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

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?

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Go on care website for free. Put a request for what you want in a care person. They offer background checks--some do. I just went with a feeling and had people come over for a paid test to see if they like the person ( I tell them). I find that people want a minimum hours and prices should be upfront in your request. After care who else offers this service--anyone out there know?

What do you mean by freelance? I answered assuming it meant not connected to an agency. If freelance means get who you can one day at a time, I have no idea how that would even work.

Care website saved me. Every person was great. Just hired a person full-time because I didn't want to lose them and they now have a schedule. Nothing worse then having all of your freelancers "busy" the time you need them. Yes, I'm going to go broke but I really don't have a choice do I? Not poor enough. Mortgage payments will be the first not paid! Wife's care comes first.

I think freelance can work out. I have been a free lancer and it worked out and the people and their families liked me. I didn't steal or do anything untoward. I just cared for the person and did what I was told in a loving way. My motto for working is that I am working for the Lord, no matter what I am doing.

I got my mother's caregiver off care website They offer background checks and my lady is live in free lance. She is WONDERFUL!!! The agencies sucked bad, but free lance is my only way to go from here on out.

Also go with your gut feelings when hiring a caregiver. I almost always know when I hire someone and will regret it later, by the same token, I know when I've found a gem. (Still do a background check)

Yes, I have known many. Some I will never forget for their kindness and patience, some I would hope for no one to ever hire, but then its all about what your willing to deal with. Checking references is a MUST, there are a few treasures that are working privately, single moms, etc; and I will tell you there are some parts to love and kindness that even money just can not buy, so if you are fortunate enough to come by one of them, make sure you give them an AWESOME reference when their work is done for your family. Now be careful because I have also heard of some nightmares. Again, check the references carefully, work history, etc.

6 packs are usually one story houses in your neighborhood with a permanent wheel chair ramp up the front steps. My mom and aunt are in one, within a mile of me. I drop in, take their meds to them, take them to dr appointments, etc. Mom is on hospice, and they call and let me know when they go, so I can be there.

Try a 6-pack. 2 caretakers shared room, usually 6 residents. You pay the rent, and the caretakers take care of 6 people. You can stop by during the day, walk your mom talke with her, bring snacks for everyone talk wtih caretakers, play board games, etc......You get to go home knowing she is in a homelike enviroment with other resdients....

I've known of several situations where the private caregiver was a lifesaver. As 25yearsexp says - call referrals and check them all. That goes for agencies, too.
Carol

we are not all bad..call Refs and call them all.

Cmagnum, so sorry to hear your parents were victims of crimes. I don't think everyone has this experience, and some who use agencies have this experience, despite background checks. There are ways to get the best of either private, or agency, help and it starts with family doing a lot of oversight. Even if you have paid help they always need supervision. We have had both agency, and private--for us the dice has landed beautifully with a total angel who is a private helper. Best wishes to everyone who needs help, always supervise those caregivers especially in the first couple months!

I took care of my mom with help not associated with an agency. I also experienced the care my mom received in a nursing home during rehab. I felt my mom received a much better level of care at home. It was not easy but it was where my mom wanted to be and where I felt she was receiving the best care. You need to do what you think is best. If it doesn't work then go to plan b. Best of luck to you and your mom.

My mom and step-dad hired a free lance person to help both despite our objections and he forged over $10,000 of checks from their joint account before he was caught, tried and convicted. We have never seen a dime of that money returned. They did not learn their lesson for they hired another free lance person to help both, but she about let my mother die after 8 days of being home from rehab where my mother had made great progress. My step-sister oversees the three caregivers at home for my dad 24/7, but they are not free lance. I would never hire a free lance. Too risky.

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?

forget the nursing home... despite what others think, most nursing homes don't turn their patients every 2 hours... from my experience caring for my 92 yr. old dementia mom at home, YOU can give the care you want for your mom... hospice is a god send r , rely on their experience... we have used caregivers from home health care groups for my 2 elderly cousins, ...take the time to do your research for the person you want... you won't regret it later....

care is very good.I am a private care giver now for 26 yrs ,I work with what people can pay and where case is.$10 $12 $15 an hr is going rate here in upstate Ny..Good Luck

I hired someone off a website care. She is compassionate, trustworthy, fun and dependable. They offer background checks for their people that post on the service.
I had tried an agency before and it was a nightmare so I was very cautious. Mother's caregiver lives in with us and works 25 hours per week. My schedule is flexible, so it is sometimes much more and sometimes less, but we pay $250 + room and board. She has a 2 room apartment with bath in our home.

I use website care. All woman for my wife who has dementia. I couldn't be happier.

I did hire freelance help for my mother-in-law. We had to go through several people before we found a couple of really good ones. It wasn't easy, but it was what she could afford. I supervised very closely until I knew I could trust them. I dropped in frequently, checked the house out, saw the meals prepared. I gave them a menu of the foods she needed and liked. I set up a schedule for laundry, bathing, etc. They seemed grateful for the specific guidance. We paid by the day. One person worked 4 days and the other 3. Unfortunately, you have to interview and actually try out several people before you are satisfied. I wish you and yours the very best.

Sandra 93, great suggestion and almost exactly what we did. We never used any agencies, just compassionate people who helped us do housework, be a companion at times. At the end they even cooked all meals, etc to allow me to do nothing but lay in bed with my mom. It was wonderful, a time I will cherish for ever.

I am a nurse, I have worked with seniors for several years as a Director of Nursing in an assisted living community. Many families see their loved ones stabilize and they want to bring them home because it is very difficult to see their loved ones in a community setting. Hiring a "non-agency" caregiver might lower your cost but the risk is also higher. No caregiver agency or not comes without risk but the risk is extremely high when you higher someone privately. Hiring through an agency that is reputable gives you an opportunity to know that all background screenings have been completed without you having to figure this out or pay for it. Reputable agencies will have liability, bonds and other mandatory insurances in the event there is any injury to the employee or your loved one. If your caregiver injures themselves in your home, you can possibly be liable for the expenses of their care which just add additional expense and stress to you. If you do hire someone that does not work with an agency I would suggest possibly having multiple interviews, possibly with someone who works in the medical field so they can ask the clinical questions needed. Make sure to really call all references and that they are true professional references, not "friends" pretending to be professional references, that is very common. I would really consider the pros and cons, having your Mom in a community setting that specializes in Dementia care could be a great benefit to you and to your mother especially since she is non-ambulatory, with the additional oversight of 24 hour staffing in a quality community setting she will get the care she needs and reduce situations such as skin integrity issues and poor nutrition. There are many factors to assess. I wish you the best in whatever you decide.

Has anyone thought of hiring someone to do your
housework, laundry, cleaning, dusting to free you
to be the caretaker. Then when you have a Dr appt
maybe a volunteer for a couple of hours to free you.
They wouldn't need any medical training and would
cost less. Something to think about.

My husband. (alz) blessed w long term care (never thought we'd use) allows us to hire private so I have someone closeby LTC pays me back what I pay him. I will give him a 1099 & he pays ss & taxes himself. He was informed when hired & said he gets other 1099 so pray it all is right. Our first time doing this. oh yes, I got his name asking different people & he does this for others. I like it because he is available when I need him rather than a always certain day & time.