Has anyone ever hired a free-lance person to help with an elderly person in the home?

samara answered on Jan 9, 2015

"Nursing homes have been around about 80 years. ....families about 15, 000 years. Everyone dies....where would YOU want to die, in a nursing home, or in someone's home like your own or your son/daughter's?"

This is some of the best way to think about this I have ever seen. I think I am going to put it on a 3×5 card and laminate it, for future reference when I'm struggling to get everything done.

Sherry1anne, "freelance" is anyone not connected to an agency (the franchise like Visiting Angels or Home Instead). There's pro /con with either route....in our experience we got better care at a lower price, more flexibility in scheduling, and the caregiver is receiving a much higher pay, because we've eliminated the middleman (the franchise). It can take a bit more "work" for you to perform background checks and tax paperwork. But you will still spend time interviewing whether it is freelance or agency. You will have issues with sick days either way. You can have stealing or abuse either way. An agency is not a guarantee of safety or availability --they might have glossy brochures and stress their background check or training, but really, the only difference is they have an advertising budget, a paid secretary/scheduler, and they pay the taxes. The really good caregivers work as freelancers, and you are free to come up with a schedule that works for all of your needs.

yes I am caregiving for my hubby steven who has ppa which is a form of dementia . its bn very hard but he only want me but im getting exhausted so now iam hiring a friend from church who is a certified aide. he does not want anyone over but my son but iam desperate so I hope and pray he does not get nasty with my new aide coming . Its so hard never knowing who he will accept He is also in depends 24/7 and need coaxing to use toilet at times.I hope this works the problem is he can get very nasty at time even screaming and yelling and curses a lot so its bn difficult and ive bn doing all the work myself. With the help of my son who has to work odd hours I wish u all the best too.

I have had a free-lance person for over a year. She is a jewel, like a member of our family. We were ripped off by an agency before. We lost $700 and clothing, furniture, even flower bulbs with the agency person. We went through Care and they offer references checking. I didn't need it with our caregiver. I knew when we met that she was the right one to help me with Mother.

We truly are an exception. We've had freelancers in out home 40 hours a week while we work. They take care of my 92-year-old FIL. He has dementia and needs help getting to the bathroom. He sleeps about half the time the caregivers are here. We hired two CNA's from the local nursing home who come in on their days off. We have a gentleman from church who comes once a week for free! I also have a friend from church and former coworker who sit w him and my husband and I each take two days off per month to be w him. Since we started this in late October we have had zero issues. Everyone is honest, they all show up on time. I know this must be the exception but there are success stories!

I used to be a free- lancer. Would never do it again. I was honest etc. I never did anything wrong. But I was mistreated by the family. Finally I quit. Who needs it?