Caregivers Article


Hiring Help in the Home

Assess your needs

Do you simply need help with such daily activities as bathing, dressing and preparing meals? Or do you need medical or skilled nursing care as well? What resources do you have available to pay for such assistance?

Ask a lot of questions

Does the agency screen and train caregivers? Do caregivers undergo a criminal background check? (A certified home health aide, for example, must pass such scrutiny and cannot have certain convictions.) Does the agency handle all of the taxes and insurance? Are the agency and worker both bonded? Will Medicare, ALTCS or your private insurance cover any of the costs?

Find out your responsibilities

What taxes will you be required to pay if you hire the worker on your own?

Seek referrals from a trustworthy source

Avoid using a "help wanted" ad to hire a caregiver. You do not know the background—or motives—of those who respond. Be wary of ads seeking employment for an individual caregiver for the same reason. For lists of home care agencies and home health care agencies, contact your local Area Agency on Aging.

Consider taking some additional precautions if you do hire someone. It might be wise, for example, to move your valuables to another location for safekeeping—or at least lock them up. Unfortunately, seniors have lost many precious belongings to dishonest caregivers.


Comments:

QUESTIONS

  • Do I need long-term care insurance?
  • I have conservatorship and guardianship for my dad. I am the trustee of my dad`s trust. how do I get him out of the court system?
  • Power of attorney form
  • I am my mother's caregiver. She is 87 years old and requires me to be home 24/7. I cannot get a job because of this situation. Is there compensation for me as a caregiver through her health benefit plan, medicare or some other avenue. I am glad to be her caregiver but it has put a strain on us financially. Thank you.
  • I miss ssed my last court date and I want to know if I am able to refile for grandparents gaurdingship ship
  • if I pay for a friend to bring in food and she charges a small fee for preparation -is she considered an employee and do I need to pay taxes?
  • why can`t a 73yr. old mother/caretaker of a 41yr. old adult, receive extra income besides her & his soc, sec.?
  • My boyfriend's grandmother moved in with us about a year ago. We go on vacation in NY every year. She wants to stay here alone. Her doctor said she was no longer able to live alone.I don't want her to stay here alone:. My boyfriend is her POA and he is okay with her staying here while we are gone. My question is if anything happens to her while we are away., such as a fall, fire, break in anything really are we liable? What are the laws on this and where can I find information on my legal responsibility?
  • I live in another state, mother lives in AZ. are all POA's from state to state? Do I need to get a POA from AZ for her?
  • I need info pertaining to my rights power of attorney for my father and how to keep ex-stepmother from getting his pension.

STORIES

LegalLEARN

FIND LEGAL HELP

  • Please select your county of residence below.

    County:
     

OTHER LEGAL RESOURCES

  • State Bar of Arizona
    www.azbar.org
  • Maricopa County Bar
    www.maricopabar.org
    Referral number 602-257-4434
  • Pima County Bar
    www.pimacountybar.org
    Referral number 520-623-4625
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline
    800-799-7233
  • Bankruptcy Court Self Help Center
    866-553-0893
  • Certified Legal Document Preparer Program
    Link

ORGANIZATIONS

RELATED ARTICLES

Care Alternatives

Losing a Spouse or Parent

Compassion Fatigue

Home Care Providers Required to Provide Information

LINKS

Arizona Office of the Attorney General

Arizona Department of Economic Security

Social Security Administration

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)

Area Agency on Aging

See More...