When seniors experience physical or mental changes they often need help with non-medical care. Care givers can be hired to fulfill this vital role.
There are many non-medical care services throughout the community. These service agencies employ trained care givers to help you or a loved one with any non-medical issue facing them in the home. Care givers can help with daily activities, including personal care, medication reminders, meal preparation, light housekeeping and errands.
Anyone hiring a care giver should be aware that if an agency employs the care giver, proper screening methods should be verified. This should include interviews, reference and criminal checks, as well as drug testing. Furthermore, the agency should be responsible for withholding and paying the care givers required taxes, and be fully insured with bonding, liability and worker's compensation. The agency should also guarantee coverage of care giver absences, thus decreasing the family's burden. By hiring an agency, a family also foregoes any responsibility and potential liability associated with employing “private” care givers. If a family hires care givers privately, they will be assuming these risks for themselves. Either way, a family should gather the facts and understand what services are available and the differences between them before allowing anyone to care for their loved one.
Kzenon