Given the choice, most independent seniors in Naples would prefer to remain at home for as long as possible. And although that’s an admirable goal, roughly two-thirds of all aging adults eventually need caregiving assistance to maintain their independence. When that time comes, families must make difficult decisions about their loved one’s care, including whether to hire a professional caregiver directly or go through an agency. What follows are some things you’ll need to know before making your decision.
Families often believe they will save money by hiring a caregiver directly versus working with an agency. While they may be quite capable of caring for your loved one, be sure to consider these factors first:
For federal tax purposes, someone is classified as your household employee if you dictate what work they perform in the home environment, and how that work is done. An independent caregiver is technically your household employee if they receive instructions on how to care for your loved one from you or another family member and you provide the equipment and supplies they need.
Conversely, self-employed individuals like independent contractors decide how they perform their work and furnish their own supplies and equipment. That said, most private-duty caregivers are not independent contractors. Be sure you understand the difference.
Once you’ve determined that your private caregiver will be classified as a household employee, the next step is to verify they can legally work in the United States. That will require the two of you to fill out IRS Form I-9(Employment Eligibility Verification) and produce documentation that proves their eligibility to work in the US.
Although the completed I-9 Form does not have to be formally filed with any US government agency, you, as their employer, must keep a copy for your records. You’ll also need to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and document your household employee’s Social Security number.
The federal and state tax amount that you must contribute for an independent caregiver who is a household employee will vary depending on which state you live in and how much you pay for their services.
For example, in California, a household employer is defined by the state’s Employment Development Department (EDD) as anyone “who has paid $750 or more in cash wages (checks and cash) to one or more household workers in a calendar quarter.” If you are paying a private caregiver $15 to $20 an hour, hitting that threshold won’t take long.
Once that threshold is met, by law you must withhold State Disability Insurance (SDI) from the wages paid out and remit the withheld money to the EDD. If you pay more than $1,000 in wages during a calendar quarter, you must also remit Unemployment Insurance and Employment Training Tax payments to the EDD.
With all these requirements, it’s vital to maintain detailed records related to your employee’s wages and taxes. Employment tax records must also be kept for at least four years after whichever is later, the due date of the tax return or the date when the taxes were paid.
Each time you pay the caregiver, be sure to record the date of the payment and itemize the following:
Most home care agencies hire caregivers as employees, while others arrange for the services of home care workers on an independent contractor basis – also known as 1099. Known as “registries,” their caregivers are not employees but rather employed directly by the clients. If you hire a registry that contracts out their work, you’ll be dealing with most of the same issues mentioned above.
These are the benefits of hiring an employee caregiver through a reputable home care agency:
A home care agency that employs caregivers is not only bonded and insured, but they also cover their employees under worker’s compensation. Independent (direct hire) caregivers not employed by an agency do not carry liability insurance or worker’s compensation. If an accident or other incident occurs on the job, you would likely be responsible, which could cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
An agency will also screen its employees during the recruiting and hiring process, including a thorough criminal background check and drug test. That saves you the time and expense of doing so.
This key aspect is not included in the average registry provider’s business model. If the caregiver is not performing up to your expectations, for instance, they repeatedly arrive late or miss shifts, you are on your own and will need to speak to the caregiver directly.
Home care agencies implement disciplinary policies that help their employees improve. Once you voice your concerns to a supervisor, they will speak to the caregiver or, if you prefer, send you a different caregiver. As opposed to a registry or direct hire, agencies also have backup plans in the event your regular caregiver is unavailable.
Because there is no risk of a labor relationship, training is yet another dimension that only reputable home care agencies can deliver. If hiring a caregiver directly, the client must assess the quality and skill of the caregiver. This becomes even more essential if they require hands-on personal care or have limited mobility, dementia, or Alzheimer’s.
A trusted home care agency routinely trains and tests its caregivers, giving you one less thing to worry about!
Although hiring an independent contractor will cost less per hour, saving money should not be primary determinant when your or your loved one’s care weighs in the balance. Agency advantages such as experience, training, supervision, and peace of mind usually result in better caregiving outcomes and more satisfied clients that you cannot put a price tag on.
Most seniors aren’t interested in becoming an employer, filing payroll taxes, or obtaining worker’s compensation and liability insurance. When having “the talk” about home care with your senior, please remember they are trying to make their life easier, not harder.
When you need caregiving assistance, contact Home Instead in Naples. While proudly serving families in Naples, Fort Meyers, and Charlotte County, we are a licensed, bonded, and insured home care provider with highly trained professionals who are experts at delivering the nurturing our clients’ need. As an extended family in your senior’s home, our compassionate caregivers can perform duties like light housekeeping, personal care, dementia care, companionship care, medication reminders, and even live-in and 24-hour care.
