.png&w=256&q=75){kind=small}
What Does an Independent Home Care Aide Offer?
Date Updated: December 9, 2024
Written by:
In the past year, Theresa has authored nearly one hundred pieces of content on senior living and healthcare, with a particular emphasis on memory care. She is dedicated to rigorous research, consistently sourcing authoritative material to bolster the credibility of her work. Her prolific writing career includes 29 children’s and teen books, 7 romance novels, and numerous short stories.
Reviewed by:
Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a health care professional, researcher, and an experienced medical writer (2000+ articles published online and several medical ebooks). She received her MD degree from “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine, Romania, and her HD diploma from OCHM – Toronto, Canada.
An independent home care aide offers in-home care services and nonmedical support to seniors and individuals requiring assistance with daily activities. Services include personal care, household chores, cooking, transportation and companionship. Independent home care aides work directly for clients and have no affiliation with any home care agencies.
What do Home Care Aides Do?
Employing the services of a home care aide can be a game changer for seniors who need some support and prefer to stay in their homes.
A client’s needs and budget determine a home care aide’s job description, but duties typically comprise nonmedical assistance around the home. Duties include personal care, light housekeeping, meal preparation, grocery shopping and transportation. Personal care involves assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing or grooming. It also includes help with using the toilet or incontinence care. Home care aides provide companionship and social interaction, and they may have to accompany the senior to doctors' appointments, visits with friends and family and other events and activities.
Pros and Cons of Hiring an Independent Home Care Aide
Independent home care aides deliver the same range of services as home care agencies but typically charge about 30% less, which translates into saving money. However, to go this route, you must be willing to take on the role of employer. This encompasses the following:
- Conducting interviews
- Doing background and reference checks
- Performing drug screenings
- Taking care of payroll expenses and taxes
- Obtaining liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance
- Monitoring the caregiver’s performance and addressing issues
Independent home care aides generally have more flexible schedules than agency caregivers, but it may be hard to find a replacement on short notice should they need time off from work.