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Wednesday, December 5, 2001 Caring for seniors always changing It's a scenario that's becoming increasingly common: senior citizens who don't need full-time nursing care, who want to stay in their own homes, but who need help with day-to-day activities such as preparing meals, doing laundry, running errands and other general household chores. Many turn to family members, but that solution usually isn't practical or reasonable, especially for working baby boomers who are raising their own children while also coping with aging parents. An increasingly popular option is to hire someone to provide the needed assistance. If you choose to do this, you can either hire an individual or contract with an agency. According to James and Sue Hoover, owners of Comfort Keepers, a McDonough company providing non-medical in-home care, you need to be aware of all that will be required of you. If you hire an individual, keep in mind that you will be responsible for payroll taxes and it's quite likely that the person will not have workers' compensation coverage. This means if they are injured in your home, you may be held liable, and chances are your homeowners insurance won't cover the claim. It's also difficult for most people to conduct a thorough background check because they don't have access to the various databases and resources that will provide the needed information. An easier, safer and, in many cases, more economical route is to work with an agency that provides the particular type of care you need. Of course, not all in-home assistance agencies are created equal. Consider these points before contracting with an agency for someone to come into your home: Are their caregivers employees or independent contractors? Many of the same drawbacks of hiring an independent contractor yourself apply if the agency uses independent contractors. Does the agency conduct a full background check on all employees, including employment history, education, criminal history including felonies and misdemeanors, credit history, driving record, personal and employer references, and drug testing? What sort of back-up system does the agency have if your primary caregiver is ill, on vacation or leaves the company? What insurance coverage do they have? Ask to see their certificate of insurance and bonding certificate, and call the insurance carriers to confirm that the coverage is in place. What professional organizations are they affiliated with? Are they members of local business groups such as the chamber of commerce and the Better Business Bureau? Confirm the company's status with each organization. Will they provide client references? Call each reference, find out exactly what services the agency provided and for how long, and ask how satisfied the client is. For more information, visit www.comfortkeepers.com or contact James and Sue Hoover at 678-583-4400.
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