Caregiver Rates

Caregiver Connection is locally owned and operated in Portland, Oregon, and has been serving clients in the metro area including Vancouver, Washington, since 1998. You negotiate duties and rates, hire and pay your caregiver directly; the caregiver is considered your employee when they earn more than $2,000 in a calendar year. 

Short Day Shifts: 2-4 hours
from $22-$25 or more per hour, as determined between you and your caregiver

Long Day Shifts: 8, 10 or 12 hours
from $20-$25 or more per hour, as determined between you and your caregiver

Nights: 8-12 hours
from $18-$25 or more per hour, as determined between you and your caregiver

Full-time/Live-In Care: 24-hours
Note that Caregiver Connection discourages hiring room-and-board exchanges for round-the-clock care; learn why here.
Companion-level Care starts at $350, with sleep arrangements, as determined between you and your caregivers
Hospice-level Care starts at $450, with sleep arrangements, as determined between you and your caregivers
Complex Situations can run up to $600, as determined between you and your caregivers

How Caregiver Connection
Structures Referral Payment 

Our business selects and refers top-notch caregivers to you in the Portland metro area, based on your needs and location. Because our caregivers earn the equivalent of about 90% of the total fee that you pay, we are able to attract and retain them. You and your caregiver determine caregiver compensation and duties without limitations by our registry.

We carefully screen caregivers with our 6-Point Screening Process. We take our responsibilities to our clients seriously, and our reasonable referral fees reflect the value we provide. 

Referral Option #1: Pay-As-You-Go
This is our most popular option, recommended for short-term situations such as recovery from a medical event, or hospice. Fees are $3.50 per hour, with a cap of up to $35 per day for any shifts lasting 10 hours or more. Referral fee is billed bi-monthly or monthly, and we accept credit cards. 

Referral Option #2: One-Time Buyout
This One-Time Buyout is recommended for permanent caregiver situations. The fee is equal to one month of the caregivers’ salary, or a minimum of $1500, whichever is greater; after one month the fee increases to equal 6 weeks of the caregivers’ salary. The fee is due within 60 days from the date of caregiver referral; any amount paid prior to the end of the 60 day period is applied to the total.

Caregiver Payment Q&A

We’re used to fielding lots of financial questions about hiring an independent, in-home caregiver. For example: 

• What do I need to consider when I hire an independent caregiver? 
• What’s the best way to pay an independent caregiver? 
• What tax rules for caregivers do I need to know?
• How can I estimate caregiver costs? 

Below you’ll find information and links to answers and solutions to these questions, and many more. Contact us if we can be of further assistance! 

Is my caregiver my employee?

Caregivers are considered under the tax code as employees of clients when they earn more than $2,000 in a calendar year. We do not track or report caregiver earnings. 

What’s the best way to handle payroll, taxes and other employment requirements for my in-home caregiver?

Caregivers are considered domestic employees of clients when they earn over $2,000 in a calendar year. We recommend consulting with a tax or accounting professional and/or engaging a trusted service to handle issues including payroll, taxes and more. Below are two services we highly recommend:

MyHomePay, by Breedlove
www.myhomepay.com • 888-273-3356
Carolyn Livingston: Carolyn.Livingston@myHomePay.com
HomePay, provided by Breedlove, has handled all the payroll, tax and HR obligations for household employers since 1992, including: 

• Financial: Assistance with budgeting and maximizing care-related tax breaks
• Labor Law: Expert guidance to keep you compliant with employment laws, including assistance with employment agreement
• Insurance: Information regarding required and optional employer protections
• And you’ll find a helpful payroll tax calculator on their website!

Paychex
www.paychex.com • 503-277-0296
Zach Adams: zadams@paychex.com

What tax rules for caregivers do I need to know about?

We recommend consulting with a tax or accounting professional and/or enlisting a payroll service such as the ones listed above; these services are experts at payroll and taxation for domestic employees.

To learn more about the tax code for household employers, please review IRS Publication 926: Household Employer’s Tax Guide on the IRS website. The Guide includes information about obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN), withholding and reporting state and federal taxes, forms an employee must complete, and keeping important records. The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service can also be reached by phone at 1-877-777-4778. 

What types of insurance do I need when I hire an independent caregiver? 

There are several types of insurance that may be necessary or advisable for your particular caregiving situation. Learn about, review or consider adding coverage for these types of insurance with your agent: 

• Liability insurance: caregivers carry their own individual policies; learn more here 
• Auto insurance: needed if your caregiver will be transporting the care receiver or performing errands; learn more here 
• Homeowner’s insurance: learn more here 

Is Worker's Compensation needed for my in-home caregiver? 

Independent caregivers in Oregon and Washington, such as those referred by Caregiver Connection, are not covered by state Worker’s Compensation policies. 

How can I estimate caregiver costs? 

You’ll find a helpful payroll tax calculator on the MyHomePay website, which will allow you to compare pay period options, hourly and salaried rates, and calculate taxes and tax credits.  

Am I required to pay overtime to my caregiver?

The State of Oregon regulates some aspects of in-home care services. Find useful answers to frequently asked questions on the Oregon.gov website. 

Learn how to hire the best caregiver for
your own unique situation with these links:

Finding the Right Caregiver: tips on locating, interviewing and hiring caregivers

Understanding Caregiver Qualifications: learn about certifications, levels of care, hiring considerations and more

Finding a Caregiver in Portland, Oregon: find local Portland metro area resources for qualified caregivers 

Find the answers to frequently asked questions about working with a caregiver on our Q&A page.