My elderly parents will soon need some assistance at home.
Ideally, I'd like to start with a part-time caregiver who works a couple of hours a day.
The local caregiving agencies have staff available for a minimum of 3 hours per day. They may be willing to charge a one-client rate of $20/hour, but that's iffy, since the both parents arguably need some care. If both parents get care, that's $40/hour. With a three-hour minimum, that's $120/day, or $3360/month.
Meanwhile, a local woman with references and caregiving experience is willing to be a caregiver for both parents for 2 hours a day, for $20/hour. That's $1120/month. But she is asking for cash, and I fear problems if my parents file for Medicaid. I also fear insurance issues and tax-witholding problems.
For this reason, I am leaning toward using the local caregiving agencies, though they are more expensive.
Question: Has anyone ever privately hired a caregiver and had it be totally above-board, with taxes withheld, insurance coverage purchased, etc.? I ask this question because I'm wondering if it would be worth it to pay her an agreed rate (say, $25/hour to watch both parents) while arranging tax reporting and insurance coverage. But I'm wondering how expensive such an arrangement might be. In the end, it would likely only last a year or two, then more extensive caregiving might be needed from one of the agencies. (This private caregiver would be unwilling to work more than a couple of hours per day.)
I'm hoping that I might find a local accountant to handle the tax filings and withholding paperwork. I'm also hoping my parents' insurance company might add a caregiver as an additional insured under their home and auto policies.
Any insights or advice would be appreciated.
Ideally, I'd like to start with a part-time caregiver who works a couple of hours a day.
The local caregiving agencies have staff available for a minimum of 3 hours per day. They may be willing to charge a one-client rate of $20/hour, but that's iffy, since the both parents arguably need some care. If both parents get care, that's $40/hour. With a three-hour minimum, that's $120/day, or $3360/month.
Meanwhile, a local woman with references and caregiving experience is willing to be a caregiver for both parents for 2 hours a day, for $20/hour. That's $1120/month. But she is asking for cash, and I fear problems if my parents file for Medicaid. I also fear insurance issues and tax-witholding problems.
For this reason, I am leaning toward using the local caregiving agencies, though they are more expensive.
Question: Has anyone ever privately hired a caregiver and had it be totally above-board, with taxes withheld, insurance coverage purchased, etc.? I ask this question because I'm wondering if it would be worth it to pay her an agreed rate (say, $25/hour to watch both parents) while arranging tax reporting and insurance coverage. But I'm wondering how expensive such an arrangement might be. In the end, it would likely only last a year or two, then more extensive caregiving might be needed from one of the agencies. (This private caregiver would be unwilling to work more than a couple of hours per day.)
I'm hoping that I might find a local accountant to handle the tax filings and withholding paperwork. I'm also hoping my parents' insurance company might add a caregiver as an additional insured under their home and auto policies.
Any insights or advice would be appreciated.