Recession leads some to the Web to help hire home care workers themselves, without an agency

BY STAFF WRITER —
The current recession has certainly provided a jumpstart to creativity, as more Americans look for ways to cut expenses, while getting the services they need. Now, some caregivers are turning to the Web to screen, hire and pay home care workers, bypassing home care agencies in hopes of saving thousands of dollars over time.

These "do-it-yourselfers" are going to Craigslist or specialized sites like caregiverneeded.com or seniority1.com to find potential home care workers. (Seniority1.com publishes a free, 15-page report: Great Caregiver Connections: New Concepts for Old Problems that you can download from their Website.)

The Web is fertile with employment screening services to review applicants. And, a number of sites have sprung up that help automate the potentially confusing — and legally important — aspects of paying payroll taxes and withholding. Still other Web sites can help provide bonding in case the home care worker you hire steals from you.

It's not for the faint of heart, and most people will want to continue to use home care agencies to screen, pay and insure their employees due to the time and detail involved. However, for those willing to take on the responsibilities of doing it themselves, there are financial rewards.

According to Sofia Amirpoor, a California-based geriatric specialist with 15 years of experience, if you are a high-tech senior or family member and have Internet access, you can accomplish many of the necessary tasks online as well as locate resources that will help you to hire and keep a good private caregiver in a way that is safe, legal and easy. If you are willing to do a bit of the leg work ahead of time, then you could potentially save many $1,000's per year on home care.

Advantages of using a home care agency

Still, there are significant advantage in working with a good home care agency. First, the time-saving advantages of hiring an in-home helper through an agency can be significant. Screening references, in addition to certification verification, criminal record checks, etc., are already completed at the time of hire.

Licensed home care agencies are also required to supervise their aides, evaluate their performances periodically by RN's, and provide ongoing in service training. So, these burdens and responsibilities lie with the agency, not you. This can reduce a lot of extra work, save time, and help alleviate some of your anxiety. Since most agencies carry liability insurance for their employees, you might find that hiring a worker yourself involves some extra homeowner's insurance costs you didn't anticipate.

To find a home care agency in Minnesota, search the GrayTimes online directory.

On the other hand, having considerably less input in the selection of your loved one's caregiver may cause additional stress and frustration. Furthermore, you can't be certain that you're getting the best possible caregiver for your loved one if you don't have a lot of input into the selection process.

While certification of nurse assistants dictates compliance with Minnesota's training requirements, a kind and caring attitude cannot be taught. So, whether you chose to hire your own home care worker or use an employee of an agency, you'll want to review this person's qualifications and interaction with your loved one personally.

(Posted August 3, 2009)