Tip #1: Agencies, Registries and Companion Services, Oh My!
Understanding which type of home care provider fits your needs is critical to hiring the RIGHT provider. Believe it or not, not all home care providers are the same. In Florida, there are three primary types of home care providers, agencies, registries and homemaker companion.
Home Health Agencies
The Details:
A home health agency is a business which is licensed and regulated by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and is the only type of home care provider that is able to provide skilled medical services (nursing services; physical, occupational, respiratory or speech therapies; medical supplies as prescribed by a physician) as well as non-skilled services (home health aides, homemaker companion services).
Agencies are also the only type of providers who are able to hire employees (as opposed to independent contractors) to provide personal services such as “bathing, dressing, eating or personal hygiene” as well as assistance with physical transfers, ambulation, and administering medication.
Translation:
If you are looking to hire a provider who is able to assist you or your family member with managing and administering medications, prefer to not be responsible for managing independent contractor taxes or want the staff providing the care to be supervised and managed by a Registered Nurse, then hiring a home health agency is your best choice.
Nurse Registries
The Details:
A nurse registry is a business which is licensed by the Florida Agency for Home Care Administration and is only able to provide non-skilled home care services such as “bathing, dressing, eating, or personal hygiene” and assistance with physical transfers and ambulation. Under their licensure, a nurse registry is NOT able to assist their clients with the management and/or administration of medication.
Registries are only able to hire independent contractors (as opposed to employees) to provide hands-on personal care.
Translation:
If you are looking for a provider that can work with you or your family member to assist with non-skilled care, a Nurse Registry is an option. Because all care takers are independent contractors, you (or your family member) will be responsible for providing the caretaker(s) with the necessary information they will need to file their income tax return in accordance with IRS guidelines (As of 11/2009, if you pay someone more than $600.00 over the course of the calendar year you must issue them a 1099).
Home Maker Companion Service
The Details:
A homemaker companion service is a company that must be registered with the Florida Agency for Home Care Administration. They are only able to provide general household chores that may include “housekeeping, cooking, shopping assistance, laundry and other routine household activities”.
A homemaker companion is NOT able to provide personal hands-on care like an Agency or Nurse Registry is able to provide.
Translation:
If you or your family member is looking for a provider that can provide general household chores, a homemaker companion service may be right for you.
If you or your family member needs assistance with bathing, dressing, ambulation, personal hygiene, eating or assistance with physical transfers, you should NOT hire a home maker companion service, consider hiring a Home Health Agency or a Nurse Registry.