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Home » Tips for Finding a Balance Between the Cost of Home Care Services and the Help Your Dad Needs
The 2019 Genworth study on the cost of in-home care service is out. It shows that the cost of professional caregivers is increasing. For some families, it’s causing worry that home care services is no longer affordable. It can be and here’s how.
Home Care Services Don’t Have to Be Around the Clock
Genworth’s report looks at a full day of care. In many families, with siblings, family friends, and grandchildren all helping out with some of the care that’s needed, it’s unlikely you’ll need a full 24 hours of home care services each day.
If you can cook your dad breakfast before you leave and dinner after you’re done work, you’ll reduce the number of hours care is needed. If your sister can come once a week to change sheets and do the laundry, you’ve eliminated another service. It reduces the number of hours a caregiver is needed.
Don’t Assume Private is Cheaper
Some people think a private caregiver is going to be cheaper than a caregiver sent from an agency. That’s not always the case. When you hire a private caregiver, you’re responsible for employment taxes. You may need to increase insurance coverage to help if the caregiver is injured on the job. You also have to pay for background checks and drug screenings.
With an agency caregiver, all of that is paid for by the agency. The home care services agency also has insurance coverage for the caregiver that’s sent to your dad’s home. It can save money, time, and frustration. Ask an agency to lay out what they pay for when you call.
Pay Only For What Your Parents Need
Another thing to remember is that your dad may not need the full range of care services. If he only needs someone to cook meals each day, you’re not going to pay as much as you would if he needed help with bathing, dressing, medication reminders, meals, transportation, housekeeping, and toileting.
Remember That the Report Looks at 15 Years
It’s important to remember that the Genworth report looks at 15 years. In that time, the average yearly increase has been about 2 percent. It’s not that drastic an increase. The benefits of caregivers outweigh the slight increase.
Don’t let worries of money keep you from getting the help your dad needs. When others chip in and help out, you’ll find the right balance between caregivers and help from family members and friends. Call our home care services agency to arrange caregivers when you now where help is needed.
Sources: https://www.genworth.com/aging-and-you/finances/cost-of-care.html