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Caregiving facts
If you are providing care to a family member on your own, here are some
caregiving facts that you should know. Facts are drawn from the National
Family Caregivers Association, the National Alliance for Caregiving, and
the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry.
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Loss of sleep as a result of caring for a seriously
ill loved one is a pervasive problem and contributes to depression.
To counteract the sleep deprivation, you can hire a caregiver or
arrange for your loved one to have a brief stay in a care facility
or with another family member. This kind of break can help you get
some much needed sleep.
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Caregivers in California for adults with brain
impairments spend an average of 81 hours per week providing care.
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Over one-quarter of the American adult population
provides care for chronically ill, disabled, or aged family members,
relatives or friends.
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Informal caregivers (unpaid family or friends of
seriously ill loved ones) who are not employees provide more care in
the home than the federal government provides in all settings
combined.
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The typical informal caregiver is a married woman in
her mid-forties to mid-fifties. She is employed full time with an
annual income of $35,000, and spends an average of 20 hours per week
on caregiving duties.
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A full two-thirds of informal caregivers, who also
work, have to decreased their work hours or take unpaid leave in
order to meet their caregiving duties.
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The cost to businesses, due to partial absenteeism
related to caregiving duties, ranges from $11 to $29 billion
annually.
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29% of women caregivers have passed up a job
promotion, training or assignment to fulfill their caregiving
duties.
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The cost to businesses to replace women caregivers,
who quit their jobs because of their caregiving responsibilities, is
estimated at $3.3 billion annually.
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The value of the services family caregivers provide
for “free” is estimated to be $257 billion per year.
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How to choose a caregiver
According to the
National Council on Aging, Inc., it’s wise to start the process
of choosing a caregiver by determining what kinds of services would be
most useful. One way to do this is to:
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Identify what the person can currently do and where
help may be needed
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Evaluate what help family members can provide
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Figure out what additional assistance is required.
When you can clarify what services are needed, it will help you find
the right solution.
You can often find caregivers by talking to friends, clergy, physicians,
hospital discharge planners, and other people who have used or are using
caregiving services. You can also turn to your local agency on aging
when choosing a caregiver.
When interviewing caregiver agencies, these are among the questions you
should ask:
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How long has the agency provided home services?
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Does the agency have a written statement of fees,
eligibility, and payment procedures?
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Is it currently a licensed agency, and is it bonded?
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Can the agency provide you with references from
people who have used its services?
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Does the agency provide a written plan of care that
explains the service to be performed, identifies the days they will
provide care, and spells out the fees? Is this plan reassessed
periodically? Is the family notified of any changes in the plan?
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Are there extra charges for travel, lunch,
supervision, or weekends and holidays?
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Is there a minimum number of hours or days of
service required?
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Is help available during evenings and weekends?
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Is there someone to contact after hours?
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How are emergencies handled?
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How does the agency recruit, screen, and train its
workers?
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Will the agency send the same employee(s) regularly?
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How does the agency respond when a caregiver calls
in sick?
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If the client is dissatisfied with the caregiver,
will the agency send someone else? If so, how soon?
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Who is the agency’s contact person for questions or
complaints?
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What is the billing process?
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Which insurance plans does this provider accept?
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Private caregivers vs. caregivers from licensed agencies
According to the
Life
Care Home Health Service Corporation, one needs to understand
all the legal and financial ramifications around the issue of using a
private caregiver or a caregiver employee from a licensed agency. Here
is what they say:
Hiring a private caregiver or contractor caregiver may seem like a less
expensive alternative, but in reality you're putting yourself and your
loved one at much greater risk than you may realize. When you hire a
caregiver privately (not through an agency) and pay the caregiver
directly, you become responsible for:
• Taxes. According to the IRS an individual employer is liable for:
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Social Security taxes
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Unemployment compensation
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Payroll taxes
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Interest on any payments owed
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Possible civil fines of up to $100,000.
• Worker's Compensation. If a private caregiver is injured while working
for you, you may be held liable for all medical expenses and disability
coverage.
• General and Professional Liabilities. Private caregivers rarely carry
general or professional liability insurance. If the caregiver fails to
perform his or her duties or injures you or a loved one, you may be held
liable.
• Bonded and Licensed Agencies. Bonding protects you from theft or
property damage. Licensed agencies are required to hire certified or
licensed caregivers to provide care. These certifications and licensures
demonstrate that caregivers have been trained to provide appropriate
care.
Special Needs pays all the taxes listed above and Worker’s Compensation
for our employees. We also fully bond and insure our caregivers, and we
provide general and professional liability insurance, theft insurance,
employment practices insurance, and other coverage.
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Other resources
Additional resources we recommend include the following groups:
Administration on Aging
T: 1-202-619-0724
AoA provides home and community based services to millions of older
persons through the programs funded under the Older American Act. Their
user-friendly web site provides a comprehensive overview of a wide
variety of topics, programs, and services related to aging.
American Association of
Retired Persons, Inc. (AARP)
T: 1-800-424-3410
AARP has issued over 600 informative pamphlets and ongoing research on
caregiving in the US. They also tackle all issues facing people over 50
years old.
California Caregivers Resource Center
CRC provides information, education, respite, care planning and support
for families and friends caring for adults with chronic, disabling
health conditions.
Children of
Aging Parents (CAPS)
T: 1-800-227-7294
This organization provides information on various caregiving services
and resources, caregiving in general, and referrals to support groups
for informal caregivers. An individual membership in CAPS costs $20 a
year. Brochures cost a nominal fee, and the group's newsletter is
published six times a year.
Family Caregivers
Alliance
T: 1-800-445-8106
FCA is a public voice for caregivers. Their pioneering programs around
information, education, research, and advocacy support and sustain the
important work of families nationwide who are caring for loved ones with
chronic disabling health conditions.
United Seniors
Health Cooperative
T: (202) 393-6222
USHC publishes meticulously researched pamphlets, books, and newsletters
on insurance matters such as Medicare HMOs, Medicare Plus Choice, etc.
Call them for a list of publications.
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