Hiring a caregiver for an elderly person is a major challenge. It requires not only responsibility but also thorough analysis and finding answers to constantly emerging questions. One of them is: how much does it cost to provide our loved ones with professional and round-the-clock care? Well, the answer is not clear-cut. The cost of care services varies depending on many factors, such as the caregiver’s experience, the scope of her responsibilities, and the region of Poland where the person in need of care lives. However, before we discuss specific amounts, it is worth understanding the benefits of round-the-clock home care and what elements affect the price of such a service. By choosing a caregiver who lives with the mentee, we gain comfort, a sense of security, and an individual approach to the needs of the senior. This is extremely important because such a model of care guarantees full comfort for an elderly person in need of help. We will show you how the prices of care for seniors are shaped on the market and what elements affect the final costs.
Current rates for elderly care
If relatives do not have the opportunity to give up work to take care of an elderly person, it is worth looking for other solutions. One option is to take advantage of government programs. Unfortunately, however, not every elderly person in need of care is eligible for this project. In such a situation, it seems necessary to employ and pay for a caregiver. At this point, the question will probably arise: how much does a babysitter for a senior cost?
The cost of hiring a private babysitter depends on many factors. Each caregiver of an elderly person independently determines how much he values his work, taking into account the prices prevailing on the market. Depending on experience and qualifications, the average salary of a caregiver per month of work in Germany varies from 900 EUR to 2500 EUR. In Poland, the rates are lower. Here the amounts range from 600 EUR to 2000 EUR. However, it should be remembered that the greater experience and qualifications of the person who takes care of the senior give a sense of confidence that our loved one is properly taken care of. Therefore, when choosing, we should not be guided only by the amount of the fee for the care service, because the priority is the health and comfort of life of a person close to us, in need of care.
Monthly cost of round-the-clock care at home, including additional charges
In addition to the monthly fee, additional costs may apply. This may be a refund for the caregiver’s travel and care on holidays. Of course, all work that the caregiver will perform and that has not been included in the contract should be accounted for. It is advisable to clearly define at the beginning of cooperation what benefits will be settled additionally. The price list of the caregiver’s services should be determined in advance and accepted by both parties undertaking cooperation. Thus, the cost of monthly care at home is not fixed, because it is influenced by many variables.
Factors affecting the cost of care
- Caregiver qualifications: The better qualified the caregiver, the higher the stakes can be. Having a caregiver course for an elderly person or a first aid course is an additional advantage that can increase the cost of a caregiver for a senior.
- Language level: Communication skills are of great importance, especially as most carers come from a different country than the person in need of care. It is logical, therefore, that the higher the language and communication competencies of the employed person, the higher the costs to be incurred in connection with his employment.
- Driving: If the senior caregiver is required to drive to run errands, her rate may be higher. The cost of having a caregiver can increase, especially if the ability to move by car in large cities is required.
- Family requirements: The individual needs and expectations of the family can affect the cost of care. Sometimes families expect specialist care or additional skills from the caregiver. It often happens that the duties of a senior caregiver go far beyond caring for the senior, which translates into the earnings of the caregiver.
- Number of people to care for: Caring for one senior is one thing, but if there are several people in the home needing support, the costs can go up. In addition, the family can expect the caregiver of the elderly person to perform other duties, such as cooking for the household members and washing and ironing their clothes. Then you should take into account additional fees.
- Caregiver’s disease level: Caring for older adults with advanced medical conditions or requiring specialized care can be more expensive.
What are the additional costs?
- Journey: A caregiver for an elderly person in most cases has to commute to the place of residence of the senior with whom she took up work. For this reason, the cost of monthly care should be increased accordingly by these costs.
- Night work: If care requires intervention at night and this information is not included in the contract, the service should be added to the bill.
- Additional out-of-contract gardening: If the family expects additional work not directly related to care (e.g. gardening), additional charges may apply.
- Working in summer and on holidays: Working on holidays or in summer can increase the cost of home care services. It is good to ask about it before signing a contract with a care company.
- Accommodation of the senior caregiver: The cost of accommodation is covered by the senior’s family. A person providing care services may live in a family home or the immediate vicinity.
When investing in caring for a loved one, it is worth bearing all these aspects in mind. A well-chosen care service is a guarantee of peace of mind for the family and comfort of life for the senior.
Who is an elderly person?
