How to Hire a Caregiver

Family caregivers cannot do all things all the time. Recognizing when you need outside help is good for you, and for your loved one, too.

More than 2.4 million U.S. workers provide in-home personal and health care for older adults and people with disabilities, a labor force that has more than doubled since 2010, according to PHI, a New York-based nonprofit advocacy group that works to improve the quality of direct-care services and jobs.

A shift in long-term care from institutional settings like nursing facilities to people aging in place in their own homes and communities has fueled the growth, PHI says. The change is likely to continue as the population ages. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the 65-and-older population, which was just over 54 million in 2019, will grow to 94.7 million by 2060.

Types of Home Care Workers

Several types of paid in-home caregivers provide a range of services, everything from help around the house to skilled health care.

• Personal care aides (PCAs) are not licensed and have varying levels of experience and training. They serve as helpers and companions, providing bathing and dressing, conversation, light housekeeping, meals, and neighborhood walks. They can offer transportation to shopping and appointments, as well as pick up prescriptions.

Training requirements vary by state, and some states do not have formal standards. Expect PCA services to be an out-of-pocket expense; Medicare or private health insurance typically does not cover them.

• Home health aides (HHAs) monitor the patient’s condition, check vital signs, and assist with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom. These aides also provide companionship, do light housekeeping, and prepare meals.

HHAs must meet a federal standard of 75 hours of training, but otherwise, training and certification requirements vary by state.

The median hourly wage for PCAs and HHAs is $13.02, according to May 2020 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the most recent figures available. (The BLS combines home health and personal care aides into a single occupational category.) However, the charge for this and other in-home health services can be considerably higher in tight markets and urban areas, especially if you hire an aide through an agency that acts as a middleman.

• Licensed nursing assistants (LNAs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) observe and report changes in the patient, take vital signs, set up medical equipment, change dressings, clean catheters, monitor infections, conduct range-of-motion exercises, offer walking assistance and administer some treatments. All medical-related tasks are performed as directed by a registered nurse (RN) or nurse practitioner.

Certified nursing assistants also provide help with personal care, such as bathing, bathroom assistance, dental tasks, and feeding, as well as domestic chores like changing bed linens and serving meals.

If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care in Elk Grove, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aging Assistant today at (916) 897-4752