Senior home care options in Tualatin, Lake Oswego, Portland, & West Linn, OR

Learn about the care services available in your area

Are you looking for care services for an aging loved one? The options can be hard to sort through, and hard to understand. Nursing homes, assisted living homes, other live-in-facilities, day programs, overnight programs, church programs, and senior home care programs are all available to choose from. As you sort through what kind of care you need, and how you think it should be provided, it’s important to research providers and be knowledgeable about the differences between the services they offer.

Senior home care service providers are not all created equal. They may advertise in the same places, or offer some of the same services, but in-home caregiving can be different based on the individual caregiver, the way that you employ their services, and the types of care or specialties they offer.

Typical senior home care services include:

• Companionship care. This means that a caregiver comes to the client’s home, and provides assistance with daily tasks, like meal preparation, medication reminders, and more.
• Personal care. A caregiver who provides personal care can help with hygiene, bathing, dressing, toileting, and incontinence care.
• Specialized services. Some caregivers also provide specialized care for clients with chronic illnesses, advanced medical needs, or Alzheimer’s or dementia care.

Types of caregiver businesses

There are three main business structures that a caregiver might work with. Employment-based agencies, registries, and independent providers are all becoming increasingly available as the demand for senior home care services rises. The main difference between these types of providers is who acts as the legal employer for the caregiver.

Employment-based agencies are one of the most common senior home care options. This can be a corporation, subsidiary, or franchise; at any size, this type of organization acts as an employer for caregivers, taking care of insurance, taxes, and other costs and concerns. These agencies also recruit caregivers, including completing background checks, reviewing certifications and training, conducting interviews, and handling general liabilities.

Registries do not act as employers for caregivers, but instead, facilitate contracts between caregivers and clients. Registries maintain a database of caregivers that are available and generally conduct background checks as well. Clients who use a registry will become the employer of the caregiver that they contract with, and are then responsible for insurance coverage, taxes, and other needs.

Independent providers are not affiliated with any agency or registry. They are usually hired personally by their clients, or they may advertise their services to the public. Clients who hire an independent care provider are considered the legal employer for that caregiver and are responsible for insurance, wages, taxation, liability, and other issues. If you choose to hire an independent provider, you will need to complete a background check and any verification of experience or certifications on your own.

Comfort Keepers is a full-service agency, offering customizable caregiving services to all our clients. All of our caregivers have received a background check, professional interview, and verification of experience. You’ll interview the caregivers we recommend too, to make sure that they’re a good fit for your family.

To learn more about how Comfort Keepers can help your aging loved ones stay healthy and happy at home, contact our friendly staff today.