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

  • I reading tutor and have a student who works as a caregiver. Is it true that as of Jan. 1, 2010 she will have to be certified as a caregiver?
  • Where can I get AZ State Certification as a Caregiver?
  • I want to request a change in power of attorney from my sister to myself. My father is in a nursing home, and i do not feel my sister is capable of making good decisions for our father. Do you know what form I would fill out to request this change in Power of Attorney?
  • 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 have Durable Power of Attorney for my mother who is in a nursing home. Does this obligate me for her debts?
  • 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?
  • can i get compensated by the government for being my moms sole live in caregiver
  • My father in law, who lives in Mesa, has asked me to be his power of attorney. I live in Oregon. Can I use Arizona's form to do this, and will it be valid even though I don't live in the same state?
  • I have been taking care of my boyfriends dad 24/7 for over a year and was promised i would be paid when they were able establish Gardianship.and access his accounts what do i need to have as proof that i took care of him.

STORIES

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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

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LINKS

Arizona Office of the Attorney General

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)

Arizona Department of Economic Security

Social Security Administration

Medicare On-line

See More...