Once the decision has been made to hire a caregiver for you or your loved one, the next step is to figure out the best way to find a compatible caregiver.
There are basically two options for at home care, to analyze and compare, to see which one sounds right for you.
The two main choices are:
- Home Care Agency
- Private caregiver
Home Care Agency Ottawa
A professional home care agency is a licensed business that will have a team of caregivers in their employ, and they then match these caregivers with seniors seeking their services.
Private Caregiver
A private caregiver on the other hand, operates independently. Private caregivers don’t necessarily have to have gone through professional training to offer their services.
For this reason, it is very important to thoroughly vet all caregiver candidates before making a commitment.
Compare and Contrast: Home Care Agency vs Private Caregiver
There are several elements to examine to make a knowledgeable decision about the best method for finding the right caregiver.
Some factors to think about, may include:
- Hiring and firing
- Legal considerations
- Home care quality
- Dynamic care needs
Hiring and Firing
Finding a compatible caregiver can be a demanding task, which can take a significant amount of time and resources.
Home Care Agency
Being matched with a suitable caregiver is quite a simple process when going through a distinguished home care agency.
You will meet a care manager for an initial consultation to determine your preferences and which home care services will be most beneficial for you.
If the caregiver turns out to be unsuitable, you don’t have to worry about finding a replacement, that will be handled by the agency.
Private Caregiver
If you are looking for a private caregiver, you will be placing advertisements, conducting interviews, and doing your own background checks.
If the caregiver you hire turns out to be incompatible, then it is your responsibility to fire that person and then find a replacement.
This were legal complications can arise.
Legal Considerations
This may be one of the most impactful factors to contemplate before employing the services of a caregiver.
Home Care Agency
There are very few legal implications when using a professional home care agency to hire a caregiver.
The agency is completely responsible for dealing with any legal problems that arise (on behalf of the caregiver), as well as for all payments and tax considerations.
Private Caregiver
If you are hiring a caregiver privately, then there are all kinds of legal ramifications to think about.
First of all, you will be required to take on the responsibilities of an employer.
These responsibilities include:
- Handling ongoing remittances for the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency)
- CPP (Canada Pension Plan) deductions
- EI (Employment Insurance) deductions
- Workers compensation premiums
- Stat holiday pay
- Overtime pay
- Vacation pay
- Calculating and paying relevant income taxes
All actions must be in agreement with provincial labor laws.
If an unsuitable caregiver must be let go, you are responsible for severance pay and potential wrongful dismissal claims.
Home Care Quality
You want to make sure you get the most out of your home care services, and you probably don’t want to make any unnecessary concessions on quality.
Home Care Agency
Going through a home care agency, will mean having to do less quality assurance for caregivers or the services they provide.
A longstanding and well-known home care agency will have standards in place to hire the most qualified and experienced caregivers.
An agency will also most likely offer a much more diverse range of home care services.
Private Caregiver
Private caregivers can certainly offer high quality services as well, but that will be up to you decide.
If for some reason, the quality of service is not there, then you will have to go through the entire hiring process again, rather than just requesting a replacement from an agency.
Dynamic Care Needs
As you can probably imagine, home care needs can change in the blink of an eye. Unexpected illness or injury can ramp up your home care requirements in a hurry.
Home Care Agency
A home care agency will be able to handle any requests for additional care promptly and efficiently.
An agency will have a long list of caregivers at their disposal for specialized needs (including nurse care), or increased care hours.
Private Caregiver
If your home care situation changes, your request for additional care will be entirely dependant on the caregiver you hired.
If that caregiver has a full schedule or other commitments, then you may be out of luck for extra care.
Is the caregiver you hired medically trained to offer nurse care services?
If not, you may find yourself scrambling for a replacement during a time when home care is needed most.
