Finding a caregiver for a loved one can be stressful. There are several different types of caregivers to choose from that all provide different levels of care at different price points. Today we are going to be talking about the many types of caregivers and the differences between the types of care they provide. We’ll begin with the 5 types of in-home caregivers before moving on to the other 5 types of caregivers. Now let’s move on to the rest of the show.

 

Before we jump into the types of caregivers, let’s briefly talk about what a caregiver is. Hopkins Medicine tells us, in simple terms, a caregiver is a person who tends to the needs or concerns of a person with short- or long-term limitations due to illness, injury or disability. The term “family caregiver” describes individuals who care for members of their family of origin, but also refers to those who care for their family of choice. This could be members of their congregation, neighbors, or close friends. Family caregivers play a significant role in health care, as they are often the main source of valuable information about the patient.

 

Most people will either be caregivers or need care at some point in their lives, and oftentimes they will experience both sides. According to Family Caregiver Alliance, family caregivers, particularly women, provide over 75% of caregiving support in the United States. In 2007, the estimated economic value of family caregivers’ unpaid contributions was at least $375 billion dollars, which is how much it would cost to replace that care with paid services.

 

Family Caregiver Alliance says that caregivers tackle a wide range of tasks. They may do household chores like buy groceries, cook, clean the house, and do laundry. They may also help with personal care, like helping a family member get dressed, take a shower, and take medicine. They can provide medical-related assistance, like helping transfer someone in and out of bed, help with physical therapy, injections, feeding tubes, and other medical procedures. They can also help a loved one make medical appointments and drive to the doctor and drugstore. Many caregivers are the go-between for their loved one and are the ones that talk with the doctors, care managers, and others to understand what needs to be done. They also spend time at work handling a crisis or making plans to help a family member who is sick and is often the designated “on-call” family member for problems.

 

Now that we’ve had a refresher on what a caregiver is and the importance of a caregiver, let’s move on to the types of caregivers.

 

There are 5 types of in-home caregivers: family caregivers, informal caregivers, independent caregivers, private duty caregivers, and professional caregivers. Each of these types provide in-home care, but the way they provide care differs.

 

Caregiving can be expensive and many families are more comfortable doing at least a portion of the caregiving their loved one needs themselves. According to Jevs Care at Home, family caregivers are usually unpaid family members who take care of a spouse or loved one. These caregivers are almost always related to the person receiving care in some way. We are often asked if it is possible to have some of your caregiving expenses reimbursed and it is, but on average, about 21% of all caregivers work is unpaid.

 

That said, you may become a paid family caregiver by working with a home care agency. You may also find local resources to help with the cost of caregiving. According to Family Caregiver Alliance, sometimes, caregiving families may obtain financial relief for specific purposes, such as for respite care or to purchase goods and services, and in some cases, pay for caregiving. In some states, there are programs that pay family members to provide care to those receiving Medicaid and in very few states there are programs available to those who do not qualify for Medicaid. It is important to note, however, that these programs vary widely, often with complicated criteria for eligibility.

 

The second type of in-home caregivers are informal caregivers. According to Jevs Care at Home, informal caregivers provide similar services to those of family caregivers, but in most cases, they aren’t related to the person receiving care. Usually, these caregivers have some connection or relation to their clients, which is helpful for creating the companionship many seniors seek.

 

According to Family Caregiver Alliance, about 44 million Americans provide 37 billion hours of unpaid, “informal” care each year for adult family members and friends with chronic illnesses or conditions that prevent them from handling daily activities such as bathing, managing medications, or preparing meals on their own.

 

Many people act as informal caregivers without even realizing that’s what they are doing. Neighbors, friends, and family members provide informal care through tasks like meal prep, transportation to appointments, and errand assistance. They may see these tasks as just helping out when they are really providing care.

 

The third type of in-home caregiver is an independent caregiver. According to Jevs Care at Home, an independent caregiver gets hired directly by the person’s family needing care and is not affiliated with a home care company. They provide all of the necessary caregiving services and work with the family to determine their loved one’s care needs. This also means there are higher risks and liabilities when choosing this route.

 

Independent caregivers can often be 30 to 40 percent cheaper than a home care company and have fewer restrictions than a professional caregiver does. Paying for Senior Care says that as of 2019 if an independent caregiver is paid more than $2,100 per year, they are considered a household employee, and not an independent contractor. Thus, the family hiring the independent caregiver takes on all the responsibilities of being an employer, which includes payroll and taxes and all other requirements.

 

As the employer, you would write a job description for a potential independent caregiver that covers the level of care and all care tasks they will be expected to perform. Paying for Senior Care suggests listing tasks such as driving or accompanying the senior to and from appointments, running errands, providing supervision and companionship, managing medication, assisting with bathing and grooming, preparing meals, and housecleaning.

 

The personal qualities one is seeking in a caregiver should also be covered, such as a patient individual with a cheerful, upbeat personality. Independent caregivers can provide medical care, but they often only provide personal care.

