--- title: "How to Get Started with Hiring In-Home Care | HomeCare.com" description: "Learn how to hire a caregiver by finding a home care provider, preparing for a home care assessment, and knowing the right questions to ask when interviewing." url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/home-care-resources/hiring-in-home-care/ publisher: HomeCare.com phone: 800-974-3458 start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com --- Home care resources # How to Get Started with Hiring In-Home Care Published February 5, 20173 min readBy HomeCare.com ![How to Get Started with Hiring In-Home Care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/_astro/703ed27edd730eac79839dd92f5f40b5-hiring-in-home-care.BxC4nWUd_1a5hVn.webp) On this page 1. What is Home Care? 2. How do I know which home care services I need? 3. Assessment Questions: 4. Financial Considerations: 5. Final Steps: Questions about care for your family? [800-974-3458](tel:+18009743458) Per a 2012 Aging in Place survey conducted by AARP, it concluded that close to 90% of seniors would prefer to live at home instead of a nursing home. As one begins to age, physical and environmental changes may affect their ability to safely live at home. The good news is, there are options for seniors, and we will walk through the process of hiring a caregiver and starting services at home. ## What is Home Care? Private Duty Home Care usually includes a combination of companion and personal care. These services are provided by a caregiver and may include meal preparation, light housekeeping, bathing, dressing, transportation, incontinence care, companionship, and medication reminders. There are two types of licensing you should expect from a caregiver: a HHA (Home Health Aide) or CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant). The choice between a HHA and a CNA will depend on your state and the required licensing. [Learn more about home care services](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/family-resources/what-is-home-care/) ## How do I know which home care services I need? Many home care companies will [conduct an assessment with the family](https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com) to determine needs, hours, and level of care. These assessments can range from 30 to 90 minutes. ## Assessment Questions: - Basic Information - age of client, weight, height, address - Needs - physical impairments, mobility, cognitive impairments, additional health concerns - Care Service - personal care needs or companion care needs - Additional - transportation, schedule, language, pets - Financial - how will payments be made HomeCare.com does not conduct assessments, but it can refer a family to a local geriatric care manager who can provide an assessment. Once an assessment is conducted, the care manager will determine the schedule and services for the client. The next step is for the caregiver to be introduced to the family. Many companies will send only one caregiver. HomeCare.com empowers a family to interview multiple caregivers and find the perfect match. Sample questions to ask the caregiver: - What is your background and can you provide detailed information so I can follow up? - Can you provide documentation of your license, TB testing, immunizations, etc.? - What is your experience as a home care provider? - What are your expectations: days, hours, schedule? - Do you have a driver’s license and a clean driving record? - How do you handle people who are behaviorally challenging? - Do you have other jobs that may affect you arriving on time or require you to leave early? - Do you like to cook? - What type of diagnosis’s have you cared for in the past? - Are you comfortable with pets or smoke? - I would like to receive updates on my parent’s care, would you be willing to email, text, or call me? - Do you have any questions for me? ## Financial Considerations: Medicare will not pay for private duty home care. Long term care insurance and VA benefits may cover, but it depends on your policy and your needs. Most families are paying through private funds. Payments are made on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly schedule. Note, many companies will charge time and half for the holidays. You may elect to pay a caregiver time and a half in certain circumstances, but that is your decision. ## Final Steps: Once a caregiver has been chosen and the family and caregiver/agency agree to a schedule, services, and fee, you are ready to begin. Most companies have a customer service team that will handle any issues that may arise (if you need to change the schedule or may need a replacement caregiver). Hiring help at home can ease the burden on the family. The goal is to allow the caregiver to provide the personal and companion care the senior needs. Finally, the more research you do and the more questions you ask, the better prepared you will be to choose the right caregiver for your family. This article was first published on HomeCare.com on February 5, 2017. Program rules and costs change; see our [current cost data](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/cost-of-home-care/) and [guides](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/) for up-to-date figures. ## Terms in this article - [Certified nursing assistant (CNA)](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/certified-nursing-assistant/) - [Home health aide (HHA)](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-health-aide/) - [Aging in place](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/aging-in-place/) - [Companion care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/companion-care/) - [Personal care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/personal-care/) - [Incontinence](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/incontinence/) - [Nursing home](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/nursing-home/) - [Home care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-care/) - [Dressing](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/dressing/) - [Bathing](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/bathing/) ## Keep reading - [**What is Home Care? How to Benefit from These Services?**What does a caregiver do? What are normal home care services? Explore senior home care and how it works. Learn the difference between home care agencies and...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/family-resources/what-is-home-care/) - [**Home Care Agency, Registry or Private Caregiver: Who Employs Whom and Who Is Liable**The three models differ mainly in who employs the caregiver. With an agency, the caregiver usually works for the agency. With a registry, you usually hire...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/agency-vs-registry-vs-private-caregiver/) - [**What 24-Hour and Live-In Home Care Really Cost**At the national median of $35 an hour, round-the-clock care by shifts works out to an estimated $840 a day, $5,880 a week and about $25,550 a month. Live-in...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/24-hour-and-live-in-care-cost/) - [**Companion Care vs Personal Care: What Each Level Does and Does Not Do**Companion care gives company, light housekeeping, meals, rides and reminders. Personal care adds hands-on help with bathing, toileting, dressing and moving...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/companion-care-vs-personal-care/) - [**Dementia Care at Home: A Stage-by-Stage Plan for Families**Dementia care at home can work for years if the level of care rises with each stage. Early stage often needs reminders and check-ins. Middle stage needs...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/dementia-care-at-home/) - [**Can a Family Member Get Paid to Be a Caregiver? A State-by-State Guide**Yes, sometimes. Medicaid programs in several states let a person choose a relative as a paid caregiver, though spouses are often excluded or limited. The VA...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/get-paid-to-care-for-a-family-member/) ## Talk to a care advisor today. Free consultation. No minimums, no contracts. [800-974-3458](tel:+18009743458) [Call a care advisor](tel:+18009743458)[Find a caregiver online](https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com) ![A caregiver and an older woman looking at a tablet together](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/_astro/personal-hero.DqUYygP8_1Sv1FH.webp)