Hiring an in-home caregiver - private home care

Family caregivers cannot do all things all the time. Recognizing when you need outside help is good for you, and for your loved one, too. More than 2.9 million U.S. workers provide in-home

personal and health care for older adults and people with disabilities, a labor force that has more than doubled since 2014, according to a 2024 report by PHI, a New York–based nonprofit

advocacy group that works to improve the quality of direct-care services and jobs. A shift in long-term care from institutional settings like nursing facilities to people aging in place in

their own homes and communities has fueled the growth, PHI says. The change is likely to continue as the population ages. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the 65-and-older population,

which was just over 59.2 million in 2023, will grow to 78.3 million by 2040. TYPES OF HOME CARE WORKERS Several types of paid in-home caregivers provide a range of services, everything from

help around the house to skilled health care. PERSONAL CARE AIDES (PCAs) are not licensed and have varying levels of experience and training. They serve as helpers and companions, providing

bathing and dressing, conversation, light housekeeping, meals and neighborhood walks. They can offer transportation to shopping and appointments, as well as pick up prescriptions. Training

requirements vary by state, and some states do not have formal standards. Expect PCA services to be an out-of-pocket expense; Medicare or private health insurance typically does not cover

them. HOME HEALTH AIDES (HHAs) monitor the patient's condition, check vital signs and assist with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing and using the bathroom. These

aides also provide companionship, do light housekeeping and prepare meals. HHAs must meet a federal standard of 75 hours of training, but otherwise training and certification requirements

vary by state. The median hourly wage for PCAs and HHAs is $16.12 in 2023, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (The BLS combines home health and

personal care aides into a single occupational category.) But the charge for this and other in-home health services can be considerably higher in tight markets and urban areas, especially if

you hire an aide through an agency that acts as a middleman. LICENSED NURSING ASSISTANTS (LNAs) and CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANTS (CNAs) observe and report changes in the patient, take vital

signs, set up medical equipment, change dressings, clean catheters, monitor infections, conduct range-of-motion exercises, offer walking assistance and administer some treatments. All

medical-related tasks are performed as directed by a registered nurse (RN) or nurse practitioner. Certified nursing assistants also provide help with personal care, such as bathing, bathroom

assistance, dental tasks and feeding, as well as domestic chores like changing bed linens and serving meals. As with home health aides, federal law requires nursing assistants to get at

least 75 hours of training, but some states set higher bars. The median hourly wage is $18.16.