Not all home care is created equal. To assist with understanding the differences between a professional home care agency and a registry or independent hire, Heart of the Carolinas has put together the following list of differences.

An agency provides an assessment and detailed plan of care which is developed by a qualified individual. The plan of care details a client’s needs and lists ways to meet those needs. This care plan is reviewed regularly and changes are made as deemed necessary.

A home care agency carries liability insurance. This means that if something happens for which a liability is incurred, the agency’s insurance policy will likely cover it.

Agencies provide backup for a regular caregiver when the caregiver is ill, on vacation, or has an emergency.

A home care agency takes care of carrying and covering workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance. If a worker is injured on the job, or is suddenly unable to work due to medical reasons, the agency’s policy will cover the medical bills and any incurred expenses. With a registry or an independent hire, the client would be responsible for not only the medical bills and potential disability payments, but the unemployment payments as well.

An agency provides supervision of all caregivers by a qualified individual. With a registry or a person hired independently, there is no oversight of care, opening up a client to potential financial, mental or physical abuse.

The laborious search for a qualified caregiver can be skipped. It is difficult to find a caregiver that is not only well qualified, but is a good personal match for the client as well. An agency not only checks references, performs thorough background and driving record checks, but also takes care to find the perfect caregiver match for each client, taking into account personality and common interests.

If a home caregiver is hired through a registry or simply hired independently, the client is responsible for the caregiver’s mandated payroll taxes and reporting (which oftentimes is not disclosed). Alternatively, because all caregivers from an agency are employees of the agency, all payroll taxes are paid for by the agency, along with all other necessary reporting.

For further information on the differences between a professional home care agency, such as Heart of Carolinas Home Care, and a registry or independent hire, please call 864-991-3116.