The security and comfort of getting In-Home Care Services from a Premium Home Care agency.

Several Studies have shown that living out their lives at home, rather than in an assisted living center or a nursing home, is the overwhelming preference of the elderly and their adult children.

One of the greatest long-term needs of older adults and those with chronic illnesses is for In-Home Care Givers. These In-Home Care Providers are also referred to as home health aides, certified nursing assistants or In-Home Care Givers. These In-Home Personal Care Providers make it possible for people with functional limitations to remain at home in a comfortable, familiar environment. In- Home Care Givers provide a wide range of assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, grooming, assisting with ambulation or transferring, toileting, feeding and providing medication reminders. In addition, In- Home Care Givers help with what professionals call, instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as shopping, meal preparation, making medical appointments, transportation, laundry and companionship.

Family caregivers provide a wide variety of services to care recipients: administering medications and physical therapy, assisting with daily tasks, meeting with healthcare providers, coordinating treatment regimens and schedules, helping with financial and administrative aspects of medical care, health insurance and more. They can also provide emotional support for coping with disease. However, most family caregivers reach a point when they realize they need help at home. Tell-tale signs include recognizing that your loved one progressively requires constant supervision and/or assistance with everyday activities, such as bathing and dressing. Overwhelmed Family Caregivers also find that certain housekeeping routines and regular errands are accomplished with great difficulty or are left undone. It may become apparent that in order to take care of any business outside the home, more than one caregiver is required.

When a family is ready to hire home health aide services, they need to make a basic decision about the source of such In-Home assistance. i.e a choice between Hiring individual private Care giver or Hiring an In-Home Care Agency to provide the Care and all the Coordination required. This decision needs to take into consideration the type and level of help needed, the financial/tax implications, and the relative vulnerability of the person receiving the care.

Cost may be the biggest advantage of hiring a private caregiver. Agencies pay caregivers less per hour or day than private employers pay because agencies make sure that taxes are paid and other Overhead expenses are covered. However,besides Cost, there are other major differences between the two choices:

- Lack of Professional Supervision. Providing Supervision could often be difficult because of geographic distance, lack of time or resources, lack of expertise, or the close emotional bonds that often get established between the In-Home Care giver and the person receiving the care. Furthermore, families often may not have the time or the resources to do criminal background checks, or to contact references. Sometimes families are so grateful for the care provided by an In-Home Care giver, which may also make them vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation.

Twenty-Four (24/7) Hour Care Management and Supervision: A licensed Home care agency has a responsibility to provide ongoing supervision for their employees. This includes helping the In-Home caregiver to understand the changing needs of clients, assuring the proper limits of care according to the practice acts of the various levels of professionals, and mediating difficult relationship issues.

In addition Care coordinators are on call twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, to handle any care related issues that might arise. When the assigned In-Home Care giver did not show up for a shift, there is always a backup plan to replace him/her.

A State licensed Home care agency has a responsibility to conduct an extensive Background Checks on Caregivers Prior to Employment. If you hire a private caregiver directly, you are letting a stranger into your home. They may have been convicted of theft and other crimes, do not have the appropriate skill level, and frequently don’t show up when you need them due to a variety of reasons.  Safety and quality of care should always be your first priority.

- Withholding Taxes and unemployment Taxes: Any individual, who employs a private In-Home caregiver directly, will be responsible for collecting and remitting the employee’s social security and Medicare taxes, Federal income tax withholdings, and State income tax withholdings to the Appropriate Government Entities. In addition, If you employ a private In-Home caregiver directly, you will be responsible for remitting to the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Economic Security unemployment taxes. This is currently approximately about 2.70% of the first $7,000.00 of an employee’s gross wages.

- Employer Social Security and Medicare Taxes: If you employ a private caregiver directly, you will be responsible for remitting to the Internal Revenue Service the employer’s social security and Medicare taxes. This is approximately 7.65% of an employee’s gross wages and is paid by the employer in addition to the gross wages.

- Liability for Employee Job Related Injuries: If you employ a private In-Home caregiver directly you will be responsible for any job related injuries suffered by your employees. If the Job, involves a lot of Heavy lifting and if the In-Home private Caregiver is not well trained, your liability for Employee`s injury while at job will increase significantly. To protect yourself, you should contact your insurance agent to discuss the availability and cost of workmen’s compensation insurance.

Furthermore, a State licensed Home care agency carries liability Insurance and Bond coverage.

Home care counselors at American Care Partners  are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce Family caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing In-Home Care in Falls Church, Virginia.

Providing Home Care Services in Falls Church Virginia, Arlington Virginia, Fairfax Virginia, Loudoun County, Prince William County, Alexandria Virginia, Burke Virginia, Leesburg Virginia, Ashburn Virginia, Manassas Virginia, Manassas Park, Reston Virginia, Sterling Virginia, Herndon Virginia, Oakton Virginia, Dunn Loring Virginia, McLean Virginia, Great Falls Virginia, Tyson’s, Vienna Virginia.

Let us help you or your loved ones, live safe and comfortable at home!