Three Reasons to Choose an In-Home Care Agency Instead of a Self-Employed Caregiver

When it comes to home care, there are certainly plenty of options for seniors. Even the term “home care” comes with a wide variety of services. Home care has been referred to as a range of assistive services, from light housekeeping and companionship, all the way to skilled nursing care provided in the home, with a doctor’s order. No wonder many seniors, and their families, are often overwhelmed and confused when it comes time to add home care to the picture.

When you do decide to pursue in-home care, the initial search stage can be overwhelming. There are in-home care agencies, as well as self-employed caregivers who provide assistance for seniors. This begs the question, why bother with a senior in-home care agency if I can arrange a self-employed private caregiver on my own? If you are considering in-home care, here are three reasons to choose an in-home care agency instead of a self-employed caregiver.

Peace of Mind Knowing Your Caregiver is Safe & Responsible
When it comes to hiring in-home care, many seniors are reluctant to open their home to a stranger. If you choose an in-home care agency, you can rest assured that the caregivers they employ are safe and qualified to provide assistance. In-home caregiver agencies have the responsibility to vet their caregivers prior to employing them. Self-employed caregivers, while they still may be safe and qualified, have only reviews from other clients. You can ask a self-employed caregiver to complete a background check, but this is often done at your own expense. In-home care agencies take care of this, and more, when it comes to hiring and training their caregivers. Agencies also can provide ongoing training and support to their caregivers, especially in a crisis situation. If you choose a caregiver who is self-employed, you have little assurance that they will be well-informed and equipped to provide care in varying circumstances. Self-employed caregivers really have little skin in the game. They aren’t evaluated, their training is left to their own due diligence, and they have little repercussion from being habitually late or canceling at the last minute.

Assurance that In-Home Care Agencies are Licensed, Bonded & Insured
In addition to knowing that caregivers employed by in-home care agencies are well-vetted, there is an assurance knowing that in-home care agencies are licensed, bonded, and insured. This means that the agencies need to meet certain governmentally regulated requirements for them to be able to provide hands-on care. This also means that they receive regular surveys by the state, so that they remain in compliance with the state’s home care regulations. In addition to be licensed, in-home care agencies are bonded and insured. This gives assurance to seniors that a trustworthy caregiver will be in their home, and not someone who will cause harm. Self-employed caregivers don’t necessarily need to meet certain licensure or regulations. Some even prefer to be paid “under-the-table.” While not all self-employed caregivers are out to make a quick buck, you just never know who you’re going to get when you choose someone at random.

Reliability and Flexibility with an In-Home Care Agency
Finally, in-home care agencies are often more reliable and flexible than a self-employed caregiver. Agencies have the benefit of having a range of caregivers on their team. They work hard to match a new client with a caregiver that shares similar traits. Should the match not be successful, the client just needs to request someone different. Had they chosen a self-employed caregiver, they would either need to try to make it work or start from the beginning. In-home care agencies offer more reliable scheduling and can work with their client’s routines. Again, because they can hire multiple caregivers who can work a variety of shifts and days, they have greater flexibility and reliability than someone who is self-employed. Should your needs change down the road, an in-home care agency can adjust the schedule with little notice. A self-employed caregiver might not be able to do so as quickly.

If you are considering in-home care, please look no further than Visiting Angels Chesterfield-Richmond. We strive to make aging in place a positive experience for our senior clients. We do this in a variety of ways, such as allowing you to keep your preferred routine and matching you with one of our highly trained, compassionate caregivers according to your preferences and personality. We also create a customized plan of care for each of our clients that we can adapt over time. All Visiting Angels senior home care agencies are bonded and insured. We regularly monitor, train, and support our caregivers so that you can have peace of mind that you are receiving quality care. Getting started is easy. Please contact us today by calling 804-423-6500.