For many of us, the term elderly person brings to mind a stereotypical senior who spends time on a park bench or a plot. However, an elderly person is not only a pensioner enjoying free time. Often these are people after an accident, with disabilities, or recovering after surgery. It is for such people that the care of an experienced caregiver is necessary.
Elderly caregiver profile
The caregiver of an elderly person is usually a woman between the ages of 30 and 55. Many of them have extensive experience in caring for seniors. Certainly, they are distinguished by cordiality, empathy, and care for the mentee. It often happens that the ladies undertaking this job are excellent cooks who not only care about their health but also serve delicious dishes. However, their skills do not end in the kitchen. Care for the house, order, and daily duties are also their domain.
Caregivers of elderly people from Poland
Poles are known for their care and commitment to the duties entrusted to them. Many Poles choose the job of a carer of an elderly person, not only in the country but also abroad. The lack of a cultural barrier, high competence, and good knowledge of foreign languages, especially German, are great advantages. We can not forget about the numerous courses in the field of care for seniors, the completion of which many Polish carers can boast.
Carers of the elderly from Ukraine
Caregivers from Ukraine are just as committed to their work as their Polish colleagues. Although they joined the care industry a little later, mainly due to administrative constraints, they quickly gained recognition from many families. They are hardworking people with a big heart for care, who take care of the house and daily duties. Although they have slightly lower competencies than Polish caregivers, they are constantly learning and improving their qualifications. The cost of private caregivers from Ukraine is often lower than what we would have to spend on paying for the work of a Polish counterpart. This is undoubtedly a big advantage for the family because then the cost of monthly care at home is significantly reduced. It is worth remembering that choosing the right caregiver is a decision that will affect the quality of life of our loved ones. Regardless of origin, the most important thing is care, experience, and commitment to the daily care of the senior.
How often do caregivers change?
Employing a caregiver for an elderly person often involves the need to cooperate with more than one person. The caregiver is usually not from the country where she is caring for an elderly person and wants to go home from time to time or simply needs a holiday. For this reason, round-the-clock home care for seniors requires the acceptance of several people. The synchronization of this type of exchange is handled by the care agency. It is she who makes sure that the elderly person is always provided with proper help. Usually, it goes as follows: the order of one caregiver lasts from 6 to 10 weeks, and then her substitute arrives.
Sample scope of primary care
- Support in daily life activities: Help with getting up and going to bed, getting dressed, washing, and using the toilet.
- Administration of medications: Control and adherence to medical recommendations, administer medication in the right doses, and monitor for possible side effects.
- Health monitoring: Observation of possible changes in the behavior or well-being of the senior and informing the family or doctor about them
- Ensuring safety: Monitoring the environment for possible hazards, such as overturned carpets, oven on or slippery floors, and ensuring that the senior avoids situations that expose him to injury.
- Help in care and hygiene: Taking care of the neat appearance of the senior, helping him in daily care activities, helping with bathing, and taking care of the cleanliness of clothes.
- Meal preparation: Taking care of a balanced diet, adapted to the needs of the senior, and helping to eat meals if necessary.
- Providing companionship: Motivating the senior to physical and mental activity, organizing walks, reading books, talking, listening, and understanding the emotional needs of the elderly person, solving crossword puzzles, or playing board games together.
- Shopping and dealing with everyday matters: Relieving/accompanying during visits to offices, taking care of paying bills, buying medicines, arranging visits to the doctor.
- Help with household chores: Doing small household chores as recommended, doing current cleaning, such as, for example, cleaning up after a meal, throwing out garbage, doing small work in the garden, turning on and hanging laundry, ironing, etc.
- Cooperation with the family: Regular information about the health and well-being of the mentee and consultation when making important decisions.
What is round-the-clock home care?
Round-the-clock home care, often referred to as residential care, is a model of support in which the caregiver lives in the home of an elderly person, thus providing them with constant care and assistance. Care in the senior’s home is a solution thanks to which help is tailored to his requirements, regardless of whether he needs support in everyday life activities, companionship, or specialized medical care.
Advantages of round-the-clock home care
Deciding on this form of care brings many benefits. First of all, the senior remains in a familiar environment, which has a positive effect on his well-being and sense of security. The caregiver is then always on-site, ready to react in emergencies. In addition, the individual approach of the caregiver to the mentee allows for building a deep relationship, based on mutual trust and understanding.