 

The fourth in-home caregiver, a private duty caregiver, is similar to an independent caregiver. According to Jevs Care at Home, Private Duty Caregivers typically work for a home care company or independently and alleviate the difficulties of everyday life for a senior to allow them to continue living independently in their home. Depending on their level of training, a private duty caregiver is able to provide medical, nursing, cleaning, personal, domestic, and transportation services.

 

The last type of in-home caregiver is a professional caregiver. According to Jevs Care at Home, professional caregivers are career caregivers, so their primary occupation is caregiving. These caregivers work with a care recipient either in their home or in a facility to ensure they receive proper care. Professional caregivers work for professional home care companies, so they are typically assigned when you hire the company. They provide everything from homemaker services to medical care if necessary.

 

Professional caregivers work through licensed companies and oftentimes provide more care than the other four types of in-home caregivers. Because of this, a professional caregiver costs more than other caregivers do, roughly 30 to 40 percent more. Using a home care company means that you would not have to take responsibility as the employer like you would for an independent caregiver.

 

Now that we’ve covered in-home caregivers, let’s move on to the other types of caregivers you should know.

 

Hospice caregivers are up first on our list. Hospice caregivers can provide care both at home and in a facility. Hospice caregivers can be family members or professional caregivers. According to the National Institute on Aging, hospice care focuses on the care, comfort, and quality of life of a person with a serious illness who is approaching the end of life. A hospice caregiver provides the necessary care for your loved one, while also making sure they are as comfortable as they can be.

 

A hospice caregiver is often part of a team. Compassus says that the hospice team arranges for the delivery of medical equipment and medications. They work with you on a schedule for visits from nurses, therapists, chaplains, social workers, and volunteers. The schedule adapts to your needs.

 

According to Compassus, the responsibilities of a hospice caregiver include helping patients with the activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, feeding, and going to the bathroom. Ensuring your loved one has their prescriptions and that all medicines are given at the correct dose and time. Hospice nurses and aides can also teach proper techniques and provide basic medical care, including changing dressing, taking temperatures, and blood pressure readings. Hospice caregivers also understand how to use medical equipment, which may include oxygen machines, wheelchairs, lifts, and hospital beds. However, depending on the hospice provider and even state that you reside in – most hospice caregiver’s will visit 1-2 times a week and for a short duration of time. Many times, for families receiving hospice at home the hospice provider will recommend hiring a home care company to help with a loved one’s care needs.

 

If your loved one is receiving hospice care at home and needs to be transferred to a facility for pain management or any other reason, the hospice team will schedule transportation to the facility and will continue to provide care for your loved one and your family.

 

There may be times when your loved one is home alone and needs care and it may be unsafe for a caregiver to come to the home or a caregiver may be unable to visit. According to Jevs Care at Home, that’s where virtual caregivers come in. By using a tablet or other type of screen, caregivers interact with their clients through Skype or another form of video call to ensure their health is monitored. This type of caregiving should be supplemental to in-home caregiving but still, help in caregiving like with medication reminders or health screenings. It’s also helpful for companionship.

 

There are also technologies available that allow a virtual caregiver system to monitor your loved one in their home, like Addison Care. According to Addison Care, Addison, the virtual caregiver, is a state-of-the-art, 3D animated, connected caregiver designed to transform a residence into a digital Smart Health Home, providing chronic care management, rehabilitation, aging in place, behavioral health, and care coordination, for patients of all ages.

 

With a virtual caregiver system, you can connect devices, such as glucose monitors, blood pressure cuffs, and thermometers. The system can send alerts to you and your loved one and provides 24/7 support. Similar to life alert, if your loved one falls, a virtual caregiver system will notify emergency services. Virtual caregiving, even a system such as Addison Care, should still only be used as supplemental care and should not replace an in-person caregiver. Companionship is an important aspect of the caregiving relationship and it can be supplemented with virtual visits, but cannot be replaced by it.

 

Another caregiving option for your loved one that cannot be home alone is adult daycare. According to Jevs Care at Home, Adult Daycare offers the opportunity for seniors to have stimulating social, cognitive, and physical activity outside of the home for a portion of the day. If it’s possible your loved one may be unsafe alone, can’t perform daily activities, and is alone for most of the day, adult daycare may be a good option. These programs typically supplement an in-home caregiver, usually in situations where a family member, who is also the caregiver, has another job.

 

Not all daycare centers are the same. According to AARP, most offer therapeutic exercise, mental interaction for participants, social activities appropriate for their condition, and help with personal care such as grooming and using the toilet. Adult daycare centers differ in the specific areas of care they offer. Social centers concentrate on meals and recreation while providing some health-related services. Medical and health programs provide more intensive health and therapeutic services in addition to social activities. And specialized centers take participants who have only a particular condition, such as those diagnosed with dementia.

 

Depending on the type of care you are looking for and the length of time your loved one will be staying at a center, prices can vary. On average, adult daycare costs $70 a day. Medicare does not normally cover the costs of Adult Daycare, but you may find financial assistance in your area. Some veteran services may help cover the costs and local and state programs may also help pay for adult daycare.

