-Becky Wood
