What is a Non-Medical Home Care Service Agreement Contract?

A non-medical home care service agreement contract is more or less the best way to ensure that both a non-medical home care business and the family they work with have a good understanding and are happy.

This agreement contract is the document that provides a reference for what to expect when working with people so that the family and the caregiver are on the same page. Non medical home care providers and their clients leverage this agreement as a means of stating the scope of work to be done.

A non-medical home care business offers very personal and unique services that aid seniors remain independent as long as possible in their own homes.

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These agencies employ caregivers who help with what are called “activities of daily living” (ADLs), such as grocery shopping errands, bathing, dressing, grooming, and helping with housework like cleaning and meal preparation.

Have it in mind that most non-medical care providers are hired by the spouse or adult child when clients are not ready to move to an assisted living facility or prefer home care as a more affordable alternative to a care facility. In many cases, a senior may need a caregiver who is also a medical professional to provide well-rounded care.

A non-medical home care service contract is what gives a caregiver and the family paperwork to reference should any issue come up over duties, pay, or anything else. Even though you might not need it, but it is always advisable to have this agreement in place.

Even if you are an independent caregiver or a nurse planning to offer home-based health assistance, this crucial legal contract can help to limit disagreements by ensuring that there is a mutual understanding between the parties.

Additionally, a non-medical home care service agreement contract clarifies your responsibilities and authority as a home health aide and it explicitly states important details the patient might not even communicate, especially in terms of medication, meals, and schedule.

Things to Include in a Non-Medical Home Care Service Agreement Contract

First, you have to understand that a non-medical home care service contract is more or less like any other work contract. It states what the family or individual needs from a caregiver, as well as what the caregiver can actually offer. Nonetheless, here are basic things expected to be in a non-medical home care service contract.

Traditional Components

Your contracts should include “traditional” components, such as:

• Schedules, including days and hours the caregiver will be working.
• Overtime and holiday pay.
• Benefits, such as healthcare, dental, car, etc.
• Vacation and time off requests.
• Compensation, including salaries or hourly rates.
• Reimbursements for shopping, travel, medication purchase, etc.
• Pay schedules and type, whether direct deposit or check.
• Taxes, including employer responsibility.
• Termination clauses, including how far in advance a caregiver or employer needs to provide notice.

Duties

When creating your nonmedical home care service contract, make sure to provide definitions for duties. Positions can vary widely from family to family, agency to agency, and there may be some expectations that are unrealistic for families new to home care. A basic example of duties includes:

• Meal prep, including the types of meals to be cooked and how the food will be chosen or provided.
• Physical therapy or exercise, such as how often to encourage activity, which activities are safe, etc.
• Travel to doctors’ appointments, pharmacies, social activities, etc.
• Housekeeping, including laundry, cleaning, dishes, taking out trash, etc.
• Personal hygiene, including helping a senior get dressed, bathroom visits, bathing, grooming, etc.
• Companionship and socializing. Some families want a caregiver who serves as a companion for their loved ones, while some want a caregiver to focus mostly on healthcare and daily needs.

Legal Clauses

Owing to age and health, there are sometimes concerns for families hiring a caregiver. Therefore, it is imperative that privacy, healthcare access, and liability are included in your contract. Your non-medical home care service contracts should also include:

• Privacy agreements, such as a non-disclosure agreement. Social media use clauses are also common to protect the privacy of care recipients.
• Provision of supplies and adaptive tools, stating that the individual or family will provide their own medical supplies (as is generally the case), such as needles for insulin, and adaptive tools like wheelchairs.
• Liability coverage to ensure that both the caregiver and senior are covered in the event that something happens. You may need to provide this liability insurance yourself, as the senior or family’s insurance will only cover certain events.
• Healthcare permissions, including contractual permissions to make appointments, pick up prescriptions, etc.
• Dispute resolution and legal processes, in the event, that the family and caregiver have a disagreement or seek legal counsel. This often includes a process for discussing problems with the family (in person, via email, etc.), as well as how to escalate disputes if they can’t be resolved.

Sample Template of a Non-Medical Home Care Service Agreement Contract

Service Agreement Contract Graceland In-Home Care Services, Inc.

Client: ___________________________________ Responsible Person: ____________________