Caregivers and credentials
Private duty caregiver
A private duty caregiver is a non-medical caregiver paid directly by the family or through an agency to provide one-on-one help at home. Services can include personal care, meals, company, and errands. The term is also used for nurses. Always ask who employs the caregiver and what the person may do.
Why it matters for your family
Private duty means paid by private funds, not by Medicare. Families may hire a caregiver directly, which can feel simpler but raises duties. A family that employs a caregiver may owe payroll taxes, workers' compensation, and backup care when the person is sick. A common mistake is assuming an independent caregiver is covered by insurance. Ask about screening, training, and who handles emergencies. An agency or care service can handle some of these tasks. Ask a tax professional or elder law attorney about employer duties before hiring directly. Written terms covering hours, tasks, pay, and notice for time off prevent many later disputes.
Source: nia.nih.gov
Read more: How to Get Started with Hiring In-Home Care
Related terms
- Home care agencyA home care agency is a company that employs or contracts caregivers and sends them to clients' homes.
- Household employer and nanny taxA household employer is a person who pays someone to work in or around their home and controls how the work is done.
- W-2 employee versus 1099 contractorA W-2 employee works under the employer's direction and has taxes withheld by the employer.
- Workers' compensation for caregiversWorkers' compensation is insurance that pays medical costs and part of lost wages when an employee is hurt at work or gets a work-related illness.
- Caregiver registryA caregiver registry is a service that lists caregivers and matches them with families.
- Private payPrivate pay means a family pays for care directly from its own money.