Our agency’s focus is maintaining your loved one’s quality of life, as well as their dignity, self-esteem, and independence. For your added convenience, all our in-home services can be individually personalized into an affordable package when and where you need them! Please visit us at homeinsteadswfl.com now to learn more about us or to schedule a FREE initial consultation for a senior in our service area.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Your support as a valued sponsor means more to me and our team at My Care Finders than words can truly express. This open house and ribbon-cutting celebration is such a special milestone not just for our business, but for the community were so honored to serve. And it wouldnt be possible without you. Your belief in what we do helping families navigate senior care with compassion, clarity, and purpose is what fuels us every day. Knowing that we have partners like you standing beside us makes all the difference. Were expecting a wonderful turnout, and we truly believe this will be a joyful, memorable event for everyone involved. Light bites, music, laughter, and connection a true celebration of community. Attached is our event flyer created by Jesse, the owner of My Sanctuary of Wellness. A HUGE shoutout to Jesse for your patience and constantly updating the flyer when needed Thank you Jesse!!!!! Please be sure to bring your own table and chairs. Wed love it if you could help us spread the word by sharing it on Facebook and other social media outlets, along with your friends, family, colleagues, and even your patients. The more, the merrier! Lets make this an unforgettable evening. Additionally, our assistance, Becca will be sending each of you our w-9, along with an invoice for the event. Thank you again for being such an important part of this journey. I cant wait to celebrate with you!With sincere gratitude,Heather Tetrault
BrightStar Care of Venice & Port Charlotte- has won Best of Home Care Leader of Excellence , Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice for 2025 by Home Care Pulse. These are difficult awards. We are very proud of them.We can help your patients whenever they need home care to stay safe at home. No minimums- 1hr up to 24/7 careJoint Commission Gold Seal of Approval Our BrightStar Care location has earned accreditation from the Joint Commission, which validates that we follow their requirements for the highest level of safety and care.Best of Home Care Leader in Experience 2025 Recognizes our location as earning satisfaction levels in the top 5% based on caregiver training, compassion and communication.Best of Home Care Provider of Choice 2025 Indicates high satisfaction levels of our clients regarding our trustworthiness and ability to provide outstanding in-home care.Best of Home Care Employer of Choice 2025 Happy employees deliver better care. This award distinguishes us as best-in-Class for caregiver satisfaction. The Joint Commission Enterprise Champion for Quality Because of the commitment to quality standards from our local offices, were the only national home care brand that consistently earns the Enterprise Champion for Quality award from the Joint Commission. This independent, nonprofit organization accredits the nations best hospitals and major health care systems.
Your chronological age and your biological age dont necessarily match. Around the ages of 44 and 60 the aging process accelerates in what has been dubbed a biomolecular shift, which dramatically impacts health and internal aging. Researchers discovered these two bursts of aging during the human lifespan, singling out the mid-forties and early sixties as key periods. But the greater shift in biological aging happens during your early sixties.However, out of this seemingly bad news is some hope. Now that science has pinpointed when these changes occur, it could help researchers uncover what is driving chronic disease as we age, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis or even strategies for prevention. So exactly what is going on during these periods of rapid biological aging, how do they impact health, and what can you do to be proactive? Lets break it down.Aging Isnt Primarily GradualYou can no longer assume that aging happens gradually. Ever notice that some people seem to age overnight or are really showing their age? While there is obviously gradual decline, more dramatic changes happen quickly and during certain periods of life. It all comes down to the molecules that make up your physical body. These individual molecules are what age, and studies reveal that they undergo greater change at certain ages, making aging non-linear or not so much gradual over time.How Periods of Rapid Biological Aging Impact HealthIn both your mid-forties and early sixties most people experience molecular level changes related to skin and muscle aging, cardiovascular disease, and the metabolizing of caffeine. This is why people tend to start or increase cholesterol or blood pressure medications during these times of life.Researchers also noted differences between the two periods of biological aging. People in their forties had a greater shift in relation to fat and alcohol metabolism, while those in their sixties underwent shifts related to immune regulation, carbohydrate metabolism, and kidney function.These facts seem to correlate with experience as many people in their sixties are less able to fight off sickness and are even more prone to weight gain and kidney trouble or even kidney failure. Cancer rates tend to spike around this time as the immune system is less able to fend off the invasive cancer cells. Cases of heart disease also rise during this time as people struggle more with their weight and rising cholesterol levels.Less expected, however, was the evidence of rapid aging during the mid-forties. But it becomes more understandable as you consider what characterizes the lives of most people during this life stage. Lifestyle makes a difference and life moves at a rapid pace during your forties. Often this is a time of busy family and work schedules, high work stress, divorce, and weight gain. You often have less time for self-care during these frantic years, and all combined, this shifts your body into a period of rapid molecular aging.Combat Biological Aging with Proactive StepsYou obviously cant stop the aging process but its possible to slow it down. The steps to achieve this arent all new or innovative. In fact, it involves putting common knowledge into practice which many people resist, at least until later life. Here are some unsurprising practical tips for slowing biological aging: Avoid weight gainEat more fruits and vegetablesControl diabetes and high blood pressureStay physically activeDont smoke And the way to prevent or avoid diabetes and high blood pressure is to limit sugar, processed carbohydrates, and saturated fats. If youre in your 40s, in addition to the above, its also beneficial to monitor and minimize your cholesterol levels, exercise to build muscle mass, and limit or avoid alcohol. For additional ways to combat aging, read our article, How to Live Longer: 12 Life-Boosting Habits to Start NowThe best rule of thumb is not to wait until your health begins to decline before making these changes. Adjust your lifestyle while youre still healthy, and you will see the biggest payoff. However, its never too late to start living with your health in mind, because changes at any stage will make a positive difference.Key Takeaways About Biological Aging in Your 40s and 60sScience previously thought that the human body aged gradually in linear fashion, but recent studies show that aging on a molecular level occurs rapidly during the mid-forties and early sixties. During your forties, this change is often due to lifestyle changes that can be altered for better outcomes. You can slow the aging process during midlife with regular exercise and a diet rich in produce and low in saturated fat and processed carbohydrates.