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 have had someone living with me for the past 3 years as somewhat of a caregiver. I have lupus and Fybromyalgia and there are days when I can not function. I never know when something will happen. I live in an apartment andhave for 6 years. All the other managers knew that someone was with me and why and it was okay. Now we have a new management company who said that he has to fill out a credit report and since he is not working, they said that he has to let them know who is buying the soap, toilet tissue, toothpaste, etc. Since he does not have a job, he does get food stamps. Now, my question is..is it legal for them to ask him who pays for what. I don't think they can ask him that because that has nothing to do with adding him to the lease.
  • Is it legal for a caregiver to take funds from their patients and can you give case precedents? Also does this apply to power of attorney too?
  • Power of attorney form
  • Where can I get AZ State Certification as a Caregiver?
  • Do I need long-term care insurance?
  • 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?
  • why can`t a 73yr. old mother/caretaker of a 41yr. old adult, receive extra income besides her & his soc, sec.?
  • if I pay for a friend to bring in food and she charges a small fee for preparation -is she considered an employee and do I need to pay taxes?
  • If a single adult is injured and unable to make any decisions, will the court appoint a family member to become their guardian? If so, how is this done?

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 Department of Economic Security

Social Security Administration

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)

Area Agency on Aging

See More...