 

AARP suggests looking into daycare when you start seeing signs that an older loved one is unable to structure their own daily activities when a loved one feels isolated and lonely and wishes for interaction with other older people, or experiences anxiety or depression and needs social and emotional support. You may also want to seek daycare services when your loved one has difficulty starting and focusing on an activity whether it's conversation, reading, or watching TV when they seem to be no longer safe on their own or feel uncertain and anxious about being alone.

 

Family caregivers also might consider adult daycare services when they need to work or be away from home for most of the day or if they are themselves experiencing ill effects such as anxiety, frustration, depression, or health problems.

 

Your loved one may be mostly independent and able to live alone, but still, need a caregiver to stop by for things like medication assistance. Assisted Living may be a good choice if this is true for your loved one. According to Jevs Care at Home, Assisted Living Facilities come in all shapes and sizes but are typically designed to provide a very basic level of care and assistance to their residents. These facilities offer social activities, a community setting, and other services to enrich the lives of those living there. Outside of these services, care is provided periodically and as needed, like in the case of administering medication. The assisted living staff provides care as needed and not constantly like in the case of a caregiver.

 

In addition to standard assisted living facilities, there are also specialized facilities, or sections of the facility, that work primarily with those who need more care. These sections are typically for those with injuries, chronic conditions, or diseases like Alzheimer’s or Dementia.

 

Many families choose assisted living facilities in order to help with daily living activities. Daily living activities are things that you do every day, like eating, bathing, and walking. For elderly loved ones that need help with a few of these activities every day, but do not need help with the rest of their activities, assisted living would be the perfect option. For example, if your loved one needs help walking around and getting in and out of the tub, but they can make their own meals, eat alone, and dress themselves, assisted living would allow them to maintain their independence while still having a caregiver’s help.

 

Medicare doesn’t usually cover any of the costs with assisted living, but just with the other types of caregiving we’ve talked about today, local agencies and services may be able to help cover some of the costs of care. Visit your local senior center to find out what programs are available in your area.

 

Assisted living facilities do not provide full-time care for your loved one. If your loved one needs full-time care outside of the home, a nursing home, or a skilled nursing facility, may be the type of care your loved one requires.

 

According to Where You Live Matters, in a skilled nursing facility, residents receive full-time care by a specially trained medical staff. People who require a higher level of medical care, either short-term or long-term, need what’s known as skilled nursing care, extended care, or long-term care. These facilities are licensed by Medicare and/or Medicaid and are focused on short-term rehabilitation and long-term medical care.

 

According to the National Institute on Aging, nursing homes focus on medical care more than most assisted living facilities. These services typically include nursing care, 24-hour supervision, three meals a day, and assistance with everyday activities. Rehabilitation services, such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy, are also available.

 

Some people stay at a nursing home for a short time after being in the hospital. After they recover, they go home. However, most nursing home residents live there permanently because they have ongoing physical or mental conditions that require constant care and supervision.

 

When choosing a nursing home, make sure you know what type of care your loved one needs and find a place that specializes in that care. Nursing home staff have many patients they are taking care of and, especially with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, it’s important to make sure your loved one is getting the care they need. We’ve talked about the importance of advocating for your loved one before, and that still remains here.

 

When your loved one is receiving care, not at home, there is always the possibility that their care needs are not being 100 percent met. Being an advocate for your loved one in a facility means regularly visiting your loved one and staying updated on their care plan. Having a relationship with their care team can also make it easier to stay up to date on any changes that happen with your loved one while they are in the facility.

 

When choosing a nursing home, you should look at reviews, talk to friends and family members that have experience with the nursing home, take a tour of the facility, and ask about waitlists for the facilities in your area. Nursing homes can be difficult to get into, especially with the continuing rise in the aging population. When touring nursing facilities, the National Institute on Aging suggests looking for Medicare and Medicaid certification, handicap access, residents who look well cared for, and warm interaction between staff and residents. They also suggest visiting a facility a second time without calling ahead. Try another day of the week or time of day so you will meet other staff members and see different activities. Stop by at mealtime. While you are there for this second visit, you should see if the dining room is attractive and clean and if the food looks tempting.

 

We’ve now covered all the various types of caregivers. Choosing the right caregiver for your loved one is an important task that shouldn’t be taken lightly. If someone you know is currently looking into types of care for their loved one, share this episode with them. Knowing what types of caregivers are available can help you make a more informed decision when it comes to the type of care your loved one needs.

 

If you or someone you know is a caregiver, visit our YouTube channel and our dedicated Caregiver Support playlist for episodes to help the caregiver.

 

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Sources:

https://jevsathome.org/types-of-caregivers/

 

https://www.caregiver.org/resource/caregiving/

 

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/about/community_health/johns-hopkins-bayview/services/called_to_care/what_is_a_caregiver.html

 

https://www.caregiver.org/faq/can-i-get-paid-to-care-for-a-family-member/

 

https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/homecare/hiring-independent-caregivers

 

https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/homecare/agency-or-independent-caregiver

 

https://addison.care/

 

https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/home-care/info-2017/adult-day-care.html

 

https://www.whereyoulivematters.org/assisted-living-defined/

 

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/how-choose-nursing-home