skip to main content

starting an in-home adult daycare

17 years ago

Hi all...I am thinking about bringing my father home from the nursing home and caring for him myself. In order to offset the costs of an around-the-clock sitter who will be required to help me, I am considering taking in another elderly individual for daycare. We don't have an adult daycare in our area and I understand that it is something in great demand. My father does not require skilled care--I only need help with getting him up and changing his diaper, so it would be feasible to have another person with us during the daytime. I've done quite a bit of research and determined that I don't need any type of licensing, and I will be selective about who I choose to make certain it is someone that we can safely care for.

Is anyone else out there doing this or have you tried it?

Thanks! Mary

Comments (5)

agnespuffin
17 years ago
You may not need a license, but be very sure that you have insurance coverage to cover this sort of thing. I am thinking that if the other patient was injured in some way, you would be in a bad position as most Home Insurance policies would not cover someone that was kept for a fee on a regular basis. They would not be considered a guest in your house. If their condition was to worsen after staying with you, some families would love to take you to court for whatever they could get. Be sure to get your lawyer to draw up some sort of waiver that the family would sign beforehand.
GammyT
17 years ago
For liability reasons and self protections you need to be licensed by the county and or state and insured for home health care before you take in a person. The I's need to be dotted and the T's crossed one hundred and twenty ways to Sunday.

If the person you take in falls or gets bed soars or who knows, you need to be insured for home health care or be ready to handle medical expenses out of your pocket.

What I and every other care giver can tell you is that one at home is enough. Taking care of the eldery or sick isn't like taking care of kids. Kids are easy.
Related Discussions
Child / Adult Identification Kit - Make at home
Q
Comments (1)
When my kids were small, and when we'd have their friends with us, I'd take a polaroid and a complete description of them with us when we'd go places. It was helpful once when we misplaced a kid at Disneyland (found him moments later). It's too bad that we have a need for such things as a child/adult ID kit, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
...See More
Adult children living at home.....
Q
Comments (35)
Hi loladoon, Thanks for posting again, and I'm sorry to hear about your stress and depression over this. Perhaps you and your child need a vacation away from your partner and his son. Spending several days or a week in a different environment might give you a fresh perspective. As a father myself, it's hard for me to understand why your partner does not expect more from his son. The father has to deal more effectively with him and get the young man out on his own. A few good first steps would be for the dad to get rid of the video games and enforce reasonable hours for going to bed and getting up in the morning. If he's not willing to do that soon, it's doubtful that he'll ever be able to effectively deal with this situation. The son needs to go into therapy as well, but he won't unless his dad makes him go. You've already been discussing this for two years and nothing has changed. You can't be the fix it person here. The dad and the son have to do that themselves. At a minimum, I would cool things off for a while and see if anything changes. Meanwhile, you might get active with your friends again and start meeting new people.
...See More
How to get your kid (young, or young adult, or adult) to declutter
Q
Comments (14)
Good ideas, Talley_Sue. I'd like for her to be able to make these choices and feel positive about it. Elbow room is one of those things I'm just learning to appreciate in a whole new way, and hopefully she will acquire that if I can pare down more and more and set that good example. She has been good about putting some things away- outgrown books, we've packed away. We had some toys that we boxed for storage overhead, and that seemed like a big step, but at the last minute she changed her mind and wanted them back in her room. For now, she fits fairly well in her room, providing things are in their place, but her closet is a feat in organization. This morning as we were heading out the door, I commented to her that I had gotten another couple of boxes of my stuff together and needed to arrange for another thrift store pick-up. She said, "Great! More room for me!" Um, no.... I think that is one of my biggest fears- that as I minimize my belongings, DH and DD's stuff will just filter into the elbow-room spaces and it will be as though the house only belongs to them :( So far, I've done well keeping open spaces open, but who knows what will happen in the future- stuff has a way of taking over if it's not wrangled.
...See More
Adult children and vacation homes
Q
Comments (97)
Wonder how things worked out for James? Funny this resurfaced. All of our kids are old enough to drive now, and two of them are much closer to the house than we are (like an hour and a half versus 3.5 for us, if all the stars are aligned. My stepson and his family are the closest, at an hour away, but they have kids now and are much too busy to hop up there, but they do spend a week with us over the summer, and sometimes we have ThxG there too. All of my kids, without prodding, ask first. They have all used the house on their own with friends. We have groundrules and the kids have taken good care of the house. None of my kids are really partiers, though I am sure they are not angelic. In the latest instance, my DD and her friends insisted on chipping to for cleaning, and Venmo'd us $500. Since there were 10 of them, it was a great deal for them for a weekend away.
...See More
agnespuffin
17 years ago
Another thing to be aware of is that in handling the elderly, it's not at all unusual for an aide to receive back or other strains. You would be liable for their medical treatment too. Your Home Owners insurance wouldn't cover that either. You should set up a regular payroll account so that anyone that's hurt on the job, even a little injury, will be covered by Workman's Compensation. Your accountant will be able to do all the paperwork involved and make the required reports. Check with him/her before you go into this.
Keeping other people in your home is a lot more involved than just getting someone in to help you.
stargazzer
15 years ago
It's a terrible responsibility, one I would not take on. If the person gets sick or dies you could be sued and lose everything you have. I baby sat a small girl when I was younger, she was fine and all of a sudden she had a raging fever and a seizure. Liked to have scared me to death. I quit baby sitting and haven't done it for anyone except grandchildren.
kkny
15 years ago
I think you could be a real lifesaver to another person with an elderly parent, and if you can get insurance, I dont see why you shouldnt do it. Also, at the risk of getting flamed on this, it is pretty easy to do a public background check on the potential client and the adult children he or she is living with -- as to whether and how often they have sued people. It would give you an idea of how "sue-happy" they are.

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

CONTEMPORARY HOMES Houzz Tour: A Sophisticated Home for Adults and Babies

By Mary Jo Bowling

Homeowners expecting twins make a nest that works for kids but is not kid dominated

VINTAGE STYLE My Houzz: A Fresh Start in a Welcoming 1950s Home

By Kate Hansen Photography

Family and friends help a Melbourne homeowner create a comfortable space that beautifully reflects her personality

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Globetrotting Couple Make a New Start in California

By Jeannie Matteucci

When a job transfer brings a couple to the West Coast, they create a stylish home for their young family that reflects their love of travel

REMODELING GUIDES Follow a Ranch House Renovation From Start to Finish

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Renovation Diary, Part 1: Join us on a home project in Florida for lessons for your own remodel — starting with finding the right house

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: A Soothing Fresh Start in Dallas

By Sarah Greenman

See how a designer helped outfit a time-strapped family's new house in a contemporary, relaxed style

FUN HOUZZ 14 Things You Need to Start Doing Now for Your Spouse’s Sake

By Mitchell Parker

You have no idea how annoying your habits at home can be. We’re here to tell you

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: 20 Entertaining Placemats for Kids and Adults

By Meaghan Mountford

Make mealtimes more fun with placemats that start conversations, keep kids engaged or dazzle with color

MORE ROOMS 10 Kids' Room Ideas That Work for Adult Offices

DECLUTTERING 5 Ways to Jump-Start a Whole-House Decluttering Effort

By Laura Gaskill

If the piles of paperwork and jampacked closets have you feeling like a deer in the headlights, take a deep breath and a baby step

CONTRACTOR TIPS 10 Things to Discuss With Your Contractor Before Work Starts

By Ventana Construction LLC

Have a meeting a week before hammers and shovels fly to make sure everyone’s on the same page

Sponsored