Topics: elder care, employment authorization, workers compensation household employees, Hiring Elder care
April 15 is the deadline for income tax filings for a nanny, senior caregiver or housekeeper in the United States.
Navigating the roadmap of senior home care can be challenging, and the everchanging laws make it even more overwhelming. We are receiving an increasing number of emails regarding the so-called "Nanny Tax," and other concerns surrounding private household employment of senior home caregivers. In response to these questions, we decided to address the top three Elder Care FAQ’s
Topics: elder care, eldercare, household employee, nanny tax, Hiring Elder care, senior home care
In a triumphant win for labor unions and worker advocacy groups, the Obama administration made sweeping reform in mandating that home health workers, personal care aides and certified nursing assistants who provide care to the elderly be paid minimum wage and overtime. While it may affect the bottom line for families of aging relatives, over half of senior care givers were living at or below the poverty line.
Topics: elder care, aging parents, Alzheimer's, obamacare, home health workers, legal employees, documented employees, caregiver, Hiring Elder care
A bill to increase the Massachusetts minimum wage and grant extended legal protections to Massachusetts' nannies, housekeepers and senior caregivers passed the Massachusetts House 125-24 April 4, 2014. The bill will move to the Massachusetts' Senate where stand alone minimum wage legislation (no linkage with domestic workers' rights) has previously passed. The two chambers will have to reach an agreement on the differences between their respective bills.
Topics: domestic workers bill of rights, domestic employer legal responsibilities
Usually around this time of year we start getting worried phone calls from families confused by the household employee taxes or the "nanny taxes." We pulled together some more of the frequently asked questions our tax experts are getting in time for April 15th.
Topics: elder care, eldercare, household employee taxes, senior care, 1099 v w-2, senior home-care workers
Hiring a nanny to care for children, or a caregiver for an elderly family member can be very expensive. These employees often work long hours and your need for their services is generally perpetual. The high cost of employing household workers often makes it tempting for families not to report paid wages, since reporting carries additional financial requirements related to unemployment insurance and other benefits. However, the risks to families who do not pay their domestic employees "on the books" are considerable.
Topics: household employee taxes, household employee, household employer, household payroll tax, workers compensation household employees
Let’s face it: sitting your aging parents down to talk about their finances is about as comfortable as talking to them about sex (eons ago, they probably felt the same way you do right now!) But just as it was back then, the conversation- though difficult- is imperative to your future decision making.
Topics: elder care, aging in place, eldercare, senior care, hiring care for seniors, senior home care
Families know that a comprehensive, legitimate pre-employment background check, thorough reference checking and organized behavioral interviewing questions are the gold standard in nanny recruiting. The careful background screening is a must, but you should not be lulled into thinking that just because a nanny that passed these 3 steps with flying colors you don't need to pay attention and observe the nanny on the job.
Topics: nanny, nannies, nanny tax, nanny tax compliance, nanny background screening
In an inspiring and forward-thinking section of the New York Times on innovations in retirement, an article on innovative solutions to senior living offered news on several fronts. While most readers will be familiar with the existing alternatives such as in-home senior care, assisted living and independent senior living options, the article features new ideas that will certainly gain more traction as the baby boomer population ages. Often referred to as "aging in place," here are some examples highlighted in the article:
Topics: elder care, aging in place, eldercare, household employee taxes, nanny background screening