Hiring a nanny or a housekeeper to help you out at home, a personal assistant to keep you organized, a senior caregiver to help you out with your aging parents, a gardener, cook or any other household worker to whom you pay directly (more than $1800 in calendar year 2013, $1900 in calendar year 2014) and you control the way the work is done and how, makes you a household employer!

According to the IRS's Publication 926 household employers who pay a worker more than $1800 cash wages in a calendar year, are required to file payroll taxes. 

A food allergy is an adverse immune response to a food protein. They are distinct from other adverse responses to food, such as food intolerance, pharmacological reactions, and toxin-mediated reactions. [Wikipedia]

Worrying statistics reflect that the percent of children in the US suffering from allergic reactions is increasing each year. Approximately 1 in 20 children in the US has a food allergy. [Centers for Disease Control] The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports an alarming 1 in 50 Americans will experience an anaphylaxis attack. 

Allergic reactions vary depending on the type and severity of the allergy and can affect each person differently. Mild allergies can cause slight discomfort while life threatening reactions like "anaphylaxis" can occur in individuals with severe allergies.

Families who have children with allergies know the importance of prevention and most of them have an emergency plan in place.  When hiring a nanny, parents need to explain all emergency procedures and ALL details provided in writing and placed in a visible place (preferably in more than one place). Together review your Food Allergy Action Plan.

Most countries, including the US, require manufacturers to list the 8 most common allergy causing ingredients on food labels, in language even kids can understand.  Food manufacturers must also disclose if the factory produces these elements, even though they are not included in the specific product.

The most common foods that cause allergies are:

• Nuts
• Strawberries
• Eggs
• Milk
• Fish
• Shellfish (crab, shrimp, lobster)
• Wheat
• Soy

A wonderful resource for caregivers working with a child with food allergies is the Kids with Food Allergies Foundation, a division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Do you work with a child with food allergies? Share your tips on keeping your child safe.

Vanessa Vidal, FPC
HomeWork Solutions, Inc.

Several months ago we blogged about the US Supreme Court's findings on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and how this impacts household employers or household employees in a valid same-sex marriage.

Halloween is one of the best memory-making holidays for every child. Those costumes that took hours to put together turn into timeless photos, and the generosity of neighbors can leave your children with a sugar rush that lasts for days ...

This fun tradition can also have some hidden hazards. As parents, guardians and/or child care providers, it is our responsibility to ensure the safety and well being of our children.  Please find below a list of safety tips and tricks to keep your child happy and safe this Halloween:

Families of aging seniors are confronted with many choices as they navigate options to help maintain a healthy and productive life for elderly family members.  Home safety, medication management and transportation are key concerns for every family facing the naturally changing capacities seniors face as they age.  In fact, according to the Congressional Budget Office, one third of seniors aged 65 and over need some assistance with activities of daily living such as dressing and personal hygiene, shopping and preparing meals

Is it really necessary?

Imagine this...

A lovely person is sitting in you mother’s living room. Lately you and mom acknowledge that it would be better if mom had some help at home so she could continue to live at home, even as living there has become somewhat difficult.  There are some essential tasks that mom simply cannot manage on her own. 

Today's retired seniors by an overwhelming 9:1 ration fully expect to "age in place," staying in their private homes as long as they can and resisting moves to institutionalized settings. Increasingly these seniors private hire senior caregivers who help with mobility challenges, transportation and general household activities as a way to stay in their homes. When you hire a senior care worker directly, you become an employer.

Today’s smart phones are miniature computers on the go. Nannies and parents are constantly discovering new apps that help with care coordination, communication, and just plain saving time. Busy moms and nannies are constantly comparing apps and recommending their favorites to their friends.