Are you sure you want to exit? Your progress will be lost.
Who are you caring for?
Which best describes their mobility?
How well are they maintaining their hygiene?
How are they managing their medications?
Does their living environment pose any safety concerns?
Fall risks, spoiled food, or other threats to wellbeing
Are they experiencing any memory loss?
Which best describes your loved one's social life?
Acknowledgment of Disclosures and Authorization
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid. We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour. APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment. You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints. Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
✔
I acknowledge and authorize
✔
I consent to the collection of my consumer health data.*
✔
I consent to the sharing of my consumer health data with qualified home care agencies.*
*If I am consenting on behalf of someone else, I have the proper authorization to do so. By clicking Get My Results, you agree to our Privacy Policy. You also consent to receive calls and texts, which may be autodialed, from us and our customer communities. Your consent is not a condition to using our service. Please visit our Terms of Use. for information about our privacy practices.
Mostly Independent
Your loved one may not require home care or assisted living services at this time. However, continue to monitor their condition for changes and consider occasional in-home care services for help as needed.
Remember, this assessment is not a substitute for professional advice.
Share a few details and we will match you to trusted home care in your area:
Are there disadvantages to hiring on our own? Would a caregiver rather be hired through an agency? What are the perks? It's just that agencies want $20 an hour! Any advice is greatly appreciated.
We started with an agency and then went private. It was very expensive, they were leaving my mom without notifying anyone, stealing her meds and even a check. Yes, they had background checks. You can have prospective employees provide their own background check and drug screen so don’t let that deter you. You can also pay them more than an agency would. Mom does and ended up with better employees. Agencies around here charged $18.00 per hour but only paid $8.00 to their employees. Like anything, there are pros and cons to both sides. Also, don’t write someone off just because they’re NOT a CNA.
Hi Molly, That's awful you experienced that! It is definitely a concern of mine as well. I have gotten quotes from agencies as low as $18 an hour but I've heard that they pay the caregiver such a low amount. I just feel you kind of get what you pay for. When you say you went private, what do you mean exactly? Hiring under the table? There's risks involved with that too. I just want to find the best care possible and make sure all is covered on a liability stand point. Thanks for your response :)
If you hire the person yourself, you become their employer, with all the responsibilities. If you know the person well, know they are qualified to provide the care, and are trustworthy and dependable, you may consider hiring that person.
An agency does a background check on all of their employees. They check for any legal problems, will check employees references, and will take care of all the employment issues. If one person doesn't work out for you, they will find someone else.
It is expensive to hire someone to care for your loved one, and most people couldn't afford it. If you can, hire the right person, so good care is provided. If you were hired to provide care for someone, how much would you expect to get paid? Compare that work with working in other jobs; I don't think $20 is too much.
Do you need someone 24 hours a day, or just for 4 hours a few days a week? If your loved one needs 24 hour care, then consider the cost of hiring that care to come into her home, with the cost of 24 hour, ATC nursing home care.
Benefits to person is living in their own home, a familiar environment.
Hi Cynthia, I agree that paying $20 an hour is a fair amount, but giving that kind of money to an agency to only receive $9-$10 hr help just doesn't seem like the best solution. Are there any companies that help you with navigating through the process of hiring a private caregiver? I just think there has to be a better way out there. The Google search continues :/ Thanks for replying, you've given me some things to think about.
Hiring a your own caregiver may save a couple of dollars an hour, but it probably will end up being more. If you hire your own, you will be responsible for taxes, social security. You will also need to pay for background check. You may also want to have them tested for tuberculosis and drug use. An agency takes care of that. In the area where I live, most independent caregivers keep track of what agencies charge and ask for the same rate per hour. You will also have to hire replacement workers or fill-ins if your privately hired caregiver is absent. An agency takes care of that for you.
Cons - Figuring out payroll deductions can be a pain, if your caregiver is sick you don't have back up, getting proper liability insurance could be a problem, you will need to do your own criminal background checks and follow up with references.
Pros - It should cost less and you get to pick out someone you like vs whoever the agency sends you.
Hi Cwillie, I guess back up would be a concern. It's just that if I went through an agency, the back up wouldn't know the routine anyway and I'd probably need to miss work in either case. Are there any private caregivers that come insured already? Thanks Cwillie.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
That's awful you experienced that! It is definitely a concern of mine as well. I have gotten quotes from agencies as low as $18 an hour but I've heard that they pay the caregiver such a low amount. I just feel you kind of get what you pay for. When you say you went private, what do you mean exactly? Hiring under the table? There's risks involved with that too. I just want to find the best care possible and make sure all is covered on a liability stand point. Thanks for your response :)
An agency does a background check on all of their employees. They check for any legal problems, will check employees references, and will take care of all the employment issues. If one person doesn't work out for you, they will find someone else.
It is expensive to hire someone to care for your loved one, and most people couldn't afford it. If you can, hire the right person, so good care is provided. If you were hired to provide care for someone, how much would you expect to get paid? Compare that work with working in other jobs; I don't think $20 is too much.
Do you need someone 24 hours a day, or just for 4 hours a few days a week? If your loved one needs 24 hour care, then consider the cost of hiring that care to come into her home, with the cost of 24 hour, ATC nursing home care.
Benefits to person is living in their own home, a familiar environment.
I agree that paying $20 an hour is a fair amount, but giving that kind of money to an agency to only receive $9-$10 hr help just doesn't seem like the best solution. Are there any companies that help you with navigating through the process of hiring a private caregiver? I just think there has to be a better way out there. The Google search continues :/ Thanks for replying, you've given me some things to think about.
Pros - It should cost less and you get to pick out someone you like vs whoever the agency sends you.
I guess back up would be a concern. It's just that if I went through an agency, the back up wouldn't know the routine anyway and I'd probably need to miss work in either case. Are there any private caregivers that come insured already? Thanks Cwillie.