These are questions we commonly receive when people inquire about our services:
DOES MEDICARE OR OTHER INSURANCE PAY FOR HOME CARE?
Unfortunately, home care is not a covered Medicare benefit. If you have a long-term care insurance policy, they may reimburse you for private-pay home care workers. The policy might refer to them as “informal care” or “homemaker services.” Check with your insurer. We are happy to provide any paperwork needed.
IS THE CAREGIVER YOUR EMPLOYEE?
Yes. According to federal law, just like a nanny, caregivers are classified as household employees. They are not contractors. As an employment agency, we are matchmakers only. We bring decades of experience vetting and working with caregivers. (Our founders have been Aging Life Care Managers in other businesses.) We also contribute our professional expertise to assess the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social needs of your loved one. You receive a list of prequalified candidates specifically matched to your needs. You, as the employer, get to choose which one(s) you want to hire.
HOW DO I PAY THE CAREGIVER?
You write a check or make a direct deposit in their bank account. Some caregivers may have a service such as Zelle or Venmo. Because the government considers in-home caregivers to be your household employees (classified as W-2 workers), you must file taxes, Social Security, etc. While the family or loved one can do that themselves, to simplify the process and ensure full compliance with federal and state labor laws, we highly recommend enlisting a reputable payroll service. We recommend Redlig Financial Services.
HOW IS THE CAREGIVER INSURED?
Disability and workers’ compensation coverage are required by law and can be obtained cost effectively through a payroll service such as Redlig Financial Services. This type of insurance protects both you and the employee from liability should an injury occur on the job. Per New York City license, Home Care Match LLC carries a bond to protect for theft in the unlikely event that it should occur.
WHAT IF MY LOVED ONE NEEDS CARE 24/7?
As you may have discovered, with labor shortages, finding full 24/7 coverage is difficult for standard home care companies. We do not have a staff turnover problem. Fully 80% of our clients have 24/7 care. We recommend scheduling two aides to work rotating shifts of three or four days on and three or four days off. With a pair of aides, this arrangement will also help you stay within the employment laws for overtime.
A note about live-in care. You may be interested in live-in care (one single caregiver who gives up their own home and lives full time at the residence), but we do not recommend it. The caregiver gets no breaks. As a result, quality of care suffers and professional boundaries become blurred.
DO YOU HAVE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF SHIFTS OR HOURS?
Our specialty is 24/7 care. We do offer shifts for less time. The minimum is a six-hour shift one day a week.
HOW DOES HOME CARE MATCH GET PAID?
Unlike standard home care agencies, we do not take money each month from the caregiver’s wages. Instead, we charge a one-time consulting fee for our recruitment and matching services. We can do this because our overhead is low. We do not need supervisors and recruiters and other administrative positions. We do not have to advertise and compete for caregivers in a tight labor market because workers love working with us and getting paid a livable wage. Unlike the high turnover rates in standard home care, where 65% to 77% of the caregiving staff leaves each year, our caregivers stay with us for years and years. We accept cash, check, credit card, or digital transfer through Venmo or Zelle for our one-time fee.
WHAT IF THE MATCH DOES NOT WORK OUT?
During the first ninety days of employment, if the match is not satisfactory, barring unreasonable or illegal reasons for dissolving the employment relationship, Home Care Match LLC will find a different match with no extra recruitment or matching fee. The original fee covers unlimited replacements through the first year.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CAREGIVING EMPLOYEE GETS SICK?
Illness happens. And you certainly don’t want your family member exposed. During the first year, the initial recruitment and consulting fee covers the cost of promptly finding a substitute. If you would like this type of support in subsequent years so you are not having to locate a last-minute replacement, you can elect to pay an additional, lower cost placement fee for our emergency substitute service.
WHAT IF MY LOVED ONE IS RESISTANT TO HOME CARE?
The loss of independence is a challenge. We have been working with people in this situation for decades and use techniques to facilitate a smooth transition. These transitions can be managed with our guidance or with the help of an experienced care manager. Our professional and caring workers eventually gain the trust of the loved one by demonstrating respect, promoting quality of life, and maintaining the client’s dignity.