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He only needs to be redirected. He is for the most part self care. He is continent except for an accident maybe weekly. He is friendly and compliant. He is overly apologetic. He is aware of his condition and it's caused him to be introverted and often depressed.

You really need 24/7 care for your husband now, whether in-home or in a facility, as you need to get proper sleep when you return home from work, as this situation doesn't sound healthy or safe for either of you.
I wish you well in finding the right and proper care for your husband.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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You mentioned that you need someone to watch him while you work... What about when you need to sleep?
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Reply to Hrmgrandcna
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ShirleyDot Mar 30, 2026
Good question!
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Reply to lealonnie1
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Bonnie D, it can be extremely difficult to manage a full-time job, a household and a husband who is slipping.

Are you concerned or scared about leaving your husband alone at night?

If you are concerned, you may want to install a few Ring cameras in the house so you can monitor him while you are at work. Depends and pads will make an accident more manageable for both of you.

If there is danger or you are scared, you may want to look for overnight care for your husband. It sounds like he needs a home care company, rather than a home healthcare company... What???

There are important differences between home care and home healthcare. One of the biggest is the cost!

It sounds like your husband only needs non-medical home care (assistance with transfers, getting to the bathroom, cleaning him up, companion care, light housekeeping, etc.). For these needs, a home care agency (aka Nurse Registry) will likely be less expensive while providing your husband with the care he needs.

Nurse Registries and Homehealth agencies typically supply HHAs or CNAs with the exact same credentials, licensing, background checks, etc.

My experience is in Boca Raton, FL, where I own a Nurse Registry (home care company). Regulations may vary by state, but here is a quick breakdown of the differences:

Home healthcare workers are hourly employees. That means the company sets the pay rate, takes taxes out of their check and provides workers' comp. If the worker goes over 40 hours a week, they have to pay the caregiver (and bill you) time-and-a-half. In your case, you will probably need 3-4 caregivers working fewer than 40 hours each. And if one of them calls off, and you would rather have a team member cover the shift than a stranger, expect to pay OT.

Home Care aides are independent contractors. Which means they can work over 40 hours a week without paying overtime. That would mean instead of having 3 or 4 caregivers on the team, you may only need one or two, and for a dementia client, that can be huge when it comes to their care and happiness.

Independent contractors are responsible for paying their own taxes (and claiming the tax deductions that come with it) and typically do not have workers' comp, but usually have liability insurance of at least $100K. Because the costs are lower for the agency, they can typically charge their clients less and pay their caregivers more - win-win!

A Home healthcare company will provide RN care visits, assessments, etc., but many times their intention is to "sell more hours".

For a client to be placed by a Nurse Registry, the client must be under the care of a primary care physician. This gives you more control over the care your husband will need. In Florida, nurse registries are required to have a staff nurse, so if you want an additional evaluation, they will set it up for an additional charge.

Since home healthcare agencies hire employees, they must adhere to DOL rules. That means you could be stuck with the employee assigned to your case, and changing aides can be difficult and upsetting.

Since nurse registries refer independent contractors, you have much more control over who comes into your home and who will be working with the client. In my company, you can interview in person or on FaceTime, so you know in advance who your aide will be!

The staff of a Nurse Registry will function as your customer service rep and the caregiver's coach. We are willing and able to have the tough conversations with caregivers that you may find difficult.

Pro Tip: If you will be paying out of pocket or through long-term care insurance, the first question to ask is, "Do you accept Medicare?" If the answer is yes, say "sorry, wrong number" and hang up. For most Medicare agencies, finding a private-pay client is the prize, but they staff the client with low-paid "Medicare" aides anyway to make more money. Please, always check the credentials and experience of the aides you hire!
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Reply to SeniorProsBrad
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Besides overnight, you obviously need someone to watch him while you work. A week of 24-7 coverage at 25/hr is 4200.

Have you looked into placing him?
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Reply to PeggySue2020
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SeniorProsBrad Mar 29, 2026
It sounds like Bonnie's husband may only need 12-14 hours per day, and probably not on the weekends, so I would expect the cost to be much lower.

For many clients, a live-in aide may be a good option at a lower cost. You should work with a home care company that will explain the differences and be very transperent about the costs - includling how much the caregiver will be paid and how much the agency will make.
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Where are you located?
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Reply to BlueBonnets2026
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Sorry, we are not an employment agency. We are a forum of caregivers sharing our experiences. You will need to Google your area and see what agencies are near you. Care.com is another place. Ask your doctor. Call your Office of Aging.
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