Everyone wants to stay in their home; no one wants to go to an Assisted Living or, worse, a Skilled Nursing Facility. The least expensive home care through an agency this year (2024) is $35.00 per hour with a four-hour minimum, totaling $3,150 a month. If your loved one needs 24/7 care, the cost is about $40,000 per month, and the caregivers are mostly CNAs (Certified Nurse Assistants) who have about 20 hours of training. Many only have first aid training.
While it is tempting to hire caregivers on your own, caregivers are EMPLOYEES. The IRS will require you to pay the taxes (if they say they will pay as independent contractors, you are still responsible per the IRS). You MUST pay minimum wage, provide lunch breaks, and have Worker’s Compensation Insurance. The cost of home care can be very expensive.
Quality Board and Care Homes range from $4,000 to $7,000 per month, Assisted Living with memory care costs $5,000 to $17,000, and Skilled Nursing Facilities are around $11,000 per month, but most of the cost can be covered by Medi-Cal. The cost of care outside the home is almost always less expensive than home care.
I help people navigate their options. If you want to discuss my care navigation services, give me a call.
