HOW DO I CHOOSE A HOME HEALTH CARE PROVIDER?
WHAT INFORMATION SHOULD I OBTAIN ABOUT THE AGENCY?
When someone is in need of care at home, a major consideration is choosing the caregiver.
There should be an awareness of the availability and differences
of caregivers from a Home Health Agency* versus those from a Private Employment Agency (Registry).
In a Home Health Agency*, (licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health), the caregivers are actual employees
of the agency and are accountable to the client and employer.
Criminal background checks are done on all CNAs, HHAs, NAs, Companions, hourly and live-in. They are recruited,
screened, interviewed, orientated, receive OSHA training and are supervised by the agency. The agency withholds the
appropriate taxes, pays the bonding, provides liability coverage and Worker’s Compensation benefits should an on-the-job injury occur.
This protects the client from vulnerability or liability exposure.
The agency is responsible for scheduling employees to meet the client’s satisfaction.
The agency provides initial professional nursing assessment to establish a care plan and periodic
nursing visits to proactively monitor the client’s condition. Nurses and scheduling staff are
available during office hours, and are on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, to handle emergencies.
Payment is simplified for the client as the agency bills the client (or responsible party) directly.
The caregivers receive paychecks from the agency.
Home health services provided by a Home Health Agency are a tax-deductible medical expense.
Please consult your accountant for additional information on qualifying conditions.
A Private Employment Agency (Registry) is exactly that. Caregivers register with an office which refers them directly to clients.
The caregiver is not an employee of the registry, but is usually an independent contractor.
This makes the caregiver and/or client responsible for the caregiver’s income/payroll taxes, liability coverage, etc.
The caregiver, as an independent contractor, is accountable to him/herself; the registry cannot, by law, monitor his or her performance.
The client usually must pay both the employee and a fee to the registry for services provided.
*A-Abiding CARE, Inc. is a Home Health Agency licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health
(IDPH).
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