Home Care Information

Dear Interested Party,

The California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH), which represents more than 450 licensed home health agencies and hospices, as well as providers of private personal care services in the home and other providers of products and services in the home is pleased to provide you with a new educational resource developed by our Association, entitled, "What you should know before choosing a home care service."

The purpose of this brochure is to educate discharge planners, case managers, referral sources, consumers, and other interested parties to the differences between hiring a home care company, using a referral agency, or hiring the worker directly.

Some of the benefits of using a home care company which employs the caregiver are:

• The home care company provides professional liability and Workers' Compensation insurance;
• The home care company pays federal and state payroll taxes including social security;
• The home care company is available to resolve problems which may occur and will provide a substitute caregiver if the primary caregiver is unable to work.

While it is sometimes tempting to save a little money by hiring the caregiver directly, the additional liability for taxes, insurance, and lack of supervision often make this a "penny-wise but pound-foolish" decision.

We hope you and your discharge planners and case managers find this resource useful.

Thank you for your interest in quality home care.

Sincerely,

Dean Chalios
President, CAHSAH