Caring for an elderly or disabled relative can be rewarding, but it can also be time-consuming and exhausting. More than 50 million people in the U.S. are caregivers, according to Guardian Life Insurance, and nearly two-thirds of those individuals have a full- or part-time job. If you need extra assistance with caring for a relative, a caregiving professional can help.
Before you hire someone, determine what kind of care your loved one needs. If he or she is mostly independent and primarily needs assistance with shopping and running errands, consider hiring a companion caregiver. While formal training isn’t required, some agencies require that the companions they employ have a high school diploma.
If your loved one needs help with basic hygiene tasks, such as bathing and using the bathroom, you may need a personal care aide. Standards for PCAs vary by state, with some states requiring up to 100 hours of training. You can find your own state’s PCA requirements here.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
A home health aide performs simple medical tasks, such as taking blood pressure. A home health aide may also report on your loved one’s medical condition to a health care professional. Requirements for home health aides vary by state. You can check your state’s rules here.
A certified nursing assistant can perform some medical procedures, such as wound care and emptying catheter bags. Check your state’s CNA certification requirements here.
Once you determine what kind of caregiver your loved one needs, the next decision is whether you want to hire one independently or through a home health care agency. Start by asking your loved one’s doctor for recommendations or resources. Friends and family members who have hired a caregiver may also be able to provide a reference.
If you decide to place an ad on a job search site, specify the needed skills, experience and hours. Ask candidates for their caregiver certifications and for two references from former employers. If your loved one needs to be driven to doctors’ appointments, ask to see job candidates’ driver’s licenses.
Once you’ve selected a caregiver, you’ll need to negotiate an hourly wage. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for a home health care aide in 2023 was $16.12 an hour, but depending on your loved one’s needs and the cost of living in your area, you may have to pay a much higher hourly wage.
Using a home health care agency
Hiring a caregiver through a home health care agency will cost up to 30% more than hiring one on your own, but an agency will vet caregivers and manage the administrative responsibilities, says Linda Abbit, a caregiving expert and author of The Conscious Caregiver. An agency can provide a backup if your caregiver is unavailable, too.
Paying for home health care
If your loved one has long-term-care insurance, it may cover caregiving costs. Similarly, if your loved one has a life insurance policy or annuity with a long-term-care component, you may be able to use those funds. Medicaid covers some home health care for low-income seniors; eligibility and services covered vary by state. Go here for details on your state.
Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly, trustworthy source of advice and guidance. Subscribe to help you make more money and keep more of the money you make here.
Related content
-
I'm want to give my 3 grandkids $5K each for Christmas.You're comfortably retired and want to give your grandkids a big Christmas check, but their parents are worried they might spend it all. We ask the pros for help.
-
If You're Not Doing Roth Conversions, You Need to Read ThisRoth conversions and other Roth strategies can be complex, but don't dismiss these tax planning tools outright. They could really work for you and your heirs.
-
Could Traditional Retirement Expectations Be Killing Us?A retirement psychologist makes the case: A fulfilling retirement begins with a blueprint for living, rather than simply the accumulation of a large nest egg.
-
I'm Retired and Want to Give My 3 Grandkids $5,000 Each for Christmas, But Their Parents Don't Want Them to Spend It All.
You're comfortably retired and want to give your grandkids a big Christmas check, but their parents are worried they might spend it all. We ask the pros for help.
-
I'm a Financial Planner: If You're Not Doing Roth Conversions, You Need to Read This
Roth conversions and other Roth strategies can be complex, but don't dismiss these tax planning tools outright. They could really work for you and your heirs.
-
Could Traditional Retirement Expectations Be Killing Us? A Retirement Psychologist Makes the Case
A retirement psychologist makes the case: A fulfilling retirement begins with a blueprint for living, rather than simply the accumulation of a large nest egg.
-
I'm a Financial Adviser: This Is How You Can Adapt to Social Security UncertaintyRather than letting the unknowns make you anxious, focus on building a flexible income strategy that can adapt to possible future Social Security changes.
-
The Stoic Retirement: Ancient Wisdom for Today’s Biggest Life TransitionA "Stoic retirement" doesn't mean depriving yourself. It's a character-based approach to life and aging that can bring calm and clarity.
-
My Teen Crashed His Car and Now Our Insurance Has Tripled. What Now?Dealing with the costly aftermath of a teen car accident is stressful. Here are your options for navigating it.
-
11 Outrageous Ways To Spend Money in RetirementWhether you have excess cash to spend or want to pretend, here’s a look at 11 ridiculous ways retirees can splurge.
-
My First $1 Million: Retired In-House Corporate Lawyer, 74, MidwestEver wonder how someone who's made a million dollars or more did it? Kiplinger's My First $1 Million series uncovers the answers.
